Local News

A Grants Pass man was arrested for allegedly committing 11 sex crimes involving multiple children and one animal. Josephine County Jail records show a 35-year-old male subject identified as "Justin Leslie Concha" was booked into the Josephine County Jail by the Oregon State Police late last week. OSP detectives allege that Concha downloaded around 500 images or videos of child exploitation -- also known as child pornography. They said he is also known as "Jay Leslie Frost." Concha was charged with five counts of 1st-Degree Encouraging Child Sex Abuse, five counts of 2nd-Degree Encouraging Child Sex Abuse and one count of Encouraging Sexual Assault of an Animal. He was initially held without bail. Following a court arraignment on Friday, Concha posted a $15,000 cash bond and was released from custody. His trial has not yet been scheduled.

 

Multiple agencies extinguished a fast-moving grass fire in east Grants Pass over the weekend. It was the second such incident in the same general area of the city. On Saturday at 3:12 p.m., Grants Pass Fire & Rescue was alerted by the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center about a reported vegetation fire in the area of NE Agness Avenue and the railroad tracks. Grants Pass Battalion Chief 4 and Engine 7308 arrived on scene to find a grass fire. The incident was elevated to a second alarm which mobilized resources from Rural Metro Fire Department, Oregon Department of Forestry and the Grants Pass Police Department. The fire was stopped at 1.1 acres and the cause was under investigation. On Friday evening, multiple agencies battled a four-acre grass fire off Foothill Boulevard near Pearce Park Road. The cause of that fire was under investigation. Grants Pass fire officials said these two fires are examples of how high the fire danger is around the city. They urged extreme caution around dry vegetation.

 

Firefighters battled a grass fire near a Cave Junction park early yesterday. On Sunday at 12:30 a.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District and Oregon Department of Forestry responded to the blaze near Old Stage Park at the dead end of Stage Stop Drive near Old Stage Road. IVFD officials said arriving units found a large fast-moving grass fire. Crews were able to extinguish the fire in short order, but it took a few hours to completely mop up. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Rural Metro Fire Department covered the local fire district for a few hours while IVFD was working on the blaze.

 

The Cave Junction City Council faces a busy agenda when it gathers for its monthly meeting this evening. After receiving a Public Works update, the City Council will consider a Consent Agenda that includes a park use request for the IV Lions Club's 2024 Labor Day Festival as well as OLCC license recommendations for the Cave Junction Cascade Market and the Sportsman Tavern, which is under new management. After the public comment period, the Council will consider two resolutions -- one that would declare 201 Raymond Street a nuisance and another that would adopt an Equal Employment Opportunity policy. A quasi-judicial hearing will be held for a Three Rivers School District request to construct a pre-engineered metal building for high school athletics on a 22.39-acre parcel off East River Street. Tonight's meeting begins at 7 at Cave Junction City Hall, 222 Lister Street.

 

The Rogue Valley Council of Governments has issued a Safety Watch for Wagner Creek at West Valley View Road in Talent. The Safety Watch does not cover all creeks in Jackson County or all creeks in the Bear Creek Watershed. According to RVCOG, water quality testing results in Wagner Creek have exceeded state bacteria standards for contact recreation such as swimming and wading. Residents are encouraged to use caution when in contact with this waterway and especially to avoid ingestion (which may cause illness) and contact with open wounds (which may cause infection). Very young children should be fully supervised when playing in the water to avoid swallowing the water. It is important to note that contact with any water body -- creeks, rivers, lakes or swimming pools -- carries some level of risk. Possible causes of high levels of bacteria in Wagner Creek include pet waste, livestock waste, wild animals, leaking septic systems, illegal dumping from portable toilets or RVs, or any other activity that results in the discharge of fecal matter directly into the creek or through storm drains. Failing septic systems and other pollutants discharged into streams should be reported to the Department of Environmental Quality. Complaints can be reported to the DEQ Hotline at 1-(888)-997-7888.

 

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters logged another busy week of activity protecting people and structures in the community. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 244 calls for service and 636 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 38 arrests, four citations, 27 warnings and five highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 37 traffic stops in the city and they made 10 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) contacted a total of 132 potential troublemakers while arresting four people, citing 42 more and warning 19 others. The CRT unit also trespassed 31 individuals, posted 72 transient camps and removed trash from one campsite in a city park. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 119 calls last week including 49 for emergency medical service, four reports of fire or smoke, 10 lift assists, nine rescue situations, 10 assists to other agencies and six false alarms.

 

The Grants Pass Police Department and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue will once again engage in a friendly competition this week that benefits the American Red Cross. "Battle of the Badges" is scheduled for Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Parkway Public Safety Station at 800 East Park Street. If you donate blood in August, you will receive a $20 Amazon.com gift card. Don't forget to vote for Grants Pass Police or Grants Pass Fire when you donate. Schedule your appointment at "RedCrossBlood.org/give.html/donation-time."

 

The Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) arrested a man while raiding three separate cannabis growing sites in Selma this week. JMET -- with the assistance of Josephine County Public Health & Building Safety -- served three search warrants on Hogue Drive on Thursday. During execution of the warrants, more than 8,000 marijuana plants were seized and destroyed. At one of the properties, a stolen vehicle was recovered. All three properties had multiple electrical, water and solid waste code violations, which could result in criminal forfeiture of the properties. Detectives said although all three properties were close in proximity, they were not related and each operation belonged to a separate group. They said at least one of the operations is believed to be connected to an interstate drug trafficking group. According to JMET, 57-year-old David Conas was arrested for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. Other suspects were not at the sites during the time of the searches. If located, they will be charged with Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana and Unlawful Appropriation of Water. The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man who vandalized a downtown video store while under the influence of narcotics early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 28-year-old male subject they identified as "Garrett Keith Huling" for the incident at Video World on SW 6th Street at 3:22 a.m. Friday. Police said Huling intentionally kicked and broke a window at the video store that was valued at more than $1,000. Witnesses reported he did not try to go inside the store, but was yelling at passing motorists and laying down in the street. Upon contact with the suspect, officers said he told them he was on LSD and that he wanted to die. He sustained a cut on his leg from kicking the window, so he was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment. While at the hospital, Huling tried to fight with officers, escape and resist arrest. He was taken to the ground, secured in leg restraints and medically cleared after being sedated. Huling was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief and Resisting Arrest. He was being held without bail.