Local News

Josephine County Sheriff's deputies arrested a transient after she was causing a disturbance outside Manzanita Elementary School.

The principle reported the suspect Monday morning, saying she was walking in the roadway, obstructing traffic, and yelling at both staff and students. Deputies responded around 7:18 a.m. to find the suspect kicking over trash cans and standing in the middle of the roadway blocking a vehicle.

As law enforcement pulled up by the woman, she quickly headed into a field. Deputies followed her to the corner of Corporate Way and Tech Way where she was detained.

The suspect, identified as Carrie Ann Wood, was arrested for Second Degree Disorderly Conduct. She was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail, but later released on a court order.

 

Emergency crews were alerted to a traffic accident Monday afternoon around 3:10.

The Illinois Valley Fire District, AMR, and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the incident in the 2000 block of Lone Mountain Road in O'Brien.

First responders arrived and discovered a vehicle that had collided with a tree and subsequently ignited. Bystanders and local residents were able to extricate the driver, who had sustained no injuries.

The fire was promptly extinguished, and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office is currently conducting the investigation.

 

The Jackson County Public Health Department reported a bat, found just north of Shady Cove, tested positive for rabies.

According to Jackson County Health and Human Services, confirmatory tests were performed at Oregon State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory after a Jackson County resident noticed a bat in a cat’s mouth.

The cat is a stray, and its vaccination history is unknown. Rabies is transmitted through the bites of an infected animal, and while post-exposure vaccination is effective, Jackson Baures, Jackson County Public Health Division Manager, says the best plan is prevention.

Sick bats may be seen flopping around on the ground or otherwise acting unusual. If you find a sick bat or other sick wildlife on your property, take children and pets indoors and call your local Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife office.

For more information about rabies, visit the OHA website at www.public.health.oregon.gov.

 

The Grants Pass City Council began their workshop with a presentation regarding requests for staffing changes Monday morning. Changes included reallocation from Downtown Development to Police, replacing one Engineering Tech, with an increase of about $20,000 per year, and additional police and fire facilities staff, with an increase of about $112,200 billed to those departments. The changing of Urban Forester and Trail Coordinator duties with a funding change of $54,600 per year was also requested. The council agreed to decide on the changes during their Wednesday meeting, with additional information to be provided. The council was presented with a look at the budget and proposed policy edits to sections including but not limited to Revenue, Capital Improvement, Expenditures, Fund Balance and Reserves, Debt Management, and Investments. The revisions and additions were aimed to consolidate current state practices within one document, improving general understanding of local government performances.

 

A woman was arrested by Grants Pass Police Friday afternoon after she bribed DMV employees.

An employee of the 162 NE Beacon Drive DMV reported to dispatch a man and woman attempted to bribe employees for answers to the driving test. The woman was taking the test at the time of the report around 3:04 p.m. The incident was caught on surveillance footage, and multiple employees reportedly witnessed the bribe.

Officers contacted Jyoti Sharma, and she was untruthful about basic details, denying offering money to the employees. Sharma was taken into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for a Bribe Giving charge, but was later released.

 

Deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man after he was caught fishing through mailboxes Sunday morning.

A 911 caller told dispatch the suspect was rummaging through a large blue mailbox at the Selma Post Office around 9:54 a.m. The man didn't stop looking through the receptacle when the caller showed up.

Deputies arrived and contacted the suspect, Michael Carrero, who was found to have a warrant charging him with Meth Possession. He was detained and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged on the warrant and an additional charge of Attempted Mail Theft.

According to the Sheriff's Report, Carrero was found to have an RCC Student ID and Visa Card on his person. The owner was contacted, and she reportedly had her wallet stolen approximately a month ago. Deputies destroyed the cards after being given permission by the owner.

 

A man was arrested at Resting Site 7 late Friday night on two warrants by Grants Pass Police officers.

Around 11:24 p.m., the suspect, Ely Smith, was located lying in his tent at the 712 NE 7th Street site. Officers were conducting a park check and knew he was wanted on two active warrants.

Smith's Grants Pass Police Department warrants charged him with First Degree Trespass, and Second Degree Disorderly Conduct. Both warrants were cleared, and Smith was taken into custody.

He was transported to the Adult Jail Facility where he was lodged for a short time. He was later released due to a lack of jail resources.

 

A call to dispatch reported a restraining order violation Sunday afternoon, to which Grants Pass Police responded.

The caller reported from his apartment in the 500 block of NE 7th Street that the respondent of his restraining order, Tracey Benet, had been outside yelling at him for 10 minutes. At the time of the call around 12:44 p.m., Benet was reportedly inside her apartment.

The caller said he had video evidence of the incident, and requested a response from law enforcement. Grants Pass Police arrived and contacted Benet. The order was confirmed, and officers took her into custody for Contempt of Court.

She was subsequently transported and lodged in the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility. Due to a lack of resources, however, she was later released.

 

A single vehicle roll-over crash occurred, prompting the response of Oregon State Police Saturday morning.

On Interstate 5 at milepost 73 southbound, troopers responded around 9:08 a.m. to the crash. Evidence at the scene and statements from the driver indicated a gray Honda Fit was traveling too fast on the wet roadway with cruise control on.

The driver lost control of the vehicle and proceeded to roll into the dirt embankment. She sustained suspected minor injuries from the incident and was transported to a hospital. Her vehicle was towed from the scene, and she was given a copy of the crash report by troopers.