Local News

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant during a weekend patrol check in the downtown area early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 46-year-old Joseph Aaron Mendivil at the 7-Eleven store on SW 6th Street on Monday at 2:48 a.m.. Police said they were on patrol when they observed Mendivil and a woman standing in the turn lane at the intersection of 6th and M streets. Based on their behavior, officers considered their presence suspicious and made contact with both subjects. They said Mendivil was recognized from prior law enforcement contacts. Mendivil was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a previous assault conviction. He was also found to be in possession of a white crystal substance that field tested positive as methamphetamine. Mendivil was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the no-bail warrant. A voicemail was left for his corrections officer to follow up with his client.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving after a weekend traffic stop on Williams Highway near Provolt. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Subaru Crosstrek driven by a 43-year-old Medford man near milepost 13 of Highway 238 on Sunday at 4:46 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped the driver for a traffic violation and he showed signs of impairment. They said the driver refused to perform field sobriety tests and asked for representation from an attorney. He was arrested and transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw after a search warrant was obtained. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangering because there was a 46-year-old Medford woman in his vehicle. The vehicle and passenger were turned over to a sober driver.

 

Authorities are investigating a fire that destroyed the old US Postal Service office in Merlin early yesterday. Rural Metro Fire Department, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and American Medical Response were dispatched to the structure fire in the 300-block of Merlin Road on Monday at 7:54 a.m.. Rural Metro officials said firefighters got a quick knockdown on the blaze, but the building sustained heavy damage. There were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Oregon State Fire Marshal and Josephine County Sheriff's Office. Additional assistance was received from the Applegate Valley Fire District.

 

The Portland Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced it will be honoring Rogue River Police Chief Dave Rash at their upcoming annual FBI Community Leadership Awards Ceremony. The annual awards ceremony is a time when the FBI honors community partners for their exemplary service and recognizes them for their continuing partnership with the federal law enforcement agency. Chief Rash has dedicated over 30 years of service in law enforcement to protecting communities in Oregon. He served communities in Milwaukee, Hubbard and now Rogue River where he serves as the Chief of Police. Chief Rash is a past president of the Oregon Chapter of the FBI National Academy Association, but his service to the chapter did not end when his time on the board was over. He remains a trusted and valuable partner who is known for his acts of service, historical knowledge and willingness to step up when needed most. He continues to volunteer by organizing regional gatherings across the state and consistently recognizes promotions or retirements of chapter members.

 

The Grants Pass City Council is preparing to consider an ordinance that amends the municipal code regarding resting in public spaces. During Monday's workshop session, Grants Pass City Attorney Stephanie Nutall briefed the Council on the changes that would go into effect once the preliminary injunction is lifted to allow the enforcement of restrictions on resting sites. Nutall reminded the City Council that on April 16th they established four resting locations that will accommodate more than 150 resting sites with many of them ADA-compliant as directed by Josephine County Circuit Judge Sarah McGlaughlin. The attorneys representing the City in the Disability Rights Oregon lawsuit plan to ask the judge to lift the injunction as soon as possible. According to Nutall, the ordinance would declare an emergency and consolidate restrictions that would prohibit resting overnight in all city parks. The ordinance would also strengthen restrictions within the designated resting sites, limiting the sites to an 8-foot-by-8-foot spatial footprint and reducing the buffer between the sites from six feet to three feet. The unhoused population resting in the existing sites would be required to move every four days, with a 72-hour notice in effect. The City Council will consider the ordinance on Wednesday night and if it is approved unanimously, the emergency declaration will go into effect as soon as the preliminary injunction is lifted.

 

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is warning Rogue Valley residents that scammers have kicked into high gear again recently. In the latest scam, they are leaving messages claiming that "Sheriff Aaron Grissom" has civil documents for them to pick up and that they need to call back to schedule an appointment. It's likely a ruse to get them on the phone to ask for money. Sheriff's officials remind residents not to send money to someone representing themselves as law enforcement on the phone. Law enforcement entities will never call you to collect money and they will never ask for payment in the form of gift cards or bitcoin. When in doubt, hang up and call your local law enforcement agency's official phone number. The Sheriff's Office number is (541)-774-6800. There is also a text message scam going around regarding unpaid tolls. The scammers send a text claiming an outstanding balance due to an unpaid toll. The recipient of the message is supposed to click on a link in the text to arrange for payment to settle their "debt." Once they do, their personal information becomes compromised. If you click on the link, close the webpage immediately. If you think you've been scammed, visit "IdentityTheft.gov."

 

The City of Grants Pass has announced the start of Phase 2 on the Dollar Mountain Trail Project. The City commenced construction on the trail system in September 2024, adding several miles of new mountain biking and hiking trails. Phase 2 of this initiative focuses on the development of a parking facility to establish a new trailhead on city-owned land located off Hieglen Loop. At the April 23rd Urban Area Planning Commission meeting, the Commission approved the major site plan and variance for the Hieglen Loop Trailhead & Day Use Parking. Completion is anticipated this summer, which will provide new access and parking to the Dollar Mountain Trail System in the northwest part of the city.

 

A Williams man was arrested over the weekend for beating up his girlfriend and breaking her phone when she tried to call for help. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the domestic disturbance in the 600-block of Cedar Flat Road on Friday around 7:15 p.m.. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 from the Williams Country Store to report that her boyfriend -- 54-year-old Trinon Cirello -- punched her and kicked her after she fell down. The victim said the suspect broke her phone in half so she couldn't call for help. She fled the house and was worried her boyfriend might harm her cats. The victim provided deputies with a description of Cirello's vehicle, which they located and stopped in the 8300-block of Williams Highway. He was placed into custody for suspicion of domestic violence. Cirello was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault and Interfering with Making a Police Report. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for old and new drug crimes while investigating a weekend report of suspicious activity in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers responded to a report of a man smoking a drug pipe while sitting in a vehicle with another man in the Colonial Plaza off NE E Street on Friday shortly before 8 p.m.. The caller provided a license plate number on the vehicle, which was traced by dispatchers to 54-year-old Johnnie Thomas Brown, Jr., who was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for Possession and Delivery of Fentanyl as well as Methamphetamine Possession and Driving While Suspended. Brown was the passenger in the vehicle and the driver -- identified as "Tyler Smedley" -- told officers that Brown was inside a nearby business. That's where he was contacted while gambling and found to be in possession of over eight grams of fentanyl. The narcotics were seized as evidence and for eventual destruction. Brown was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Felony Possession of Fentanyl. He was being held without bail.