Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a felon for violating his post-prison supervision while investigating a weekend report of suspicious activity near the shopping center. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a citizen report of two people sitting in a vehicle in the parking lot of an apartment complex on NE Victoria Street on Friday at 10:20 p.m.. Police said an apartment occupant called 9-1-1 to report a dark-colored sedan containing two people that was parked behind their patio door for 90 minutes. The caller requested they be contacted and warned for trespassing. Officers arrived on scene and contacted the vehicle occupants, including a 30-year-old man who was found to be wanted on a Marion County warrant for failing to appear in court for shoplifting. The man -- who was determined to be a convicted felon -- was placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a local felony warrant after he was seen breaking into a vehicle on the west side of the city -- his own. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 42-year-old male subject near the corner of SW Greenwood Avenue and Bridge Street on Saturday at 8:42 a.m.. Police said the subject was contacted after he was seen using a coat hanger to get into a minivan. They determined that he was the registered owner of the van. They also determined that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for Felon in Possession of a Weapon. The suspect was transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a motorcycle rider following a weekend pursuit that ended when he collided with another vehicle in downtown Grants Pass. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested the 21-year-old male subject at the corner of SE 7th and I streets on Saturday at 3:08 p.m.. Deputies said they attempted to stop a 2015 Yamaha motorcycle for a traffic violation, but the rider refused to yield and led them on a high speed pursuit into the downtown area where he collided with another vehicle. No one was hurt. The Grants Pass Police Department handled the crash investigation. The motorcyclist was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempt to Elude Police and Driving While Suspended. His motorcycle was towed to the impound yard. His backpack was dropped off at a Park Street address at his request.

 

Emergency first responders rescued a hiker experiencing a medical problem on the Cathedral Hills trail system. On Saturday at 8:20 a.m., Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the incident on the Timber Riders Trail. The initial access and extraction point was believed to be from the Sky Crest Trailhead. Assistance was provided from several other hikers and runners on the trail, including a local guide with Huntfluent Guide Service. Using the OnX mapping program, quicker access to the patient was gained from a nearby residence. This shortcut was instrumental in getting the patient extracted to the ambulance in less time than tracking back to Sky Crest. The unidentified patient was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center. Local rescue crews urged hikers and users of the Cathedral Hills trail system to identify alternative exit points in the event of an emergency such as this one. Officials said learning how to "pin and share your location" using basic Google maps with responders, greatly accelerates access, delivery of care and extraction.

 

Multiple agencies halted a roadside fire above Hellgate Canyon early yesterday. On Sunday at 5:56 a.m., Rural Metro Fire Department, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and the Oregon Department of Forestry responded to the reported fire on Galice Road between Hog Creek Boat Landing and Hellgate Overlook. Rural Metro officials said there was no threat to nearby structures. By 8:40 a.m., crews were nearing completion of mop-up efforts. The final size of the blaze was 1.3 acres and ODF was handling the investigation. Assisting Rural Metro, GP Fire & Rescue and ODF on scene were Jackson County Fire District #1, the Oregon State Police, Josephine County Sheriff's Office and Josephine County Emergency Management. Agencies called in to cover additional calls were the Illinois Valley Fire District, Applegate Valley Fire District and Williams Rural Fire Protection District.

 

Crews knocked down a small fire near Interstate 5 in the Sunny Valley area yesterday. Rural Metro Fire Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry were dispatched to the reported blaze near milepost 71 of I-5 on Sunday at 12:21 p.m.. Rural Metro officials reported arriving firefighters mounted an aggressive attack and had a wet line around the fire by 12:50 p.m.. They said growth of the fire was stopped at about one-quarter acre. Officials said there was no structural threat and freeway traffic was not affected. ODF was investigating the cause of the fire.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District received assistance from several agencies in knocking down a large weekend vehicle fire on Redwood Highway near O'Brien. On Friday at 6:33 p.m., crews from IVFD, the US Forest Service, Gasquet Fire and the Oregon Department of Forestry were dispatched to the incident at US Highway 199 and Green Gate Road. IVFD officials said arriving units found a trailer on fire that had spread into the nearby wildland. Firefighters attacked the blaze, fully extinguishing the trailer and stopping further spread into the forest. Officials said the cause of the trailer fire was unknown. It was towed to Cave Junction for further investigation.

 

Authorities were looking for the driver of a vehicle that crashed off Happy Camp Road early yesterday. On Sunday at 1:38 a.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response rushed to the single-vehicle rollover wreck at the top of Happy Camp Road near the Bolan Lake turnout. IVFD officials said units arrived on scene to find the vehicle over the side of a steep embankment. They said a search for occupants was completed in the area and crews were unable to locate anyone. The wrecked vehicle was hauled up the embankment and towed to Cave Junction.

 

Jackson County is continuing work on the northern sections of Foothill Road near Medford. Starting today, an additional closure will be put in place just south of Corey Road. Emergency service providers have been notified and residents will still be able to access their properties at all times. The new temporary closure is to facilitate the widening of three culvert crossings in the area to allow for the future widening of this section of Foothill Road in the future. The newest closure will be approximately 1/2 mile south of Corey Road and it will be in place start Monday through early November. The existing closure between Dry Creek Road and Coker Butte Road will remain in place until early September. Additional project information can be found at "oregondepartmentoftransportation-project-details-projects.stateoforegon."