Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a man yesterday for roughing up a former friend and co-worker. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the reported incident at a bar in the 200-block of NW 6th Street on Tuesday shortly before 3 p.m.. Police said a man reported that his former friend and co-worker pushed him to the ground, causing scratches and pain to his left arm. They said the suspect learned that the victim was talking poorly about him to other friends and co-workers. Further investigation determined the victim is the suspect's supervisor at work and the incident actually occurred on Monday night. The victim advised he did not instigate the suspect in any way, and the suspect corroborated the victim's story. The suspect was cited to appear in court for Physical Harassment and released.

 

The Oregon State Police apprehended two men wanted on outstanding warrants during separate traffic stops in the Grants Pass area. OSP reports the incident occurred on Tuesday at 11:33 a.m. when state troopers pulled over a Chevrolet C-150 pickup driven by a 25-year-old Medford man in the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 near milepost 54. Troopers said they stopped the vehicle for speeding and quickly discovered that the driver was wanted on a local bench warrant for failing to appear in court for impaired driving. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail and his pickup was left on the side of the freeway at his request. The second incident happened this morning at 12:11 a.m. when troopers pulled over a Toyota RAV-4 driven by a 34-year-old Rogue River man on 6th Street near Voorhies Way. Troopers said they stopped the SUV for a traffic violation and discovered that the driver was wanted on a fugitive warrant out of Indiana. He was wanted for failing to appear in court for an unspecified felony-level crime. The man was lodged in jail on the warrant. He was being held without bail pending extradition to Indiana.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving last night after a traffic complaint in southeast Grants Pass. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Ford F-150 pickup driven by a 70-year-old man near the corner of Parkdale and Fruitdale drives on Tuesday at 10:38 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped the vehicle due to a citizen complaint and the driver displayed signs of impairment by alcohol. They said he performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was nearly twice the legal driving limit. The suspect was lodged at the Sobering Center for suspicion of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His pickup was impounded.

 

A Grants Pass man was jailed after a day-long dragnet this week in which he eluded law enforcement after a domestic violence incident in the downtown area. The Grants Pass Police Department reports officers eventually arrested 32-year-old Casey Jay Whitten in the 600-block of SW 6th Street late Monday afternoon. Police said Whitten unlawfully entered a woman's residence on Monday morning by climbing through her bedroom window. They said he left the location before officers could catch him and he was last seen running toward Western Avenue. Units checked all around the area and were unable to locate him. According to the report, the Women's Crisis Support Team was contacted and an advocate responded to the woman's home. A safety plan was formed and the team will be providing follow-up assistance to the victim. Officers learned that Whitten had taken the woman's phone, so they located him downtown by pinging it. The suspect took off running, but he finally surrendered and was placed into handcuffs near the intersection of 6th and L streets. During transport to the Josephine County Jail, Whitten began to have medical issues so he was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for evaluation. Though he was supervised by officers and hospital staff, he attempted to escape custody by using physical force. He was ultimately subdued and placed back in handcuffs. After being medically cleared at the hospital, Whitten was lodged in jail for 1st-Degree Burglary, Domestic Strangulation, 2nd-Degree Escape and Criminal Trespass. An additional Escape charge was referred to the District Attorney for consideration.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for breaking into a downtown supermarket and stealing food items early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to the burglary incident at the Safeway on SE 7th Street on Tuesday around 2:45 a.m.. Police said the Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center received several calls about a male subject who shattered the front door of Safeway, entered the store and stole food items. Reports indicated the subject then left the scene on foot. Officers arrived on scene and located a man who matched the description of the burglary suspect. He was detained without incident. Further investigation determined that the report was accurate and 47-year-old Brandon Wayne Newton shattered the front door with a shopping cart and entered Safeway to steal donuts. He admitted to the crimes and stated he was hungry. Newton was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on felony charges of 1st-Degree Burglary and 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief plus a misdemeanor charge of Petty Theft. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman who was allegedly using narcotics near a building occupied by Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE). According to the Police Department, officers responded to a report of two men and two women shooting up drugs at the building near the entrance to Baker Park on Monday night. Police said they searched the area and located a 31-year-old female subject who was walking away from a hypodermic needle and burnt foil on the ground. She denied using any drugs, but admitted that she had been trespassed from the city park on June 25th. She was three days short of adhering to the trespass violation. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. She was being held without bail.

 

There's not much happening for the Josephine County Board of Commissioners at its weekly business session this morning. The real action takes place after the meeting. The Board will open the weekly business session with Requests and Comments from Citizens when participants are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic related to Josephine County. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Commissioners will consider approval of a plat map for Phase 1 of the SSPX Elk Crossing development. At 10 a.m., the Board will reconvene to interview candidates for the seat vacated by former Commissioner Dan DeYoung on July 15th. The Commission is expected to appoint DeYoung's replacement after the interview process. Eleven candidates applied for the position, which was narrowed down to three for today's interviews. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium. The appointment of the new Commissioner will take place in the Board's Conference Room in the Courthouse. Both meetings can be viewed via Zoom or the Josephine County YouTube page.

 

Thanks to the intervention of Josephine County leaders and Oregon State University Extension staff, swine pens that had been removed from the Fairgrounds last Sunday have been returned to their original location. According to a Josephine County news release, volunteers and children with local agricultural programs were on hand at the Fairgrounds to unload and set up the pens on Tuesday morning. The swine pens were removed from the Fairgrounds in Grants Pass by members of the public unaffiliated with Josephine County government or the OSU Extension. OSU stated at the time the action was not part of the Extension's planned closeout of local operations after the Board of Commissioners voted to defund the district. The Commissioners and Fairgrounds staff worked closely with the OSU Extension to secure the return of the pens ahead of the Josephine County Fair, which begins August 7th. Josephine County Recreation Director Tamra Martin said the fair is about kids and the livestock community is the heart of the fair. She said they're thrilled to get the pens back and ensure a successful fair for everyone. In a Facebook post, Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel said deputies escorted the semi-truck returning the pig pens back to the Fairgrounds yesterday. He said he is proud of how everyone handled this unfortunate situation with calm resolve.

 

Motorists should expect daytime lane closures and delays along Oregon Highway 66 east of Ashland due to a two-day chip seal project that starts tomorrow. The Oregon Department of Transportation reports flaggers and pilot cars will provide traffic control through the work zone, which starts at Dead Indian Memorial Road and ends near the east end of Emigrant Lake. According to ODOT, crews will be in that six-mile stretch of highway to complete prep work ahead of the chip seal project. Chip seal projects can result in loose rock on the roadway. Motorists are advised to slow down, drive with caution and allow additional space between vehicles. While lane closure are in effect, ODOT asks local residents to wait at the end of their driveways for a pilot car before turning onto the highway. ODOT will post signs at each driveway and flaggers will provide traffic control at intersections. Through mid-August, drivers should watch for intermittent daytime lane closures for striping and sign installation. For updated information about road conditions and active work zones, visit "tripcheck.com."