Local News

Grants Pass Police apprehended a fugitive wanted on a statewide felony warrant while performing a patrol check at a city park on Memorial Day. According to the Police Department, officers spotted the 55-year-old male subject at Morrison Centennial Park on Rogue River Highway on Monday at 9:06 a.m.. Police said the city park camper was known to them from previous contacts and a records check showed that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation. While being placed into custody, he was found with a small amount of methamphetamine which was seized for destruction. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the no-bail warrant and he was cited to appear in court for the narcotics violation. He was also trespassed from the park for 30 days.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested two people for attempting to steal merchandise from Walmart yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at the store on NE Terry Lane on Monday at about 11 a.m.. Police said a 37-year-old man and 31-year-old woman were observed and admitted to stealing more than $100 in items from Walmart by concealing them in a purse and backpack. The suspects were placed into custody and during a consent search, the female subject was found with over two grams of methamphetamine. It was seized for destruction. Both the man and woman were lodged without bail at the nearby Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft. The drug possession charge was added to the woman's criminal bill. Both were also trespassed from Walmart.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested four motorists for impaired driving in Josephine County over the Memorial Day Weekend. According to OSP, the first incident occurred on Friday afternoon when troopers pulled over a Toyota Tacoma driven by a 66-year-old Jacksonville man near the intersection of Williams Highway and Hyde Park Road. Troopers said the driver was known to be wanted on a warrant for Driving While Suspended and he showed signs of impairment. The second incident happened on Saturday at 11:08 p.m. when troopers pulled over a Toyota Prius driven by a 33-year-old man from Pico Rivera, California, near the corner of 7th and B streets in Grants Pass. Troopers said they stopped the man for traffic violations and he displayed signs of impairment. The third incident took place on Sunday at 1:23 a.m. when troopers pulled over a Dodge Challenger driven by a 30-year-old woman from Eureka, California, on Redwood Highway near Willow Lane. Troopers said they stopped the woman for failing to maintain her travel lane and she displayed signs of impairment. The fourth incident occurred on Sunday at 6:43 p.m. when troopers responded to a motor vehicle crash at Bridge Lane and Old Highway 99 in Wolf Creek. Troopers said the 54-year-old male driver of a Jeep Patriot left the roadway and crashed into some trees. The Jeep driver called 9-1-1 to report that he was a drunk driver.

 

A motorist was seriously hurt when he crashed a rented moving van on Redwood Highway in the southern Illinois Valley early yesterday. On Monday at 6:22 a.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response and Oregon State Police responded to the single-vehicle rollover crash on US Highway 199 near Arrowhead Drive and Dwight Creek Road. IVFD officials said the motorist was trapped inside the overturned U-Haul moving van and heavy extrication was needed to free him. Rural Metro Fire Department was called to the scene for manpower and more extrication tools while Jerry's Towing was called in for vehicle stabilization. The patient was extricated from the wreckage, transported to the Illinois Valley Airport by AMR and transferred to Reach Air Ambulance which flew him to a local trauma center with serious injuries. The Oregon Department of Transportation provided traffic control while the scene was active. OSP was conducting the crash investigation.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for assaulting his neighbor in the Redwood area west of Grants Pass last weekend. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a disturbance in the 5,000-block of Leonard Road on Sunday shortly before 6 p.m.. Deputies said the victim called 9-1-1 to report that his 65-year-old next door neighbor walked up to him and hit him in the face. The caller said he was bleeding, but he did not need ambulance. However, he did want to press charges. No reason was given for the punch. Two women in an adjacent space witnessed the assault, but wished to remain anonymous in fear of retaliation from the suspect. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Assault. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man last weekend for breaking into a house in the northeast part of the city. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 36-year-old male subject for the incident at a home in the 900-block of NE 10th Street on Sunday at 1:41 a.m.. Police officers responded to a burglary in progress and found a male occupant had detained the suspect in the front garden portion of his residence. They said the occupant's wife was awakened from her sleep by a man standing at the edge of their bed in the master bedroom. The husband attempted to escort the intruder out of the house -- but he refused to leave and shoved the husband, causing a physical disturbance that made holes in the wall, displaced a mirror and dislodged the framed glass glazing from the front door. During the altercation, the husband sustained physical injuries including cuts, scrapes, limited mobility and a high register on the pain scale. According to the report, damage to the home was estimated to be over $1,500. The suspect invoked his right to remain silent and did not provide a statement. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on felony charges of 1st-Degree Burglary and Criminal Mischief plus a misdemeanor charge of 4th-Degree Assault.

 

Grants Pass Police nabbed two people on outstanding warrants after a weekend shoplifting attempt at Walmart. The Police Department reports officers responded to the theft complaint at the store on NE Terry Lane on Sunday at 8:55 a.m.. Police said a 45-year-old woman was observed by Walmart loss prevention concealing unpurchased merchandise in a black duffle bag that was also stolen. She passed all points of sale with more than $166 worth of items, depriving the store of its property. The female suspect was located a short time later with a 45-year-old man on the Grants Pass Parkway. A records showed that the woman was wanted on a Medford felony warrant for failing to appear in court for vehicle theft and a Klamath County Corrections warrant for failing to appear in court for Forgery. The woman's male companion was wanted on a Klamath County Corrections warrant for failing to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Theft. Both suspects were lodged in jail on their warrants and the woman was also charged with 2nd-Degree Theft. All the stolen items were recovered by Walmart.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a teenager wanted on three local felony warrants at Riverside Park during the latter part of the Boatnik Festival. According to the Police Department, officers spotted the 19-year-old male subject near the Lower Beer Garden at the city park festival on Sunday around 11:15 p.m.. Police said they recognized the young man and knew that he was wanted on two Grants Pass felony warrants for 3rd-Degree Assault and 2nd-Degree Robbery as well as a Josephine County felony warrant for Probation Violation related to an arrest for Intimidation. The young suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants. He was being held in lieu of posting $285,000 bail.

 

Due to the Memorial Day holiday yesterday, the Cave Junction City Council will meet this evening. Mayor Meadow Martell and City Council members Ethan Lane, Tina Casey Jones, Jean Ann Miles and Jesse Dugas will open the meeting by reviewing the minutes of April's regular meeting and considering an OLCC liquor license recommendation for La Zapoteca Market. Following the public comment period and re-appointment of budget committee members Patrick Sculley and Angela Evans, the Council will consider two ordinances. The first ordinance would amend an existing ordinance pertaining to the zoning map and comprehensive plan while the second would amend City Code relating to water and sewer rates. In other business, the Council will review the city contract with the Sheriff's Office and Sheriff's Substation before authorizing the mayor's signatures. Tonight's meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Cave Junction City Hall, 222 Lister Street.