Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Cave Junction man early yesterday for taking a vehicle and gun from his family without their permission. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 20-year-old Joshua James Polk at a home in the 1800-block of Laurel Road on Monday at 11:03 a.m.. Deputies said one of Polk's siblings called 9-1-1 to report that Polk took their mother's 2008 Ford Excursion without her consent. They said their brother took the keys from her purse early that morning and he does not have permission to drive it. The family called back when Polk returned to their home with the vehicle and they discovered that he had also taken a .45-caliber Hi Point pistol from the residence. Upon arrival, deputies detained Polk and interviewed the rest of the family who wished to press charges. Polk was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on felony charges of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and 1st-Degree Theft of a Firearm. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man last night for stealing thousands of dollars' worth of camera equipment from his brother. The Police Department reports officers arrested 28-year-old Jacob Nicolas Mas for the incident at a home in the 800-block NW Pawn Way on Monday at 9:13 p.m.. Police said the homeowner called 9-1-1 to report a theft of $7,900 worth of camera equipment from his garage. The caller said he found out his brother stole the items after his mother texted him and informed him of his sibling's crime. About 90 minutes later, police tracked down Mas and placed him into custody after he admitted taking his brother's property. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Theft and was being held without bail. It was unclear in the report if the stolen camera equipment was recovered.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested an elderly man late yesterday for punching his wife in the face. According to the Police Department, officers placed the 82-year-old man into custody at Mid Rogue Imaging on NW Hawthorne Avenue at 4:49 p.m. Monday. Police said an employee at the medical facility told them the woman was treated there earlier in the day after her husband punched her in the face while they were driving in the 2500-block of Merlin Road. They said the victim initially did not want to press charges against her spouse for giving her possible fractures in her bloodied nose. The employee spoke to the victim about her options and tried to encourage her to file charges. Officers also spoke to the victim and gathered enough information to develop probable cause for the arrest. The husband was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing a shopping cart and trespassing at a downtown convenience store early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 44-year-old Nicholas John Knox Knowles at the 7-Eleven store on SW 6th Street on Monday at 10:30 a.m.. Police said Knowles already had been trespassed from 7-Eleven and he was found to be in possession of a Bi-Mart shopping cart valued at $350. They said he also had been recently warned about taking shopping carts from local retailers. Knowles was booked into jail for 2nd-Degree Theft and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. The shopping cart was returned to Bi-Mart.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man on a local warrant late last night during a patrol check at a Cave Junction church. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies contacted a group of people including 34-year-old Christopher Wayne Powers at Immanuel Methodist Church on West Watkins Street on Monday at 10:40 p.m.. Deputies detained Powers and a female companion due to previous trespassing incidents at the church. He was found to be wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card. Powers was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged in jail on the warrant. He was being held without bail.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a woman for stealing a sign in the Wilderville area last weekend. According to OSP, troopers responded to a call regarding a female subject stealing a sign from the side of Redwood Highway near Wilderville Frontage Road on Saturday around 11:40 p.m.. Troopers said they searched the area and contacted 54-year-old Sabrina Nastiuk who was found to be in possession of the stolen sign. The sign was recovered and Nastiuk was cited to appear in court for Felony 1st-Degree Theft. It was unclear in the report what she planned to do with the sign.

 

Grants Pass Police evicted a man from a designated campground early yesterday after he committed multiple city ordinance violations. Police said Freedom Clayburn Walker was cited for Scattering Rubbish and Improper Utilization of Park Space at the NE 7th Street campground. Walker was using an approximately 11-by-11-foot space that was littered with broken tent poles and discarded wet clothing. He was issued a 30-day exclusion. John Praise Williams was found to be in possession of a TJ Maxx shopping cart. He was warned and the cart was returned to the local retailer. Another shopping cart was returned to Grocery Outlet. Officers posted 42 campsites at the campground and removed four of them. Trash was cleaned up and disposed of at Southern Oregon Sanitation.

 

The Oregon State Police has released the results of its investigation into a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred on Interstate 5 in Central Point late last week. On Friday at 10:53 a.m., troopers and emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle crash in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 33. OSP said the preliminary investigation indicated a Jackson County sheriff's deputy observed a Suzuki GSX-R1000 operated by 19-year-old Chalino Tellez-Cortez of Phoenix traveling northbound at more than 100 miles per hour. The deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the motorcycle rider failed to yield and struck the trailer of a Peterbilt commercial motor vehicle driven by a 28-year-old Yuba City, California, man. Tellez-Cortez was declared deceased at the scene. The truck driver was not hurt. Interstate 5 was impacted for approximately two hours during the on-scene investigation. OSP was assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Central Point Police Department, Jackson County Fire District #3, Mercy Flights and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for multiple crimes after he led officers on a high-speed pursuit last weekend. The Police Department reports officers eventually arrested 20-year-old Wyatt Cole Davis at gunpoint near the intersection of Granite Hill and Donaldson roads on Sunday at 9:17 p.m.. Police said they observed a white Ford Thunderbird pull out of the Li'l Pantry Market & Deli in north Grants Pass at a high rate of speed and skid sideways. An officer initiated a traffic stop, but the young motorist refused to yield, drove into the oncoming travel lane and drove away at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour. According to the report, the officer terminated the pursuit and returned to Li'l Pantry where he used video surveillance to identify the vehicle and its owner. The suspect vehicle was located and a high-risk traffic stop was conducted, with Davis and his male passenger detained. K-9 Maro was deployed for compliance and contingency needs. Davis admitted to trying to elude law enforcement and he stated he almost crashed and endangered his passenger who was released. Davis was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempt to Elude Police, Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangering. His car was impounded.