Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender on two outstanding warrants at a downtown homeless encampment yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers spotted 30-year-old Kraig Dean Toothman at the temporary campsite at 6th and A streets on Friday at 12:31 p.m.. Police said Toothman was well-known to them from previous criminal contacts and they knew that he was wanted on two Grants Pass warrants -- both for failing to appear in court for Methamphetamine Possession. Toothman was placed into custody without incident and lodged in jail.

 

A Grants Pass man was jailed for felony theft after he stole thousands of dollars from his employer through fraudulent bottle returns over several months. The Grants Pass Police Department reports officers arrested 20-year-old Nicholas Wilson at the Li'l Pantry Market & Deli on Rogue River Highway on Wednesday afternoon. Police said Wilson used fraudulent bottle return transactions to deprive Li'l Pantry of approximately $12,000 over the course of four months. They said the suspect would record multiple $40 transactions while working and pocket the money when his shift was over. He used his employee number for each transaction. The store manager provided video surveillance of Wilson pocketing nearly $300 on Monday of this week. The money was located on him during a search and he was placed into custody. Wilson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Theft and Computer Crime. He was being held without bail. He was also trespassed from his now-former place of employment.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a felon for violating terms of his post-prison supervision this week after investigating a trespassing complaint a local bank. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident involving 29-year-old Jake Robert Thompson at the First Interstate Bank on NW 6th Street on Wednesday afternoon. Police said the bank manager called 9-1-1 to report a male subject who appeared to be under the influence of drugs trespassing on the property. They said the man was talking to himself and he was at the bank for at least two hours. Bank workers were afraid to approach him to ask him to leave. Officers arrived on scene, contacted Thompson and then contacted his corrections officer. The subject was well known to them from frequent criminal encounters. Thompson was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Parole Violation stemming from convictions for Criminal Mischief and Public Indecency. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show Thompson has been arrested for violating his parole at least 16 times in the past 12 months.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman on a statewide felony warrant and a local warrant during a contact this week in the Redwood area of the city. According to the Police Department, officers observed 45-year-old Melissa Marlene Francis Burger riding a bicycle near the corner of Redwood and Kellenbeck avenues on Wednesday. Police said they knew Burger by sight and they were aware that she was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation. She was also wanted on a Jackson County warrant for Fraud and Furnishing False Information to Police. Burger was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. Her bicycle and other belongings were taken to a home on Schroeder Lane at her request.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Selma couple while assisting the Oregon Department of Human Services. OSP reports troopers responded to assist DHS workers with the pickup of an endangered 7-year-old child at a home in the 900-block of Lakeshore Drive on Wednesday afternoon. During the incident, troopers contacted 46-year-old Mathew David Granger and determined that he had failed to comply with his reporting requirements as a convicted sex offender. He was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail. Troopers also contacted 45-year-old Holly Renee McCloud and discovered that she was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Possession of Methamphetamine. She was cited in lieu of arrest and released.

 

The Grants Pass Police Department is welcoming its newest officer to the agency. Police Officer Caleb Ardaiz recently took the oath of office and became GPPD's newest officer as Chief Warren Hensman pinned on his badge. Ardaiz will be heading to the Oregon Police Academy in April. Officer Ardaiz was born and raised in Medford, and he graduated from South Medford High School before joining the US Army as an infantryman. Following basic training, he joined a scout/sniper platoon. After returning from military deployment, Ardaiz joined the fire service and worked as a wildland firefighter until he was hired by the Klamath County Fire District as a firefighter/EMT. Officer Ardaiz chose to become a police officer because he said "it offers the unique opportunity to serve and protect while making a tangible difference in the community." He chose the local police department "because Grants Pass is a fantastic city with a close-knit welcoming community." Caleb added that "GPPD is committed to making a difference through professional police services."

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners faces a full agenda when it meets for its weekly business session this morning. The Board is scheduled to open the meeting with a proclamation naming April 5th-12th as "Rogue Valley Rough Stock Rodeo Days Week" followed by a public hearing for 4 requested annexations to the Josephine Community Library District. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners will consider three orders for establishing county-owned property as forestland, combining the Grants Pass and Illinois Valley Airport Advisory committees into one panel, and rescheduling the weekly business sessions in April to Fridays at 10 a.m.. In other business, the Board will consider resolutions for a Josephine County Forest Management Policy and Forest Reserve Fund as well as plat maps for the Kickin' Cattle Company and Buckmaster subdivisions. Today's public meeting begins at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

A Jacksonville man was jailed this week after attempting to lure and sexually corrupt a local teen. The suspect and under-aged victim connected via the Snapchat "Quick Add" feature. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office reports the juvenile's parents learned of the communications on March 22nd, intervened and reported it to them. Detectives with the Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) took over the child's Snapchat account and learned a local man was sexually communicating with the teen. On Wednesday, the suspect arranged to meet with a SOCET detective posing as the teen. Undercover detectives from the Sheriff's Office, SOCET, Oregon State Police and Medford Police Department positioned themselves at the suspect's prearranged meet-up location in the 2900-block of Crater Lake Highway. The suspect -- 39-year-old Anthony Nicholas Wheeler of Jacksonville -- was arrested without incident. Wheeler is charged with 1st-Degree and 2nd-Degree Online Sexual Corruption of a Child as well as Luring a Minor. He was lodged at the Jackson County Jail. The case will be prosecuted by the Jackson County District Attorney's Office. Detectives said this case is a reminder of the importance for parents to be aware of what their children are doing online.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is accepting applications for one vacant seat on the Fair Board. The Josephine County Fair Board is made up of seven volunteers who serve three-year terms and meet monthly. The Fair Board is a governing body that is charged with oversight of the annual County Fair and year-round management of the Josephine County Fairgrounds. The County Fair is a time-honored tradition that brings the community together for education and entertainment -- 2025 will serve as the 111th annual event. Recreation Director Tamra Martin said the Fair Board is a hard-working, dedicated group that is a vital part of the Fairgrounds' success. You can apply online at "josephinecounty.gov" under the Committee and Advisory Board tab or use the link "Advisory Committee Application for Board Appointment." For more information, contact the Josephine County Fairgrounds Office at (541)-476-3215 or email the Recreation Director at "tmartin@josephinecounty.gov."