Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a man wanted on a three-year-old felony warrant at a city park early yesterday. According to the Police Department, the 37-year-old male subject was placed into custody at Riverside Park on Thursday at 3:35 a.m.. Police said they contacted the subject during an early morning patrol check when he was found to be violating park rules. A routine records check revealed the man was wanted on a 2021 Grants Pass felony warrant for failing to appear in court for 1st-Degree Theft. After the warrant was confirmed, the suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail where he was being held in lieu of posting $25,000 bail.

 

Grants Pass Police evicted four campers for ordinance violations at city parks on Thursday. At Croxton Memorial Park, a man was cited for Buffer Zone Violation and Misuse of Open Space. He was trespassed from the park for 30 days. One tent was posted for Illegal Camping and an e-mail was sent to United Community Action Network. At Eckstein Park, a woman had been warned Wednesday that she had set up her tent in a buffer zone. She told officers she would move her tent in lieu of a citation, but the tent had not been moved. Officers cited her for two counts of Buffer Zone Violation and excluded her from the park for 30 days. At Lawnridge Park, officers responded to a disturbance and contacted a woman who admitted to yelling at other people. She had been contacted Wednesday and warned for being in a buffer zone, but she had not moved her tent. She was cited for two counts of Buffer Zone Violation and trespassed for 30 days. Also at Lawnridge Park, a man was warned for Disorderly Conduct and cited for Buffer Zone Violation. He was issued a 30-day park exclusion.

 

The Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) raided an illegal cannabis growing site near Murphy yesterday. On Thursday, JMET -- with assistance from Josephine County Public Health & Building Safety -- served a search warrant in the 3,000-block of Southside Road. During execution of the warrant, more than 700 marijuana plants were seized and destroyed. The property also had multiple water and solid waste code violations, which could result in criminal forfeiture of the property. According to JMET, the primary suspect was not at the location during the raid. If located, they will be charged with Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana as well as Unlawful Appropriation of Water. Detectives said the investigation is ongoing and no further details are being released at this time.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a young woman for slapping and kicking her elderly grandmother this week. The Police Department reports officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 900-block of NE Savage Street on Wednesday. Police said the 18-year-old female subject was upset because she was unable to find her drugs, so she began tearing up the house she shares with her mother and grandmother. When her grandmother confronted the girl and told her to stop, she slapped her with a wooden spoon and repeatedly kicked the elderly woman. According to the report, the grandmother refused medical treatment -- but she wanted to pursue charges against her granddaughter whom she accused of being a frequent user of methamphetamine, marijuana, mushrooms and "whip-its." Upon arrival, officers interviewed both parties before placing the suspect into custody. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mistreatment and Physical Harassment. She was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man on a statewide felony warrant following a display of strange behavior outside a Redwood area retailer this week. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing call at the Dollar General store on Redwood Avenue early Wednesday morning. Police said a store worker called 9-1-1 to report a male subject dancing around and talking to himself with his pants almost down to his knees directly in front of the business. The caller said they believed the man was under the influence of drugs. Upon arrival, officers contacted the 28-year-old man and discovered that he was wanted on an Oregon State Parole Board warrant for Felony Parole Violation stemming from past burglary and theft convictions. A consent search found him to be in possession of two Dodge vehicle key fobs, which he claimed to have found the night before at Tussing Park. They were seized for safekeeping. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and he was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass woman for felony impaired driving this week following a traffic complaint on Rogue River Highway. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Toyota Tacoma driven by a 30-year-old female subject near milepost 2 of Highway 99 late Wednesday afternoon. Troopers said they were dispatched to a traffic complaint, the suspect vehicle was located and a traffic stop was initiated. Upon contact with the driver, they said she showed several signs of impairment and was found to have felony revoked driving privileges. She was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw. Based on the results of the blood draw, the suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Felony Driving While Suspended and Reckless Driving. She was being held without bail and her vehicle was impounded.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local warrant at a trailer park near Riverside Park this week. According to the Police Department, officers placed the 40-year-old male subject into custody at the Royal Trailer Park on Lewis Avenue on Wednesday morning. Police said they received a tip that the subject was at the trailer park working on his vehicle. They said he was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for 4th-Degree Assault. Officers found the man underneath a white and black van. He was positively identified, the warrant was confirmed and he was arrested without incident. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. He was also trespassed from the trailer park.

 

A popular campground located on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is closed for at least the next two weeks and possibly for the rest of the summer. Farewell Bend is a popular and picturesque campground in the midst of old-growth forest adjacent to the Rogue River. This campground is close to Crater Lake National Park, with groceries close by at Prospect and the Union Creek Resort. With outstanding fishing locations and many hiking trails, the campground facilities include 61 campsites with picnic tables and fire rings. Farewell Bend Campground currently has no water or bathroom facilities due to the water system being nonfunctional. The issue is due to the pump/booster station. It cannot be easily repaired and requires continued diagnostics to determine the full extent of the damage. Water pressure is below the minimum 20 psi required. For those who have reservations at Farewell Bend, those reservations will be maintained until the day after your arrival date at the campground was set to occur in "Recreation.gov." If the campground is still closed at that time, reservation fees will be automatically returned to you. You may also elect to request a refund earlier by accessing your "Recreation.gov" account.

 

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued eight penalties totaling more than $154,000 in June for various violations -- including one fine in Jackson County. DEQ said fines ranged from $5,200 to $57,348 for environmental violations last month. Locally, DEQ issued a $6,400 civil penalty to Federal Express Corporation of Medford for a stormwater violation. The state agency alleges the local company failed to monitor stormwater discharge, which can harm fish and aquatic life. GTE Wireless LLC, was levied a statewide penalty of $31,800 for not following air pollution regulations. Recipients of DEQ civil penalties must either pay the fines to the state treasury or file an appeal within 20 days of receiving notice. They may be able to offset a portion of a penalty by funding a supplemental environmental project that improves Oregon's environment. DEQ works with thousands of organizations and individuals to help them comply with laws that protect Oregon's air, land and water. The agency uses education, technical assistance, warnings and penalties to change behavior and deter future violations.