Local News

A trespassing complaint at a Grants Pass home improvement store early yesterday led to the arrest of a felon for violating his post-prison supervision. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 56-year-old Matthew Carl Montgomery at Home Depot on NE Mill Street on Wednesday shortly after 9 a.m.. Police said the Home Depot manager called 9-1-1 to report illegal campers who had been in the store parking lot overnight. The caller advised one man and some women had tarped over their pickup, set up a barbecue and were dumping urine in the flower beds. According to the report, the license plates on the black Dodge pickup belonged to a 2006 Ford Explorer. Upon arrival, officers contacted Montgomery and found him to be in possession of methamphetamine. It was seized for destruction and the subject's corrections officer was contacted. Montgomery was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Meth Possession and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show Montgomery has been arrested four times for violating his post-prison supervision since March of this year.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested two people yesterday for stealing merchandise from local retailers. The Police Department reports the first incident occurred on Wednesday at 1:10 p.m. when officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at Rite Aid in the Grants Pass Shopping Center. Police said 19-year-old Alexandria Millwood walked out of Rite Aid without paying for $28 worth of cosmetics. Officers searched the area and found her on NE D Street. She was lodged in jail for 3rd-Degree Theft and the stolen cosmetics were returned. She was also trespassed from the store. The second incident happened on Wednesday at 3:35 p.m. when officers responded to a shoplifting call at WinCo Foods on NE Terry Lane. Police said 31-year-old Mason Kukuczka pushed a shopping cart full of groceries out of the store without paying. Video surveillance captured the man passing all points of sale and exiting the store before being confronted by loss prevention. He was found to be hiding additional items under his hat and in his underwear. Officers contacted Kukuzcka and placed him into custody. He was lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Theft. More than $375 worth of groceries were returned to WinCo.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man and his wife for driving and drug violations during a traffic stop on the east side of the city early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a white Ford pickup with bicycles in the back in the 400-block of NE Sovereign Avenue on Wednesday around 3:20 a.m.. Police said they stopped the pickup after reports of "suspicious activity" in the area of NE Terry Lane and the Grants Pass Parkway. The license plates on the vehicle were expired and the driver -- identified as "Jesse Houston" -- was found to be driving with a suspended license with a required ignition interlock device not installed. He was cited to appear in court and the pickup was impounded. While assisting with the traffic stop, officers observed a drug tooter in open view. It was tested, but did not come back positive for narcotics. However, a woman identified as "Esther Houston" consented to a search which revealed more drug paraphernalia that tested positive for methamphetamine. She was also cited.

 

Community service officers (CSOs) and patrol officers from the Grants Pass Police Department cleaned up the homeless encampment on SE J Street early yesterday. According to GPPD, the cleanup of the designated campsite was accomplished by filling a large dump trailer to the top along with two CSO trucks. While waiting for the trailer to be dumped, officers cited a woman for Illegal Camping and Utilization of Space. She was trespassed from the campground for 30 days.

 

The Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) arrested three men while raiding an illegal marijuana growing operation in Azalea this week. On Tuesday, DINT -- with assistance from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office -- served a search warrant at a residence in the 700-block of Yeust Road. During execution of the warrant, detectives located more than 1,200 marijuana plants in various stages of growth along with about 20 pounds of processed pot and nine pounds of cannabis extract, commonly referred to as BHO (butane honey oil). They also found lots of evidence of illegal marijuana production and distribution. Detectives located several other drugs including psilocybin mushrooms, Xanax, Oxycodone, Tramadol and anabolic steroids. They found numerous firearms, some of them strategically placed around the growing operation as presumed protection. There were also code and water use violations that are being addressed by those respective agencies. DINT reports 46-year-old Michael Long of Azalea was arrested at the scene and charged with Unlawful Manufacture, Possession and Delivery of Marijuana; Unlawful Possession and Delivery of Schedule 1 Controlled Substances, and Unlawful Possession of Schedule 3 Controlled Substances. Two other Azalea men -- 59-year-old Daniel Roy and 24-year-old Angel Ortega -- were also arrested. Roy was charged with Unlawful Manufacture, Possession and Delivery of Marijuana while Ortega was charged with Unlawful Possession of Marijuana.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a woman for attacking a man who accused her of stealing his wallet and cell phone this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 30-year-old Kristina Rose Barker on Tuesday morning for the incident that occurred at a home on SE M Street. Police said they contacted a man at his residence regarding the theft of his wallet and cell phone valued at more than $100. During the investigation, officers found the man had severe swelling around his neck. The victim advised Barker came up from behind him and strangled him with his own shirt. According to the report, Barker displayed extreme indifference to the value of the man's life, stating "I don't care if you die. I am going to kill you." The victim said he could not escape because the woman's knees were on his chest, preventing him from being able to move. The initial call came in around 5:45 a.m., but Barker left before the arrival of law enforcement. She returned as officers were interviewing the victim and that's when they placed her into custody. She admitted to her actions and reported that she broke her thumb while physically assaulting the victim. Barker was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 2nd-Degree Assault, Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Strangulation, Menacing and 2nd-Degree Theft. She was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man wanted on two outstanding felony warrants this week during a traffic stop near Wolf Creek. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a white Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 36-year-old Christopher Lee Myers in the 100-block of Speaker Road on Tuesday afternoon. They stopped him because the vehicle had no license plates. Deputies said they were familiar with Myers from previous law enforcement contacts and they knew he was wanted on two felony warrants issued by Douglas County Circuit Court, both for failing to appear in court for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. Myers was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants. He was being held without bail pending transfer to the Douglas County Jail in Roseburg.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving this week following a traffic complaint in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to a light-blue Toyota Prius swerving and almost hitting several vehicles in the area of NW A and 5th streets on Tuesday night. Police said a citizen called 9-1-1 to report they were following the suspect vehicle with an older female behind the wheel. The caller advised the woman was driving dangerously at varying speeds and they suspected she might be impaired. They advised officers that the suspect vehicle had parked on NW Highland Avenue in a "No Parking" zone. Officers eventually tracked down the 72-year-old driver at a residence in the 1600-block of Sue Circle. They said she answered the door with a strong odor of alcohol coming from her person. When questioned, the woman admitted to consuming adult beverages before driving to her home. The suspect refused to participate in field sobriety tests, so a search warrant was obtained and she was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw. She was medically cleared and then lodged in jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants.

 

Josephine Community Library invites families to a storytime with Grants Pass Police Officer Ken Frownfelter from 11 a.m. to noon at the Grants Pass branch located at 200 NW C Street. It's part of the "Neighborhood Heroes Story Squad Program" at the local library. Children and their families can join a special program featuring community hero Officer Frownfelter who will read "Mikey and the Dragons," by Jocko Willink, a story about courage and bravery. After the story, participants will have a chance to ask Frownfelter questions about what it's like to be a police officer and learn more about how he helps keep our community safe. Stick around after the Q&A to make your own officer-themed craft. This program is free and open to the public. A library card is not needed to participate. For more information about library programs, visit "josephinelibrary.org," e-mail "info@josephinelibrary.org" or call (541)-476-0571.