Local News

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners made quick work of a light agenda during its weekly business session this morning. Following a public hearing, the Board voted 2-0 to approve the annexation of a 5.33-acre property on Cloverlawn Drive into the Josephine Community Library District. Board Vice-Chair Herman Baertschiger was absent. During the hearing, the Grants Pass couple who attempted to opt out of the library district spoke against all past, present and future annexations. Mike and Winnie Pelfrey also hinted that they are still trying to find a way to get out of the district. During the public comment period, Mike Pelfrey urged residents to vote "no" on all statewide and local ballot measures while voting "yes" for all candidates who are conservative members of the Republican party. Other citizen comments included Commissioner Baertschiger's apparent conflict of interest as chairman of the Fort Vannoy Irrigation District, opposition to the newly configured Pipe Fork land sale near Williams, concerns about the sale of county-owned timber properties without proper mineral assessments, opposition to Ballot Measure 118, concern over "obscene" books in local school districts, questions about the county policy on weapons in public buildings and encouragement to register to vote before next week's deadline.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a woman for attacking a man who accused her of stealing his wallet and cell phone early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 30-year-old Kristina Rose Barker on Tuesday at 9:31 a.m. 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 yesterday 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 around 1:15 p.m.. They stopped him because the vehicle had no 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.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant in the North Valley area yesterday. According to Sheriff's Office, deputies contacted 36-year-old Alejandro Soto and placed him into custody in the 800-block of Plumtree Lane at 3:35 p.m. Tuesday. Deputies said they were looking for Soto because he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for Felony Hit-and-Run. They were initially unable to locate him, but found him in the bathroom. No details were disclosed about the original crime or how Soto had violated his post-prison supervision. Soto was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested two Josephine County Community Corrections clients on outstanding warrants during separate incidents yesterday. According to the Police Department, the first incident occurred when officers were contacted by the local corrections office on NW 4th Street on Tuesday at 9 a.m.. Police said they were informed that 38-year-old Katina Renee Emrick was there and that she was wanted on a Multnomah County felony warrant for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. She was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the no-bail warrant. The second incident happened on Tuesday at 1:37 p.m. when officers were alerted to the presence of 23-year-old Chance Canon Calaustro at the corrections office. Police said Calaustro was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for Probation Violation related to a recent arrest for Cocaine Possession. He was placed into custody and lodged in jail on $40,000 bail. In both cases, the corrections clients were unaware they were about to be arrested.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving last night 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 at about 7:30 p.m.. 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.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant during a patrol check at a city park early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers contacted a male subject who was sleeping near the restrooms at Morrison Centennial Park on Tuesday at 8:28 a.m.. Police said a routine records check showed 58-year-old Donnie Wayne Snow, Jr., was wanted on a Coos Bay Police Department warrant for failing to appear in court for Larceny or Petty Theft. They said he was also found to be in possession of a small amount of marijuana, which was seized for destruction. Snow was lodged in jail on the warrant and he was cited to appear in court for the drug crime. He was also trespassed from the park for 30 days. His bicycle and bike trailer were logged into evidence for safekeeping.

 

UPDATE: MOREFIRE HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND IS NO LONGER MISSING.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is seeking public assistance in locating a missing woman. Sheriff's officials said they received a Monday report that 39-year-old Morefire Zyerin Stilke has not had contact with her family since July of this year. She was last known to be residing in the Cave Junction area. At this time, officials said there is very limited information about her potential whereabouts. Stilke is described as a white female adult, 5-feet-7-inches tall and 180 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information on Morefire Stilke is encouraged to call the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123.

 

A Josephine County man was jailed on a local felony warrant and he may be facing additional charges after he led a multi-agency pursuit in the North Valley area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies and the Oregon State Police arrested 25-year-old Griffan Ian Lucas in a field next to Interstate 5 in the Hugo area on Monday afternoon. Deputies said the incident started with a Monday morning call from a property owner in the 600-block of Oxyoke Road who reported that someone broke into his minivan. A short time later, a caller reported their surveillance camera caught a male subject trying to break into their house and another caller reported that multiple cigarette lighters had been stolen off their back porch in recent weeks. An investigation led deputies to a property in the 700-block of Mossy Oak Drive where Lucas bolted out the back door when they tried to enter the residence. The suspect ran down Mossy Oak to El Conejo and toward I-5 where he was believed to be hunkered down in the brush. The Sheriff's Office brought in a K-9 officer and the Oregon State Police deployed a drone to search for the suspect from the air. After an extensive search of the area, Lucas was located and he struggled with law enforcement as they placed him into custody. Further investigation led police to the suspect's home where he had hidden numerous stolen items including cell phones, Ipads and more in a tree house. The items were seized as evidence in the case. Lucas had several cuts from eluding law enforcement, so he was checked out by medics before being lodged in jail on a Josephine County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and for Escape. He is likely facing additional charges from the residential and vehicle burglaries.