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Suspect Arrested after Striking Central Point Police Officer during Elude Attempt

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office arrested a wanted fugitive late last week at a Medford convenience store. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies arrested 34-year-old Joshua Edward McLaughlin of Butte Falls on Friday afternoon. He was wanted on eight warrants including 1st-Degree Burglary and multiple counts of Felony Attempt to Elude Police. He was lodged at the Jackson County Jail. Deputies said McLaughlin eluded law enforcement early Friday morning by intentionally crashing into a Central Point Police Department patrol car. While ramming the patrol car, he also struck a Central Point officer with his side-view mirror. The officer is okay and expected to make a full recovery. The Central Point Police Department has probable cause to add charges of Elude, Felony Hit-and-Run, Reckless Driving, three counts of Reckless Endangering, 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief, 3rd-Degree Assault, Attempted 3rd-Degree Assault, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Assault on a Peace Officer. On Friday afternoon, Jackson County undercover detectives tracked down and tailed McLaughlin to the OK Market on North Riverside Avenue in Medford. They followed the suspect into the market and advised he was under arrest. The suspect attempted to flee out the back of the store, but he was quickly outperformed and placed into handcuffs. Jackson County Public Information Officer Aaron Lewis said the case is open and ongoing with deputies and detectives continuing the investigation.

Posted on 6/10/24 6:31AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Department Investigation Lands Suspect in Jail for Felony Robbery

A Grants Pass Police Department investigation has resulted in the arrest of a man for felony robbery. The Police Department reports officers arrested 57-year-old Lawrence J. Gluff at Walmart on NE Terry Lane on Saturday at 5 p.m.. Few details about the investigation have been disclosed, but Gluff was wanted in connection with a recent robbery, he was tracked down at Walmart and placed into custody. An anonymous tipster helped law enforcement find the suspect. Gluff was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for suspicion of Felony 1st-Degree Robbery. He was being held without bail. Police said a folding knife that was in Gluff's possession was given to a female acquaintance at his request. His personal belongings were dropped off at his campsite on the west side of Riverside Park.

Posted on 6/10/24 6:29AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Used Non-Lethal Measures to Capture Man Wanted on State Warrant

Grants Pass Police were forced to use non-lethal measures at the beginning of the weekend to apprehend a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant. According to the Police Department, officers arrested the 33-year-old male subject outside the Alibi Bar on NW 6th Street on Friday shortly before 10 p.m.. Police said an officer and off-duty corrections officer observed the man near the bar. When additional units responded, the suspect attempted to run away. After Taser deployment and an assist from a K-9 officer, he was placed into custody. The suspect was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from convictions for multiple counts of Burglary and Criminal Mischief. He was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for an evaluation before being cleared. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of 3rd-Degree Escape. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 6/10/24 6:28AM by Sam Marsh

Two Motorists Hurt When Autos Hit Fallen Tree on Highway 199 near Wilderville

Two motorists were injured when their vehicles struck a dead tree that fell onto Redwood Highway near Wilderville. Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response and the Oregon State Police were dispatched to the crashes that occurred near milepost 10.5 of US Highway 199 on Saturday at 2:02 p.m.. Rural Metro officials said a dead tree fell onto the highway and the two drivers were unable to avoid hitting it. They said both drivers were transported by AMR Ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. OSP identified the patients as a 62-year-old Grants Pass man who was driving a Kia Rio and a 53-year-old Klamath Falls man who was driving a Dodge Ram Pro. No one else was hurt. Rescue crews worked to provide care to the injured drivers, control north- and southbound traffic and remove remnants of the tree from the highway. Both vehicles sustained significant damage and were towed to Grants Pass.

Posted on 6/10/24 6:27AM by Sam Marsh

Crews from Multiple Agencies Extinguished Grass Fire in Jerome Prairie Area

Crews from multiple agencies extinguished a weekend grass fire in the Jerome Prairie area. On Saturday at about 1 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and the Oregon Department of Forestry responded to the blaze at the end of Walnut Avenue. Rural Metro officials said Engine 7504 from the Wilderville Station stopped the fire in tall grass at just under a quarter-acre. They said the fire was also kept from spreading to the main house and a pump shed on the property. Additional engines from ODF and Grants Pass assisted with mop-up and building a containment line around the perimeter. No injuries or damage were reported. ODF Southwest was investigating the cause of the fire.

Posted on 6/10/24 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

CJ City Council to Receive Park Update and Consider OLCC Request Tonight

The Cave Junction City Council will hear from the Public Works Director and consider a liquor license request during its monthly meeting this evening. Mayor Meadow Martell and Councilors Ethan Lane, Tina Casey Jones, Jean Ann Miles and Jesse Dugas will hear an update from Public Works Director Alex Ponder on improvements at Jubilee Park. Construction of a new splash pad is underway at the city park and the playground will be closed on June 18th, 19th and 20th. The Council will consider making an OLCC Recommendation for Ubhill One Concessions of Eagle Point to obtain a liquor license for the Labor Day Festival. The public comment period allows citizens three minutes to address the Council on topics pertaining to Cave Junction. Tonight's meeting starts at 7 at Cave Junction City Hall, 222 Lister Street.

Posted on 6/10/24 6:16AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police and Firefighters Busy Protecting Citizens during First Full Week of June

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters were busy protecting the community during the first full week of June. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 682 calls for service along with 245 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 37 arrests, one citation, 25 warnings and seven highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 33 traffic stops in the city and made 17 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) contacted a total of 182 potential trouble-makers while citing 41 people and warning 39 others. The CRT unit also trespassed 26 individuals, posted 96 transient camps and removed trash from two campsites. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 103 calls last week including 39 for emergency medical service, seven reports of fire or smoke, 11 lift assists, three rescue situations, 14 assists to other agencies and four false alarms. The 9-1-1 Dispatch Center fielded a total of 1,193 emergency calls in addition to 777 calls for non-emergency service.

Posted on 6/10/24 6:14AM by Sam Marsh

Josephine County Budget Committee to Hold Hearing on Future of 4-H Extension District

The Josephine County Budget Committee is holding a public hearing on financial support of the 4-H Extension Service District tomorrow afternoon. The purpose of the meeting is to provide a thorough public review of the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget for the service district and allow public comment. Two members of the committee -- Commissioners Herman Baertschiger and John West -- have indicated their desire to defund the service district that was approved by voters. The OSU Extension Service provides many services to the community including the Master Gardeners program. Those services may be in jeopardy. The Board of Commissioners also serves as the Board of the 4-H Extension. Also on the agenda are the election of a New Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary of the Budget Committee. The Budget Officer will present the Budget Message and proposed spending plan for the next fiscal year. Tuesday's meeting is set for 4 p.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 6/10/24 6:12AM by Sam Marsh

Three Rivers School District Offering Free Summer Meals Program to All Local Kids

The Three Rivers School District is offering a free summer meals program that is open to all children ages 1-18 -- not just Three Rivers' students. Children 18 & under will be served nutritious meals Monday through Friday, with start dates varying by location. All meal sites will be closed June 19th, July 4th and July 5th. From today through August 16th, summer meals will be served at Harbeck Village, 1760 Harbeck Road Suite 2, in Grants Pass between 11:30 a.m. and noon. Running on the same dates, meals will be served at Jubilee Park in Cave Junction between 10:30 and 11 a.m.. From June 17th-August 16th, free meals will be served to kids at Wildlife Images at 11845 Lower River Road between 11:30 a.m. and noon. From July 1st-August 16th, two meals will be served daily at Fruitdale Elementary School in Grants Pass. There will be a cold breakfast between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m., followed by lunch between 10:30 and 11 a.m.. These meals must be consumed on-site.

Posted on 6/10/24 6:10AM by Sam Marsh

Josephine County Budget Committee Approves New Deputies for Sheriff's Office

The Josephine County Budget Committee this week approved sending $675,000 to the Sheriff's Office to hire five new patrol deputies. Sheriff Dave Daniel had asked the committee for 10 new deputies, which would have allowed the Sheriff's Office to provide 24/7 patrols for the first time since 2012. The new hires will allow the agency to provide 20 hours of service daily. The new hires will be paid for with federal timber tax revenues and the new law enforcement district approved by voters last November. The permanent tax rate for the new district is 99 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value.
Sheriff Daniel thanked the Budget Committee who he said had a tremendous task before them this year. He said he's pleased to announce that he will be hiring five deputies so that the Sheriff's Office can better serve Josephine County citizens.

Posted on 6/8/24 5:08AM by Chuck Benson

Josephine County Budget Committee Approves New Deputies for Sheriff's Office

Posted on 6/8/24 5:08AM by Chuck Benson

Seven Suspects Arrested in Recent Medford Retail Theft Enforcement Operation

The Medford Police Department recently partnered with local retailers' loss prevention employees and the Oregon Department of Justice for a focused enforcement targeting retail theft. The May 30th operation was conducted over an eight-hour period at Burlington Coat Factory and TJ Maxx at the Medford Center. As a result of this enforcement effort, seven individuals were arrested for theft. MPD is seeing an increase in confrontations between loss prevention workers and suspects. The suspects often arm themselves with weapons such as pepper spray, knives and firearms in the event they are confronted by loss prevention. This has resulted in loss prevention not confronting suspects due to fear of being injured. Because of this, retailers are partnering with law enforcement for focused operations to proactively reduce theft in local stores. By dedicating resources to these areas, law enforcement can apprehend suspects and dismantle organized retail theft rings.

Posted on 6/8/24 5:06AM by Chuck Benson

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