Local News

An investigation into allegations of sex abuse has led to the arrest of an employee of the Eagle Point School District. After a month-long investigation, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) arrested the suspect yesterday when she turned herself in. The suspect -- 38-year-old Amanda Rose Leonardo of Eagle Point -- is charged with three counts of 3rd-Degree Sex Abuse, Luring a Minor, Tampering with Physical Evidence and Providing Liquor to a Person Under 21. She is lodged at the Jackson County Jail. Detectives said the identified victims were of high school age, but the charges are unrelated to Leonardo's position with the school district. SVU detectives are looking for the public's assistance in the ongoing investigation. If you have any information on the suspect and/or other possible victims, call the Jackson County Sheriff's Office Tip Line at (541)-774-8333.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving and more after he crashed his vehicle into a house on the southeast side of the city this week. The Police Department reports officers and emergency crews were dispatched to the incident in the 100-block of SE Yorktown Drive late Wednesday afternoon. Police said a neighbor called 9-1-1 to report a white pickup went off the roadway and drove through the wall of a house. The caller advised the entire front end of the truck was inside the house and he was checking to see if his neighbors were hurt. No injuries were reported. The crash prompted calls to the Grants Pass Water Department and Pacific Power to check out the water and electrical connections. Crews arrived on scene and secured the utilities. No estimate was available on damage to the dwelling. Officers contacted the driver -- 29-year-old Jonathan Isaac Kruse -- and observed signs of impairment. He performed poorly in field sobriety tests and refused to provide a breath sample, so he was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented a high level of impairment. Kruse was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving and 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. His damaged pickup was impounded.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass man for violating a court order after an early morning contact on Redwood Highway near Wilderville that occurred yesterday. OSP reports troopers responded to what was believed to be a single-vehicle crash near milepost 7 of US Highway 199 on Thursday at 1:15 a.m.. Troopers said they contacted 40-year-old Christopher William Turley and a 34-year-old female passenger, discovering that the Chevrolet Blazer did not crash and the couple had instead pulled over to rest for the evening. Further investigation revealed that Turley was in violation of a No-Contact Order by being with the woman. He was placed into custody. Turley was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court and he was being held without bail.

 

A motor vehicle accident in the Fort Vannoy area late yesterday sheared off a power pole and cut off electricity to neighboring residents. On Thursday at 4:32 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the single-vehicle crash near milepost 3 of Lower River Road. Rural Metro reports firefighters found a vehicle had sheared off a power pole, knocking down the electrical lines. Crews shut down the road to prevent other motorists from running into the lines that remained energized. Occupants of the involved vehicle claimed not to be injured as did occupants of another vehicle that swerved to miss the downed lines and drove on the shoulder. The road closure between 3290 and 3294 Lower River Road was lengthy as Pacific Power crews worked to make repairs. Several electrical outages were expected as a result of the crash. A traffic detour was set up using Upper River Road and Hunt Lane. The Sheriff's Office was investigating the cause of the accident.

 

Two motorists escaped serious injury yesterday when they collided with each other near Selma. On Thursday at 11:06 a.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to the two-vehicle collision in the 4400-block of Deer Creek Road. Few details about the crash were disclosed, but IVFD officials said the two drivers involved in the accident were not hurt. Both made arrangements for towing their damaged vehicles. The cause of the crash was under investigation.

 

Douglas County Roads notified Jackson County this week that they will no longer be performing winter maintenance -- including snow plow services -- on the Tiller-Trail Highway between Tison Road and the Jackson County line totaling about six miles of roadway. All winter maintenance services on the Jackson County portion of Highway 227 between Highway 62 and the Douglas County line will continue. Jackson County Roads and Parks Director Steve Lambert said they are extremely disappointed to hear of Douglas County's plan to cease winter maintenance on their higher elevation portion of the highway, which regularly receives heavy snowfall, as it will cause significant impacts for road users. Lambert said they are dedicated to ensuring the safety of travelers on their county road system by continuing to perform the very important work of snow removal and application of traction material on this important roadway. Travelers should expect impacts during winter events if they choose to use Tiller-Trail Highway heading north into Douglas County, which at times could become impassable. Lambert said he hopes Douglas County will re-evaluate their decision.

 

Seven local law enforcement officers were recently recognized for their bravery in a police-involved shooting that occurred in Grants Pass late last year. The Oregon Peace Officers Association honored the men at their annual awards banquet held earlier this month. Deputy Bayard and Deputy Wolfe of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Corporal Tracey and Officer Six of the Grants Pass Police Department, and Lieutenant Gay and Sergeant Fisher of the Oregon State Police all received Medals of Valor. Sheriff's Corporal Porter received the Medal of Honor. During the week of December 11, 2023, the three agencies were assisting the US Marshals Service with attempting to locate and arrest a fugitive who was wanted for numerous felony crimes including 2nd-Degree Murder. The suspect was seen by Deputy Bayard driving toward Grants Pass on Redwood Highway so the deputy turned around and followed the suspect while alerting GPPD and OSP. Following a high-risk traffic stop on Highway 199 at Allen Creek Road, the police officers became engaged in a close-quarters gunfight with the suspect, eventually killing the dangerous suspect who was well-armed and wearing body armor. No one else was seriously hurt, but Corporal Porter sustained minor injuries with glass and bullet fragments striking him in the head.

 

The City of Grants Pass is accepting applications for six positions on the recently-formed Public Safety Advisory Committee. These will be staggered three-year terms. The Public Safety Advisory Committee will serve as a collaborative platform for community engagement and guidance on public safety matters. The committee will aim to bridge the gap between the community and the City Council, ensuring that public safety strategies align with the needs and resources of the community. The Grants Pass City Council desires to have a balance of viewpoints and demographic representation on the panel include one Budget Committee member, one business representative inside the city limits, one city resident who is not a business owner, one downtown business owner and two citizens at-large. Applications are available at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, January 3, 2025. The City Council will make the appointments on Wednesday, January 15th.

 

A local real estate company with offices in Grants Pass and Rogue River made a nice donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley this week. Windemere Real Estate presented a check for $10,300 to the Boys & Girls Clubs as part of a 34-year commitment to support local communities through donating a portion of the proceeds from every home purchased or sold toward supporting low-income and homeless families. The funds will support the launch of the new "Clubcast" podcast program, which is part of the Club's T3: Training Teens for Tomorrow workforce readiness initiative. The Clubcast Podcast Program introduces teens to audio production and editing with professional tools, graphic design for podcast branding, communication and interviewing techniques, creative content development and business skills. Through this program, local teens will not only develop technical expertise but also critical thinking, collaboration and other workforce readiness skills.