Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for attacking his pregnant girlfriend at a home in Williams this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested a 21-year-old male subject for the incident in the 500-block of Sheraton Drive on Monday afternoon. Deputies said the subject called 9-1-1 to report that his girlfriend had used a rock to assault him and was taking his truck. The girlfriend also called 9-1-1 to report that they were in a verbal and physical altercation with a young child present. Further investigation revealed that the subject had punched his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach, hit her in the head, pulled her hair and bit her fingers. She retaliated by using a rock to break his computer, but she did not hurt him. The subject had also locked the gate in order to prevent his girlfriend and the child from leaving. The victim was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of her injuries and an evaluation of possible harm to her pregnancy. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 4th-Degree Domestic Assault, Domestic Menacing and Interfering with Making a Police Report. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a felon for violating his post-prison supervision this week by attacking his girlfriend at a business in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers arrested 40-year-old Bobby Joe Swearingen for the incident in the parking lot of C Street Dental on Monday evening. Police said an anonymous caller reported a domestic violence incident in progress in which a man attacked a woman and was chasing her around the parking lot. The female victim was contacted, but the male suspect had fled the scene on a bicycle. The victim told officers that she and Swearingen were in a verbal argument when Swearingen used his bicycle to slam into her at a high rate of speed. This caused her to fall to the pavement. She was injured in the fall and elected to have a family member to take her to the hospital for treatment. Officers searched the area and tracked down Swearingen at the downtown Safeway where they placed him into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 4th-Degree Domestic Assault and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

A report of a man with a gun walking in front of a downtown watering hole this week led to the apprehension of a fugitive on a statewide felony warrant. The Grants Pass Police Department reports officers arrested 37-year-old Nathan Daniel Jones at River City Grill on SW K Street on Monday afternoon. Police said a witness reported seeing a male subject walking around the parking lot while holding a firearm in his hand, but the man was not pointing it at anyone. A green Ford minivan associated with the subject was observed in the parking lot and the man tried to hide in the bathroom at River City. He was detained by officers. A routine records check revealed that Jones was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation stemming from a 2020 drug conviction. He was placed into custody and a search of his minivan did not locate any firearm. Jones was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and he was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended an out-of-state fugitive this week during a late-night traffic stop on the west side of the city. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a Chevrolet Suburban driven by 56-year-old Michael Joseph Duff near the corner of SW Bridge Street and Lincoln Road shortly after 11 p.m. on Monday. Police said they stopped the Suburban because it did not have any license plates. They contacted Duff and discovered that he was wanted on a warrant issued by the California Department of Corrections for Felony Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for Obstructing a Court Order. After the warrant was confirmed, Duff was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. He was being held without bail pending an extradition hearing that could send him back to California. Officers said a licensed driver arrived to retrieve Duff's vehicle.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for a series of drug-fueled disturbances in the southeast part of the city this week. According to the Police Department, officers were initially alerted to a disturbance in the 1,000-block of SE Belle Aire Drive on Monday evening. A short time later, seven more calls came in regarding the antics of the male subject. Police said 26-year-old Michael Ray Angeleas was reported to be yelling, throwing items in people's yards and at vehicles, knocking on random doors and running into traffic, forcing vehicles to stop or swerve to miss him. In one case, the subject knocked on a door, some children answered and he frightened them. One witness told officers Angeleas stated that he was under the influence of drugs. Another hostile caller stated the subject was "going to get killed." Officers eventually tracked down Angeleas and placed him into custody at the corner of SE M Street and the Grants Pass Parkway. He was lodged in jail for Disorderly Conduct and was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners looks to make quick work of a relatively light agenda for its weekly business session this morning, but some passionate people in Williams have a different plan. Following their monthly recognition of employees, the Commissioners have four Administrative Action items. The Board will consider approval of an intergovernmental agreement with the State of Oregon for the Community Development Block Grant's 2024 Housing Repair and Rehabilitation Program. Also on the agenda is approval of a CDBG agreement with Home Bridging for the same program. In other business, the Board will consider a contract with Push Enterprises, Inc., for a bull riding event for the 2025 Josephine County Fair. There is also approval of a Workers Compensation Non-disabling Claims Reimbursement Claim. A group calling itself "Concerned Citizens of Williams" plans to dominate the public comment portion of the meeting, speaking against Thursday's scheduled auction of Pipe Fork along with several other timber properties in the Williams area. The group's website specifically targets Board Chair John West who may also be facing a recall election in early 2025. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

 

The Bureau of Land Management is seeking citizens with an interest in public lands management to fill vacant positions on its Western Oregon Resources Advisory Council (RAC). Applications are due on Friday, November 15th. The Western Oregon RAC provides advice and recommendations on all aspects of public land management to the BLM's Medford, Roseburg, Coos Bay and Northwest Oregon districts as well as part of the Lakeview District. The Council is made up of citizens who represent diverse interest areas and organizations including conservation, outdoor recreation, state and local government, academia and forest management. The 15-member Western Oregon RAC has four positions open for public application through this Friday. Members of the Western Oregon RAC typically serve a three-year term. The Council meets two to four times per year, both virtually and in-person at various locations in western Oregon. All applicants must be Oregon residents. Although members serve without monetary compensation, travel and per diem expenses are reimbursed. To receive an application, contact Western Oregon RAC Coordinator Megan Harper by email at "mlharper@blm.gov."

 

The Grants Pass Sobering Center has hired its very first deflection program coordinator. The Sobering Center last week announced the hiring of Jordyn Gerfen as Deflection Coordinator. Gerfen will work with community service providers to start deflection services before the end of the year. The program intends to provide a community-based pathway to recovery for those who would otherwise enter the criminal justice system for drug possession at a misdemeanor or violation level. Many Oregon communities are starting deflection programs in the wake of the State Legislature recriminalizing drug possession after the failure of Measure 110. The local deflection program is a collaborative partnership between the Grants Pass Police Department, Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Josephine County District Attorney's Office, Southern Oregon Public Defenders, Options for Southern Oregon, ADAPT, Choices and other local service providers.

 

The Oregon State Marine Board has replaced longtime member Val Early with a Rogue Valley resident. Dax Messett represents commercial and recreational boating interests in Southern Oregon and he was confirmed by Governor Tina Kotek and the State Senate in September. Messett's term became effective on October 1st and he attended the Marine Board's October 23rd meeting held in Medford. The Oregon State Marine Board is comprised of five members of the boating public who volunteer their time and expertise. Members serve a four-year term and may apply for a second term of service. They represent different geographic regions of the state and different boating activities. Messett has spent the last 25 years working in the outdoor industry as a registered guide and outfitter, sales representative, international destination travel coordinator, writer, photographer and featured guest speaker.