Local News

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters logged another impressive week of community protection. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 594 calls for service along with 275 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 38 arrests, 44 citations, 51 warnings and five highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted 74 traffic stops in the city and they made 11 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. No report was available for the GPPD Community Response Team. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 102 calls last week including 44 for emergency medical service and one for a reported fire, plus 12 lift assists, 41 rescue situations, six assists to other agencies and four false alarms. Firefighters also performed 27 business inspections, led three education-prevention programs, assisted the public 13 times and properly installed five child car seats. The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded well over 1,000 emergency calls in addition to 454 calls for non-emergency service.

 

The Oregon Department of Transportation's Climate Office has selected electric vehicle (EV) charging companies for the first round of grants from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program -- two of them are in Southern Oregon. The federal NEVI program funds public EV fast-charging stations along major roads throughout the state. ODOT selected these companies via a competitive process and with an "intent to award," which means the agency is still developing final agreements with each company. They expect to have agreements in place before the end of 2024, and they estimate the companies will begin installing NEVI-funded stations in 2025. Interstate 5 south of Eugene has four charging station locations including Sagwal Gas in Wolf Creek and WinCo Foods in Medford as well as sites in Roseburg and Cottage Grove. The stations will have at least four DC fast-charging ports with CCS connectors. All stations will have overhead lighting and parking accessible to people with disabilities. Several will feature "pull through" parking for vehicles towing trailers.

 

The Oregon Heritage division of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is offering grants for the construction or restoration of veterans and war memorials throughout the state. The grant application period is now open and it closes January 31, 2025. Local and regional governments as well as federally recognized Tribes are eligible to apply for funding for monuments placed on publicly-owned properties. Grants may fund up to 80% of projects and require a 10% match from grant recipients. New monuments should acknowledge veterans and/or wars not already recognized in the community. Restoration projects may address broken monuments, missing elements, and/or additions to existing monuments. Proposals must demonstrate active participation of a veteran organization and community support. A free online workshop about the program will be held December 3rd from 10-11 a.m. via Zoom. Registration is required.

 

One person was killed and another person was seriously injured after two shooting incidents in Central Point this morning. The Central Point Police Department reports officers responded to a shooting in the 300-block of South 4th Street at 7:26 a.m. today. CPPD officers arrived at the home and located a deceased 42-year-old male inside the residence. About five minutes later, officers were advised of a second shooting in the 500-block of Bush Street, which is approximately four blocks away from the 4th Street address. A female victim was located in a vehicle. She was transported by ambulance to Rogue Regional Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. Shortly after 8 a.m., the Medford Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State Police located the lone male suspect on foot in the 1,000-block of North 5th Street in Central Point where he was placed into custody. CPPD Chief Scott Logue said the investigation will be ongoing and police activity will continue through the day. Due to the proximity of the shooting locations to Central Point schools, he said some schools were placed into soft lockdowns until the suspect was arrested. No names are being released at this time. At this time in the investigation, it appears there is a known relationship between the suspect and the deceased male victim. There is not a known relationship between the suspect and the female victim. The Jackson County Major Assault and Death Investigation Unit is assisting the Central Point Police Department with the investigation. The OSP Forensics Unit is also assisting.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Williams man for allegedly causing a road rage crash on Highway 238 near Murphy yesterday. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision near milepost 6 of Williams Highway on Thursday at 11:36 a.m.. Troopers said they conducted interviews with the involved parties and witnesses, determining that a Volkswagen Jetta driven by a 30-year-old male driver was trying to pass a Dodge pickup driven by 51-year-old Brian Michael Lloyd when Lloyd intentionally swerved the Dodge into the Jetta to prevent it from passing. According to OSP, both parties stopped their vehicles and confronted each other when a witness confronted the driver of the Dodge. Lloyd reportedly kicked the ladder the witness was on. Both vehicles were drivable and no one was injured. Following the investigation, troopers placed Lloyd into custody and transported him to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged for Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangering.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a local corrections client for multiple crimes last night after he broke into a downtown motel while causing public alarm near the 7th Street campsite. Officers arrested 47-year-old Luke Adam Boger in an alley between the Police Department and homeless campground on Thursday at 7:52 p.m.. Police said Boger was reported to be causing public alarm by shouting and breaking glass in the alley. They said he was contacted behind the Bunny Motel where he had unlawfully entered the utility shed and used multiple outlets to charge his personal devices. The subject admitted to breaking the glass. During a consent search, Boger was found to be in possession of a glass pipe with a crystal-like substance that tested positive as methamphetamine. A copper pipe was found in his personal belongings that he admitted he took from the motel shed. The subject was also found to be in possession of a Josephine County Community Corrections clipboard. Boger was lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Burglary, Disorderly Conduct, two counts of 3rd-Degree Theft, Theft of Services, Meth Possession and Offensive Littering as well as the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held without bail. Boger's personal items were collected from his campsite and logged into evidence for safe-keeping. His dog was taken to the Animal Shelter.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant at the 7th Street campground last night. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 56-year-old Lee Edward McGhee at the designated campsite next to GPPD headquarters on Thursday at about 8:30 p.m.. Police said they contacted McGhee during a disorderly conduct call at the same location with a different subject. He was found to be wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation related to a previous conviction for traffic offenses. McGhee was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. His personal belongings were logged into evidence for safe-keeping.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known criminal offender for unlawfully entering a local business and possessing narcotics late last night. According to the Police Department, officers placed 38-year-old Steven Carsten Juergensen into custody for the incident at Crater Car Wash on NE F Street on Thursday at 11:22 p.m.. Police said surveillance cameras and witness statements confirmed Juergensen had illegally accessed the car wash and perused its interior, but he was not found with any stolen items. However, he was found to be in possession of a small amount of the dangerous narcotic fentanyl. It was seized for destruction. Juergensen was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Fentanyl Possession and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was still being held this morning without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for vandalism and impaired driving following an argument at a downtown area apartment complex late last night. The Police Department reports officers responded to a disturbance in the 100-block of NE A Street on Thursday around 11:50 p.m.. Police said an investigation indicated that a 39-year-old male subject was in an argument with acquaintances at an apartment which culminated in him throwing a rock through a window valued at approximately $400. They said the subject told them he believed his friends had taken and hidden his keys because he was drunk. The man then found the keys in his own pocket and drove to his residence on Sun Glo Drive in the Redwood area. He was found passed out in a shed in his backyard by his girlfriend. He displayed multiple signs of impairment and performed poorly in field sobriety tests before being placed into custody. After providing a breath sample, the suspect was lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief and Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants.