Local News

Grants Pass City Police responded to a call from a mother with two children saying there was someone in their house Thursday morning. Responding Officers formed a contact team outside prior to entering and determined the guest room was occupied by two individuals. A challenge was delivered and a man, Lee David Wilson, 36, emerged from the room and was taken into custody without incident and was determined to have an active warrant for his arrest. A woman accompanying Wilson was temporarily detained but ultimately released. Wilson was lodged on a post-prison sanction.

 

Grants Pass Police responded to a call for help Thursday evening at 7:51 from a mother who stated her daughter was attacking her. The woman said her daughter had punched her on Wednesday and was being physical with her currently, throwing things and yelling. Responding officers determined the daughter had used physical force to cause serious injury. Officers took photographs of medical documents for evidence. The 26-year-old daughter was arrested and lodged in jail for assault II-aggravated assault.

 

A man is in the Josephine County Jail after Deputies served an arrest warrant out of Orange County. The Deputy made contact with 44-year-old Frank Daniel Sloan Thursday morning just after 10 a.m. and took him into custody without any incident.He was transported to the County Jail and lodged on the Orange County warrant on an a parole violation for original charge of assault.

 

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will hold an open-to-all town hall on Thursday, October 24th in Jackson County. This 10 am town hall at Phoenix High School Rose Theater will be Wyden’s second this year in Jackson County and 1,101st overall -- honoring his promise to hold at least one town hall each year in each of our state’s 36 counties. Doors will open 30 minutes before the town halls for attendees.

 

A 5.0-magnitude earthquake struck 77 miles Coos Bay about six and a half hours following the Great Oregon Earthquake drill. The tremor was recorded on Thursday afternoon at 4:58 pm local time, at a shallow depth of 6.2 miles below the surface. The event was filed by the United States Geological Survey, the first seismological agency to report it. A second report was later issued by the German Research Centre for Geosciences, which listed it as a magnitude 4.9 earthquake. A third agency, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, reported the same quake at magnitude 5.0. Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake should not have caused any significant damage, but was probably felt by many people as light vibration in the area of the epicenter. Weak shaking might have been felt in Bandon (pop. 3,100) located 76 miles from the epicenter. Other towns or cities near the epicenter where the quake might have been felt as very weak shaking include Coos Bay located 77 miles from the epicenter.

 

On Wednesday the Medford Police Department Domestic Violence Task Force participated in the 21st Annual National Family Violence Warrant Sweep. The Department worked with agencies throughout Jackson County, as well as agencies across the country, to arrest persons with outstanding family-violence related warrants. Locally, 15 arrests were made during the sweep, on a variety of charges. 23 total Law Enforcement Personnel Participated along with 4 Victim Advocates assisted with victim services. 73 warrant services were attempted with 15 attempts successful that resulted in arrests.This nationwide collaborative effort helps raise awareness of the problem of family and domestic violence in our communities. It also demonstrates to offenders that they will be held accountable for their violence. The Medford Police Department is dedicated to holding those who commit domestic violence accountable. MPD employs a full time Domestic Violence Officer along with hosting an in-house Domestic Violence Advocate employed by Community Work

 

The Great Oregon Shakeout Earthquake drill was conducted this morning as part of a global earthquake drill which involved more than 500,000 Oregonians, including individuals, families, schools, and businesses. Participants pledged to drop, cover, and hold on, wherever they are and whatever they’re doing.The Cascadia Subduction Zone off the Pacific Coast, which has the potential to generate a 9.0+ magnitude earthquake and a resulting tsunami.OEM’s Be 2 Weeks Ready program encourages all Oregonians to:
• Be informed about hazards in their area.
• Develop an emergency plan for themselves and their loved ones.
• Build an emergency kit with at least two weeks’ worth of food, water, and other essentials.
For resources on earthquake and tsunami preparedness, Living on Shaky Ground is available for download on OEM’s website.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a 39-year-old woman for assault, theft and use of a weapon after she allegedly attempted to steal a can of alcohol from a business at 790 Southwest 6th Street. The initial call to Police was at 10:30 Wednesday night that a lady was attempting to steal from the store. According to the Police narrative, an employee followed the woman out of the store and confronted her. The suspect, identified as Jennifer Susan Condon, refused to pay and the store owner intervened to have her return the merchandise. Condon, while still in possession of the merchandise, used bear mace to spray the store owner. Condon left on foot on ‘M’ Street headed toward Bridge Street. She was eventually located in the U.S. Bank parking lot, and during a consensual search, the beverage was in plain view at the top of her purse.

 

Grants Pass 911 received a call reporting a possible intoxicated driver in a white GMC lifted truck weaving all over the road at 11:27 Wednesday night on the Redwood Highway near Ringette. The caller then state they had just witnessed him rear end another vehicle. The caller also stated she had seen him drinking a Pacifico Beer at the Grants Pass Parkway and ‘M’ Street. The GMC then pulled into the parking lot of the Dairy Queen. The responding officer reported the pickup driver displayed several signs of impairment and admitted to drinking several alcoholic beverages. He also stated his girlfriend had been driving, which she later advised she was the passenger. The driver immediately requested legal representation, so a search warrant was applied for and granted. The man was arrested and lodged in the County Jail on charges of Recklessly endangering, reckless driving and driving under the influence. He remained in Custody Thursday morning.