Local News

Day 3 of the Josephine County Fair will be "Rockin' the 80s" at the Fairgrounds in Grants Pass today from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.. In addition to free admission at the gate, tonight's headlining "Ikons of Rock" concert in the Grandstands is now offering free general admission seating thanks to a sponsorship from Grants Pass Toyota. It starts at 8 p.m.. Anyone who previously purchased general admission tickets will be automatically upgraded to VIP seating for free. VIP seats are limited, but still available for $30. The Arena Rock Legends performance is the ultimate show. Experience the music of all the big "hair bands" that defined an era all in one performance. Experience rock stars like Kiss, Def Leppard, Heart, Alice Cooper, Joan Jett, Van Halen, Lita Ford, Ozzy Osbourne, Pat Benatar, Foo Fighters, Blondie and more. Paid parking at the Fairgrounds is limited, but there is free parking and a shuttle service offered at Rogue Community College. For more information, visit "josephinecountyfairgrounds.com."

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for multiple crimes after he broke into a vehicle and tried to steal it from a downtown business early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers tracked down and arrested the 45-year-old male subject identified as "Justin John Morton" on Wednesday morning after he tried to steal a vehicle from Active Home Furnishings at 605 SE 7th Street. Police said the incident was called in at 7:14 a.m. by an employee of People's Bank of Commerce who witnessed the crime from a top-floor window. The caller reported the subject was rummaging through a blue truck, breaking it apart and scattering items all over the roadway. A description of the suspect was given to officers who eventually located him in an alley between J and K streets. Officers told the suspect to stop, but he ran away from them while screaming obscenities. He ran across the street and up onto the hood of a patrol vehicle that was involved in the chase. He then jumped down from the vehicle and walked toward officers with clenched fists. A Taser was deployed to place him into custody, but he continued to scuffle with police after he was handcuffed. Morton was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Attempted Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle, 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief, Resisting Arrest, Disorderly Conduct and Petty Theft. He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man late yesterday for harassing and threatening his ex-wife in order to see their children. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested the 27-year-old male subject on Wednesday at 5:36 p.m. in the 1300-block of Caves Highway in Cave Junction. Deputies said the subject was reported to be driving back in forth in front of the female victim's Grants Pass residence while threatening to kill the mother of his children. They said he was driving a silver 2022 Chevrolet pickup and he was reportedly armed with a shotgun and/or an assault rifle. According to the report, the man currently has an open case in Yamhill County. He is allowed to have contact with his ex-wife, but may not have contact with the kids. After speaking with both the suspect and the victim, deputies learned the suspect drove past the victim's house at least a dozen times the night before and threatened to shoot her after a verbal dispute on the phone that she recorded. The suspect was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Domestic Menacing and Contempt of Court. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for intentionally starting a small fire on the east side of the city late last night. According to the Police Department, officers and firefighters responded to the grass fire at the corner of the Grants Pass Parkway and NE Agness Avenue around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police said a passing motorist called 9-1-1 to report a male subject lighting a bush on fire, breaking a branch off the burning bush and walking toward the Elmer's restaurant. The subject dropped the branch in the middle of the road and began walking toward the caller's vehicle, so the caller drove away. Officers and firefighters were successful in putting out a small fire near the River City BMX track as the 33-year-old man walked away. He attempted to flee the scene on foot, but was captured in the intersection and placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 2nd-Degree Arson, Resisting Arrest and Escape plus Felony Parole Violation related to convictions for Forgery and Theft. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police cited a motorist for causing a crash in the downtown area that sent two people to the hospital last night. The Police Department reports officers and emergency personnel responded to the two-vehicle collision at the intersection of NE 7th and A streets on Wednesday at 8:50 p.m.. Police said a man was driving a Toyota 4-Runner when he ran a red light and smashed into a Toyota Prius driven by a female motorist. The man claimed to be avoiding another vehicle prior to the intersection which caused him to run the red light. However, witnesses refuted that claim and confirmed the traffic violation. Two people who were passengers in each vehicle were transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for possible injuries. Both vehicles were towed. Following the investigation, the male driver was cited for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device and No Operator's License.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving last night during a traffic stop in the Jerome Prairie area. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies pulled over a red Chevrolet Suburban driven by a 34-year-old female subject near the intersection of Demaray Drive and Jerome Prairie Road on Wednesday at 7:45 p.m.. Deputies said they stopped the vehicle for a traffic violation and the driver displayed signs of impairment. She was placed into custody after performing poorly in field sobriety tests. The woman was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving before being lodged at the Grants Pass Sobering Center. Her SUV was impounded.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a city park camper on outstanding warrants and cited several others for ordinance violations during patrol checks on Wednesday. At Riverside Park, officers contacted a man who was wanted on two Grants Pass warrants for failing to appear in court for 3rd-Degree Theft and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was cited to appear in court and then released. Also at Riverside Park, four campers were cited for ordinance violations that included Illegal Camping and Scattering Rubbish. All four were trespassed from the park for 30 days. A total of 24 campsites were posted for Illegal Camping and an e-mail was sent to United Community Action Network (UCAN). At Tussing Park, a man was cited for Inoperable Vehicle. A total of 16 campsites were posted for Illegal Camping and an e-mail was sent to UCAN. At Baker Park, a man was cited for Illegal Camping and he was issued a 30-day exclusion. Three campsites were posted for Illegal Camping and an e-mail was sent to UCAN. At Morrison Centennial Park, a man was cited for Scattering Rubbish and he was trespassed for 30 days. Eight campsites were posted and an e-mail was sent to UCAN.

 

The Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) joint interagency task force served a search warrant in Ashland this week after discovering images of child pornography were downloaded from a residence. SOCET served the warrant at a home in the 10-block of Pine Street on Tuesday. Detectives interviewed possible witnesses and involved parties, but no arrests were made. They said investigations are ongoing. SOCET began its investigation after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children which led to subpoenas followed by the search warrant at the residence in Ashland. The Ashland Police Department and Jackson County District Attorney's Office assisted with the warrant service. SOCET was also assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force. Investigators seized digital devices that will be forensically examined for further evidence of child exploitation. SOCET is a joint interagency task force that was launched in June 2020 to combat child exploitation. The team consists of investigators from the Sheriff's Office and US Homeland Security Investigations as well as prosecutors from local, state and federal law enforcement partners in Jackson and Josephine counties.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man this week for allegedly beating up his girlfriend at a home in the northeast part of the city. The Police Department reports officers responded to a domestic disturbance on NE Foothill Boulevard on Tuesday morning. Police said a 31-year-old male subject and his girlfriend got into a physical fight in the early morning hours when he reportedly shoulder-checked the woman, choked her and threw her around. The frightened victim fled to her mother's residence and called 9-1-1. The victim was not seriously injured and declined medical attention. Upon arrival, officers contacted the suspect and placed him into custody based on the victim's statements and visible injuries. The victim refused services from the Women's Crisis Support Team. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Domestic 4th-Degree Assault and Felony Domestic Strangulation. He was being held without bail.