Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for going after two other men with a baseball bat early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a disturbance in the 1100-block of SW 5th Street on Sunday at 12:09 a.m.. Police said a 37-year-old male subject was observed in the street trying to fight two men in a truck. They said the vehicle raced away after the subject hit it with a baseball bat. Their identities were unknown, but they reportedly live in the area. The suspect told officers he tried to fight them because they were being rude to his girlfriend and calling her names. He was placed into custody and lodged in jail without bail for Disorderly Conduct. Officers said the suspect will also be facing Criminal Mischief charges if the two other men are identified.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving and other charges after he crashed into two parked vehicles on the west side of the city. According to the Police Department, officers and emergency crews responded to the reported wreck in the 800-block of SW Pine Street on Friday around 9:30 p.m.. Police said a 37-year-old male subject was driving a white sport utility vehicle when he lost control and crashed into two parked unoccupied vehicles, causing significant damage. There were no injuries reported. The subject reportedly displayed indicators of impairment at the scene and he admitted to consuming 10 adult beverages before driving his damaged SUV, which was impounded. At least one of the parked vehicles was also towed away. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving and two counts of 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was being held without bail.

 

Authorities were investigating a weekend motor vehicle accident in Cave Junction where the at-fault driver fled the scene. On Friday at 9:04 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to a three-vehicle crash in the 100-block of West Hanby Lane. IVFD officials said one of the drivers fled the scene, while the two other drivers exchanged information and awaited the arrival of Jerry's Towing for their vehicles. There were no injuries reported and law enforcement was searching for the suspect vehicle.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office evicted two people from a US Forest Service campground and arrested one of them on criminal charges late last week. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies were performing a patrol check at an unspecified Forest Service campground last Friday afternoon when they contacted a man and woman who had been living there for far longer than the two-week limitation. Deputies said a 52-year-old woman was found to be in possession of a small amount of methamphetamine and she was unlawfully charging her phone with the campground's electricity. Her dogs were also running loose in the area. The woman was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Meth Possession and Theft of Services. Her male companion told deputies he would catch the woman's dogs and clear her belongings out of the campground.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry and Jackson County Fire District #3 responded to multiple small grass fires in the Eagle Point area on Saturday. ODF officials reported the small grass fires were located along the 1500-block of Reese Creek Road, north of Eagle Point. Firefighters aggressively attacked the fires, knocking down all active flames and mopping up. Resources remained on scene to ensure all fires were out. The cause of the fires was under investigation and they appear to be related. Authorities remind residents that extreme fire danger remains in effect and fires can start quickly and spread easily. Help prevent human-caused fires by following all current fire season regulations, which can be found at "swofire.com."

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for stealing a trailer from a popular local restaurant over the weekend. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 59-year-old male subject they identified as "Gary Todd Barker" at the Speedway Express gas station on Allen Creek Road on Saturday at 6:54 p.m.. Police said Barker and a female companion used a dark-gray Jeep to steal the food trailer from Si Casa Flores about 40 minutes earlier, but they became stuck at the gas station as officers searching for them located them and boxed them in. According to the report, the restaurant owner stated the contents and equipment inside the trailer were valued at approximately $20,000. Further investigation revealed that the woman with Barker was protected from him by an active court order. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on felony charges of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and 1st-Degree Theft plus Contempt of Court. He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed an Illinois Valley man for roughing up his wife and son at the beginning of the weekend. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested the 59-year-old male subject for the incident in the 400-block of Lakeshore Drive in Selma on Friday at 6:52 p.m.. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her husband threw her on the ground and punched their son in the face. The caller stated that her husband had been drinking. She agreed to try to stay separated from her spouse while law enforcement responded to their residence. Upon arrival, deputies interviewed the involved parties and documented injuries to the woman and her son before placing the husband into custody. The son was said to be bleeding, but no one was seriously injured. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault and Physical Harassment. He was being held without bail.

 

Firefighters were battling a wildfire near Lost Creek Lake that was sparked by lightning. The Oregon Department of Forestry responded to an estimated three-acre fire located directly west of Lost Creek Lake on Sunday morning. The fire was burning in a steep, remote area that required crews to hike one mile to reach it. ODF immediately ordered Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 helicopters plus an air attack plane to help corral the blaze which officials confirmed was caused by Saturday's thunderstorm when several lightning strikes were recorded in the Lost Creek Lake area. At 11:30 a.m. yesterday, ODF reported crews were holding the fire at three acres and that aircraft were extremely helpful on the incident with water bucket and retardant drops. At 1:45 p.m., ODF reported firefighters were continuing to hold the blaze inside its three-acre footprint. Officials said steep terrain was posing challenges and safety hazards for crews, which was requiring a more strategic and methodical approach for extinguishing the fire. At 4:25 p.m., ODF reported the fire was 75% lined and 20% mopped up. Crews were continuing to make progress and they remained on scene until the fire was 100% lined and mopped up last night. Around 8 p.m., thunderstorms moved through Southern Oregon, with two lightning strikes recorded south of Lake Creek and Highway 140. ODF said it will monitor this and other lightning strike areas for fires over the next several days.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District and Oregon Department of Forestry stomped out a small grass fire near Eight Dollar Mountain that was likely caused by a vehicle's exhaust system. On Sunday at 11:15 a.m., IVFD and ODF responded to the reported fire along Redwood Highway between Eight Dollar Mountain and Gold Canyon roads. IVFD officials said ODF arrived first to find a 5-foot-by-5-foot spot fire, with bystanders attempting to put the blaze out. Firefighters extinguished the small fire in short order. Officials said parts of a catalytic converter was found at the scene.