Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local felony warrant while investigating a report of suspicious activity at a north-city business late last night. According to the Police Department, officers responded to reports of two men using flashlights to look into the windows of News & Smokes on NE 6th Street at 10:20 p.m. Tuesday. Officers arrived on scene and discovered two men hiding in the bushes. One of them was identified as 37-year-old Brian P. Stack who was found to be wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Probation Violation related to an arrest for Unlawful Use of a Weapon. He was placed into custody without incident. Stack was lodged in jail on the warrant and he was being held on $25,000 bail. The other man -- who was not identified in the report -- was told to move along.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for drug possession early yesterday during a traffic stop in the Redwood area of the city. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a Volkswagen driven by 36-year-old Laura Lyn Paschal on Redwood Avenue near Sun Glo Drive shortly after 1 a.m. Tuesday. Police said they stopped Paschal while she was leaving the Lucky Duck on Redwood Avenue in a VW with expired registration tags. They said she also did not have any insurance and admitted to receiving a recent citation from the Oregon State Police for the same reasons. However, she continued to operate the vehicle. Paschal also admitted there was methamphetamine and syringes in the vehicle. The meth and drug paraphernalia were seized for destruction. The drug deflection program was offered, but she opted not to participate in it. Paschal was cited to appear in court for Meth Possession, Failure to Register Vehicle and No Insurance and then released. Her Volkswagen was impounded.

 

The Oregon State Police is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred yesterday in the southern Illinois Valley. On Tuesday just after noon, a Josephine County sheriff's deputy encountered a wanted suspect with a felony warrant near the O'Brien Country Store. The suspect -- 33-year-old Clinten Anthony Robertson of Grants Pass -- evaded the deputy and used his vehicle to ram the deputy's patrol vehicle, resulting in the officer-involved shooting. Robertson was struck by gunfire during the incident and he was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment. No injuries to bystanders or law enforcement occurred during the incident. Robertson was wanted on two Grants Pass warrants for failing to appear in court for Methamphetamine Possession and one Medford warrant for failing to appear in court for Probation Violation related to an arrest for 4th-Degree Assault. The Josephine County Major Crimes Team was activated. It consists of the Sheriff's Office, Grants Pass Police Department, Oregon State Police and Josephine County District Attorney's Office. OSP is leading the investigation.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a California fugitive while investigating a disturbance at a residence in the south part of the city near Bi-Mart this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 45-year-old Martin William Mitchell, Jr., around midday Monday after responding to the incident at a home in the 300-block of Tussey Lane. Police said neighbors reported a female screaming and they contacted Mitchell as part of the investigation into the incident, which was determined to be a mental health crisis. They said he was found to be wanted on a San Luis Obispo Police Department felony warrant for Contempt of Court related to a PRCS Violation. Mitchell was placed into custody and he was found to be in possession of a baggy containing a white crystal substance that tested positive as methamphetamine. It was seized for destruction. Mitchell was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the fugitive warrant. He was being held without bail pending extradition proceedings that will send him back to California.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a Josephine County Community Corrections client on statewide and local warrants this week. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the presence of a man identified as 36-year-old Caleb Michael Bintz at the Corrections Office on NW 4th Street on Monday. Police said Bintz was called in by his corrections officer because he was wanted on a statewide felony warrant out of Josephine County for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. He was also wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for Probation Violation related to an arrest for Contempt of Court and for Methamphetamine Possession. Bintz was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Grants Pass Police Department is seeking public assistance in locating a thief who stole a bicycle from a teenager on Easter Sunday. On Sunday around 4 p.m., the male suspect stole a bicycle that a 14-year-old had momentarily left unattended near the intersection of SW 6th and H streets. A video of the thief is available for public viewing on the GPPD Facebook page. Detectives are hoping someone can help them catch the thief and recover the bike before it is parted out or repainted. The Specialized Rock Hopper Expert bicycle is described as charcoal-colored with light-gray lettering. Anyone who knows the suspect or where the bicycle may be can message GPPD through Facebook or call the non-emergency number at (541)-450-6260. Please reference Case #25-12906.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District responded to a structure fire in the Cave Junction area yesterday. On Tuesday at 1:32 p.m., IVFD crews were dispatched to the reported house fire in the 200-block of Gamay Drive. Upon arrival, responding units observed light smoke and initiated an investigation. The incident was determined to be a minor cooking incident that was mitigated by ventilating the home to clear the smoke. IVFD officials said intervention by neighbors -- prompted by audible smoke detector alarms -- ensured unimpeded access for firefighters. Their timely response prevented a potentially more serious outcome and they were commended.

 

Electronic benefit theft is on the rise. The Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) is encouraging people to take steps to protect their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards from this crime. DHS officials said electronic theft includes card skimming, card cloning, phishing and other similar methods. Claire Seguin, director of DHS Self-Sufficiency Programs, said they know many individuals and families in Oregon rely on the food and cash assistance they receive through their EBT cards to meet their basic needs and to get enough healthy food for themselves and their families. She urged everyone with an EBT card to take some simple steps to protect their benefits. When you're not using your EBT card, freeze the card for extra protection and then simply unfreeze it when you're ready to make a purchase. You can block out-of-state and online purchases to protect your card from unauthorized use. You can remove blocks at any time. Monitor your EBT account activity by making it a habit to check your account regularly for any unusual charges. If you see a charge you didn't make, report it immediately. Cancel your card and call the replacement line at 1-(855)-328-6715 or go to your local Oregon DHS benefits office.

 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has distributed more than $27.7 million in timber revenue payments to 18 western Oregon counties. The payments are supported by the timber harvested from public lands and they support local services including emergency response and education. BLM Oregon/Washington State Director Barry Bushue said the agency manages more than 2.4 million acres of some of the world's most productive forests in western Oregon and it is committed to supplying a reliable, secure and resilient domestic supply of timber while providing jobs and support to local communities. The BLM manages this area -- known as the O&C and CBWR lands as well as funds generated from timber harvests in accordance with two laws.-- the Oregon & California Railroad and Coos Bay Wagon Road Grant Lands acts. Locally, Douglas County is by far the largest recipient of BLM timber revenue payments with more than $6.9 million. Jackson County received about $4.3 million while Josephine County received over $3.3 million, Coos County received more than $1.9 million, Curry County received just over $1 million and Klamath County got $642,000.