KRRM - Local News

GP to Permanently Close J Street Homeless Campground on Thursday at Midnight

The City of Grants Pass has announced that the homeless encampment at 755 SE J Street will close permanently on Thursday at midnight. The campsite was originally scheduled to close on January 10th, but city officials decided to delay the closure until the interim City Attorney could research whether any laws were being violated. A sign has been posted at the campsite that reads: "Unlawful entry into the closed area (after January 23rd) is prohibited and punishable by citation or arrest for criminal trespass." Meanwhile, the hours for camping at 712 NE 7th Street are now 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily. The J Street campsite closure and the new regulations for the 7th Street campsite were approved by the Grants Pass City Council during a special meeting held on January 7th.

Posted on 1/21/25 11:23AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed Man for Stealing Items from CJ Resident and Then Selling Them

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for stealing property from a Cave Junction resident and then selling it to others. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 29-year-old Luke Wyatt Mulligan at the Taco Bell on NE Terry Lane in Grants Pass on Monday around 1:20 p.m.. Deputies said a Cave Junction woman reported that her 2019 Dodge Caravan had been stolen from her home in the 200-block of West River Street. She advised that she found items taken from the stolen vehicle posted on Facebook Marketplace. One of the items stolen was a BMX bicycle. According to the report, a friend of the victim had video footage of the theft and it was shared with law enforcement. Based on the video, one of the suspects was identified as Mulligan and deputies searched the area before finding him in Grants Pass. He was not in possession of the stolen vehicle when he was placed into custody, he admitted to selling some of the stolen items and he was found to be in possession of methamphetamine. Mulligan was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on three outstanding warrants for Probation Violation related to arrests for Identity Theft and Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants as well as failing to appear in court for DUII. He was additionally charged with Felony 1st-Degree Theft, Felony Theft-by-Receiving and Meth Possession. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 1/21/25 10:44AM by Sam Marsh

Troopers Corralled Three Men Wanted on Warrants over Long Holiday Weekend

The Oregon State Police arrested three men on outstanding warrants during the long holiday weekend. OSP reports the first incident occurred on Friday at 4:02 p.m. when troopers pulled over a Ford Explorer driven by 75-year-old Robert Snow on Redwood Highway in south Grants Pass. Troopers said they stopped Snow for a driving complaint and he was found to be in violation of a no-contact order listed on his probation. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Probation Violation. The second incident happened on Saturday at 2:41 p.m. when troopers contacted a bicyclist identified as 41-year-old Zacharey Michael Costa of Lodi, California, on Old Highway 99 in Wolf Creek. Costa was wanted on a local felony warrant for Probation Violation, so he was arrested and lodged in jail on $25,000 bail. The third incident took place on Sunday at 5:40 p.m. when troopers pulled over a vehicle containing 33-year-old Mason Leland Haugh of Grants Pass at SE 7th and H streets. Troopers said Haugh was not wearing a seat belt and he was found to be wanted on a warrant for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. He was lodged in jail on the warrant and the driver of the vehicle was cited for traffic violations.

Posted on 1/21/25 10:43AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Nabbed Two Motorists for Impaired Driving after Weekend Stops in the IV

The Oregon State Police arrested at least two motorists for impaired driving over the holiday weekend in the Illinois Valley. According to OSP, the first incident occurred on Saturday at 11:11 p.m. when state troopers pulled over a Mazda MZ3 driven by a 37-year-old Cave Junction man at the intersection of Redwood Highway and Laurel Drive. Troopers said they stopped the Mazda for a traffic violation and the driver showed signs of impairment. They said he performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. He was cited to appear in court and released. His vehicle was parked and secured. The second incident happened on Sunday at 1:19 a.m. when troopers pulled over a Toyota Tundra driven by a 29-year-old Selma man at the intersection of Redwood Highway and Reeves Creek Road. Troopers said they stopped the Toyota for a traffic violation and the driver showed signs of impairment. They said he refused to participate in field sobriety tests, so a search warrant was obtained and he was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for DUII and his vehicle was impounded.

Posted on 1/21/25 10:42AM by Sam Marsh

Grants Pass Police Snared Frequent Trespasser on 2 Outstanding Warrants

Grants Pass Police arrested a man with a bad habit of trespassing on two local warrants early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 42-year-old George Charles Pearson Williams near the corner of the Grants Pass Parkway and NE Terry Lane on Monday at 8:44 a.m.. Police said they immediately placed Williams into custody because they knew he was wanted on two Grants Pass warrants for failing to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. Williams was lodged in jail and his belongings were logged into evidence for safekeeping.

Posted on 1/21/25 10:40AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Collared Two Men for Numerous Felony-Level Crimes Late Last Week

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed two men for numerous felony-level crimes late last week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 27-year-old Aldane Hamilton and 26-year-old Dwayne Connell, Jr., last Thursday afternoon in an unspecified location. So far, there has been no press release or entry in the Sheriff's Log for the incident or incidents. Records show Hamilton and Connell were each booked into the Josephine County Jail for 17 criminal allegations including multiple counts of Kidnapping, Robbery and Unlawful Use of a Weapon as well as single counts of Burglary and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. Following their Friday afternoon arraignments, Hamilton and Connell remained in custody this morning on $1 million bail.

Posted on 1/21/25 6:29AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Alcohol-Fueled Altercation at Fast Food Restaurant

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for an alcohol-fueled altercation at a fast food eatery last weekend. The Police Department reports officers arrested 30-year-old Mikel Eugene Cary for the incident at Carl's Jr. on NW 6th Street on Sunday at 7:10 p.m.. Police said Cary walked to Carl's Jr. from Motel 6 and -- at some time during his travels -- he decided to initiate a physical fight with two other men. Witnesses reported the suspect punched at least one person in the face and was trying to fight others before a bystander intervened, took him to the ground and restrained him until law enforcement arrived on scene. Cary was injured, but he declined medical attention. He was found to be wanted on an out-of-county warrant for Probation Violation and his corrections officer was contacted. Police said he was clearly under the influence of alcohol. Cary was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and the Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 1/21/25 6:15AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Arrested Man on Outside Warrant at Little Falls Campground in IV

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man on an outside warrant while investigating a transient camp in the Illinois Valley. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies contacted 38-year-old Edward Thomas Burke, III, at the Little Falls Campground on Saturday afternoon. Deputies said they were patrolling the campground when they spotted Burke and learned that he was wanted on an Ashland Police Department warrant for failing to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. After the warrant was confirmed with APD, Burke was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. His belongings were left with another man who was also camping at Little Falls.

Posted on 1/21/25 6:14AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Incarcerated Man for Repeated Trespassing at Downtown Safeway

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for refusing to leave a downtown supermarket from which he had been trespassed late last year. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident involving 67-year-old Michael Alan Gendernalik at Safeway on SE 7th Street on Sunday at 7:50 p.m.. Police said a store manager called 9-1-1 to report ongoing issues with a male subject in a wheelchair. The caller said he had been hanging out at the store all day and refused to leave even when he was offered assistance to a nearby location. GPPD records indicated Gendernalik had been trespassed from Safeway on December 3rd. However, he refused to abide by his legal banishment. Gendernalik was lodged in jail for Criminal Trespass and his warning at Safeway was renewed. His belongings were logged into evidence for safekeeping.

Posted on 1/21/25 6:12AM by Sam Marsh

Local Firefighters Contained Pine Tree Way Structure Fire in Selma to Garage

A Monday evening structure fire destroyed a garage in Selma, but no one was hurt and it did not spread to any other buildings. The Illinois Valley Fire District, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the reported fire on Pine Tree Way near Clear Creek Road at 6:22 p.m.. IVFD officials said arriving units found a significant fire engulfing a garage, but the blaze was contained to the garage, extinguished and fully-suppressed. There were no injuries reported among civilians or firefighters. Officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation. Meanwhile, the Pine Tree Way fire was just one of four that Rural Metro crews responded to in a 74-minute period late yesterday. The fires mobilized around 20 emergency vehicles from Rural Metro, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue, IVFD and AMR. Rural Metro officials said three of the fires turned out to be non-hazardous open burns, called in by passersby who assumed they were buildings.

Posted on 1/21/25 6:10AM by Sam Marsh

Applications Being Accepted for Seat on GP Public Safety Advisory Committee

Applications are being accepted for one position on the Grants Pass Public Safety Advisory Committee. This position is for a three-year term. The Public Safety Advisory Committee serves as a collaborative platform for community engagement and guidance on public safety matters. The committee aims to bridge the gap between the Grants Pass community and City Council to ensure that public safety strategies align with the needs and resources of the community. The special qualification for this position is a downtown business owner. Applications are available at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, February 21st. Appointments will be made by the Grants Pass City Council at their regular meeting on Wednesday, March 5th.

Posted on 1/21/25 6:09AM by Sam Marsh

Five Local Organizations Received OHA's "Healthy Homes" Grant Program Funds

The Oregon Health Authority has awarded $23 million to repair and rehabilitate the homes of low-income residents to eliminate risks to their health to 34 local organizations and the nine federally-recognized tribes of Oregon. The funds come from the Healthy Homes Grant Program (HHGP), established to improve health by rehabilitating living environments throughout Oregon. The state Legislature established the HHGP in 2021. It directs OHA to provide grants to local organizations serving low-income residents to repair and rehabilitate homes. People living in poverty are more likely to live in substandard housing that is not healthy or safe. Five Southern Oregon organizations received HHGP grants including Habitat for Humanity-Rogue Valley, the Illinois Valley Community Response Team, Living Opportunities, Remake Talent and the United Community Action Network (UCAN). Living Opportunities was the largest local grant recipient, receiving $749,496 over a three-year period to improve housing conditions for low-income people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Jackson and Josephine counties. OHA sent letters of intent to successful grant applicants in August and has been working with individual organizations to finalize grant agreements by the end of this month.

Posted on 1/21/25 6:00AM by Sam Marsh