KRRM - Local News

GPPD and Jackson County SO Participating in Statewide Seat Belt Enforcement Campaign

Starting this week and extending through June 2nd, the Grants Pass Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff's Office and law enforcement agencies throughout Oregon are using federally-funded overtime to educate the public about safety belt and child safety seat laws. The US Department of Transportation and Oregon Department of Transportation are urging drivers to buckle up for the national "Click It or Ticket" high-visibility seat belt enforcement effort that coincides with Memorial Day holiday weekend. During the campaign, police and deputies will work with fellow law enforcement officers across local and state lines to ensure the message gets out to drivers and passengers. Buckling up is the simplest thing you can do to limit injury or save your life during a crash. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the national seat belt use rate in 2023 was 91.9%. That's good, but it can be better. The other 8.1% still need to be reminded that seat belts save lives. Participating agencies will take a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement and write citations. One of the focuses of the Click It or Ticket campaign is nighttime enforcement. NHTSA data shows a higher number of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities happen at night.

Posted on 5/24/24 6:27AM by Sam Marsh

City of GP Announces Street Closures Related to Boatnik Festival and Annual Parade

In cooperation with the Grants Pass Active Club, the City of Grants Pass has announced weekend street closures associated with the Boatnik Festival including tomorrow's downtown parade. On Saturday from 8 a.m. until after the Boatnik Parade at approximately 1 p.m., 6th Street will be closed south of A Street to Caveman Bridge. During the parade, traffic will be diverted from 6th Street at A to Beacon Drive and then onto the Grants Pass Parkway. Those wishing to travel south of the Rogue River need to leave before 8 a.m. or plan to use the Grants Pass Parkway Bridge. Access across the river during the parade will only be on the Parkway Bridge or 7th Street Bridge (northbound only). No parking will be allowed on 6th Street between A Street and the Caveman Bridge or on Voorhies Way from midnight tonight until after the Boatnik Parade. East Park Street is closed to vehicular traffic from now through Monday at 9 p.m.. Vehicles with a Boatnik parking permit or handicap parking permit will be allowed to enter East Park Street via the Parkway entrance only. Baker Park will be closed to vehicle traffic and boat launching from today at 5 p.m. until Monday at 3 p.m..

Posted on 5/24/24 6:19AM by Sam Marsh

Grants Pass Rotary Club Giving Away 500 Children's Books during Boatnik Parade

The Grants Pass Rotary Club is preparing to give away 500 early literacy books to young spectators during the annual Boatnik Parade on Saturday. The goal of the book give-away is promoting Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program in partnership with Josephine Community Library. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free books to children from birth to age five every month in participating communities. Through this program, every child in Josephine County is qualified to receive a book by mail at no cost to their families every month until their fifth birthday, thanks to funding support from the Grants Pass Rotary Club and a 50% matching grant from the State of Oregon. Parents and caregivers can register their children for free by stopping by their nearest library branch in Grants Pass, Cave Junction, Williams or Wolf Creek and filling out a paper registration form or by filling out the online registration form at "josephinelibrary.org." Since launching the Imagination Library in 2018, over 5,000 Josephine County children have received 137,602 books.

Posted on 5/24/24 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Fighting with WinCo Workers after Shoplifting Attempt

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for multiple crimes after he fought with employees at a local supermarket while trying to steal some grocery items yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 27-year-old male subject for the incident at WinCo Foods on NE Terry Lane on Wednesday at 11:13 a.m.. Police said loss prevention workers confronted the man after he passed all points of sale without paying for store merchandise that included a bottle of Tylenol and a water enhancer drink mix. They said he attempted to push through the employees to retain the stolen items and a physical fight ensued before he escaped on foot. According to the report, no one was injured in the altercation. Officers located the suspect a few blocks away from WinCo and recovered the stolen items. Surveillance video confirmed his criminal actions at the store, so he was placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 3rd-Degree Robbery, 3rd-Degree Theft and two counts of Physical Harassment. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 5/23/24 10:56AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Roughing Up Woman Outside Downtown Church

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for roughing up a woman outside a downtown area church last night. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a reported disturbance at St. Luke's Episcopal Church at the corner of NW D and 4th streets around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police said a citizen called 9-1-1 to report homeless people fighting on the lawn of the church, with one person possibly brandishing a knife. The caller also said there was a truck parked across the street from the church, with a man and woman yelling at each other and a baby stroller in the roadway. A subsequent investigation revealed that a 39-year-old man struck a woman in the face after the man began verbally assaulting another woman. Witnesses said the man was asked to leave the area and he refused before turning and striking the female victim in the nose. The victim was not seriously hurt. Officers placed the highly-intoxicated subject into custody and lodged him at the Josephine County Jail for Physical Harassment. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 5/23/24 10:55AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Snared Woman on MPD Warrant after Wednesday Incident in Hugo

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a woman on an outstanding warrant yesterday after a disturbance in the Hugo area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the incident in the 600-block of Oxyoke Road on Wednesday around 12:30 p.m.. Deputies said the property owner called 9-1-1 to report that he had just arrived at his home and he was being harassed by a female subject who was squatting on his place. The caller advised that he sprayed her with a hose and she responded by threatening him and throwing rocks at his friend. There were no injuries reported. Upon arrival, deputies contacted the 50-year-old woman and discovered that she was wanted on a Medford Police Department warrant for Probation Violation related to a previous arrest for Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine. She was placed into custody and lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail. The reporting party was advised not to go into the woman's living area while she was gone and a friend made arrangements to pick up her dog.

Posted on 5/23/24 10:53AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Violent and Alcohol-Fueled Outburst at City Park

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for a violent and alcohol-fueled outburst that occurred at a city park late yesterday. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to the incident at Morrison Centennial Park on Rogue River Highway on Wednesday at about 5 p.m.. Police said a 41-year-old male subject was reported to be causing fear and public alarm by slamming his head into the pavement and screaming. They said he was visibly intoxicated and had a can of alcoholic beverage in his hand upon contact. According to the report, the man was detained at the side of a patrol car for a search when he began slamming his head into the vehicle, causing a large dent. The suspect remained uncooperative at the Josephine County Jail where he was placed in a smock, restraint chair and spit hood. He was eventually lodged without bail for Disorderly Conduct and 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief.

Posted on 5/23/24 10:51AM by Sam Marsh

Grants Pass Police Snared Woman for Causing Ruckus on North 6th Street

Grants Pass Police arrested a "frequent flyer" yesterday for causing yet another disturbance -- this time in the north part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers responded to multiple reports of a female subject running into traffic on NE 6th Street at about 1:35 p.m. Wednesday. Police said witnesses reported the 34-year-old woman was jumping in and out of the street, screaming at passing motorists, flipping them off and throwing items at them. She was with a male companion who was not reported to be acting out. Responding officers located the woman across the street at the Chamber of Commerce, recognized her from several recent contacts and placed her into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and she was being held without bail.

Posted on 5/23/24 10:49AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Motorist for DUII after Shopping Center Fender-Bender

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving after she crashed into another vehicle in the Allen Creek Shopping Center late yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to the fender-bender in the parking lot outside Albertsons on Wednesday around 5:45 p.m.. Police said the 59-year-old woman was driving a Subaru Forester when the wreck occurred. They said she backed into a Toyota Prius and attempted to leave, but several people were able to keep her from fleeing. The woman also tried to switch places with her female passenger, but witnesses confirmed that she was the driver. Responding officers contacted the woman and observed signs of impairment such as slurred speech, poor balance and the odor of alcohol. She refused to provide a breath sample, so a search warrant was obtained and she was taken to Three Rivers Medical center for a legal blood draw. She eventually admitted to drinking alcohol. The suspect was then lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Reckless Driving. She was also cited to appear in court for the breath test refusal. Her vehicle was parked and secured.

Posted on 5/23/24 10:48AM by Sam Marsh

IV Man Jailed for Shooting at Neighbor in Ongoing Dispute over Marijuana Grow

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed an Illinois Valley man for shooting at his neighbor this week as part of an ongoing dispute over growing marijuana in the Selma area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the disturbance in the 100-block of Hogue Drive late Tuesday afternoon. Deputies said a man at that address called 9-1-1 to report that his 47-year-old male neighbor took a shot at him while they were in a verbal dispute over a marijuana grow. The caller advised the man shot at his legs, but the bullet hit the ground and he was not hurt. He didn't have any weapons and secured himself inside his house. Upon arrival, deputies interviewed both parties, located a bullet casing in the yard and placed the suspect into custody. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempted 1st-Degree Assault, Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Felon in Possession of a Weapon and Menacing. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 5/23/24 6:32AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Nabbed Motorist for DUII and Felony Warrant after Redwood Highway Stop

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving as well as an outstanding warrant this week after a traffic stop on Redwood Highway in Selma. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Nissan Sentra driven by a 41-year-old man near milepost 20 of US Highway 199 around midday Tuesday. Troopers said they stopped the car for traffic violations and discovered the driver was wanted on an active felony warrant for Parole Violation. They observed signs of impairment and placed him into custody. User amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl were uncovered during a consent search of his vehicle. The driver performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to the Josephine County Jail for a drug evaluation which turned up positive for narcotics. The suspect was lodged on the no-bail warrant as well as for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Controlled Substances. His vehicle was secured by friends who arrived at the traffic stop location.

Posted on 5/23/24 6:30AM by Sam Marsh

Jackson County Emergency Units Rescued Boater Who Became Stranded in RR

Jackson County emergency units rescued an elderly man who became stranded in the Rogue River earlier this week. On Tuesday afternoon, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Jackson County Search & Rescue and the Rogue River Fire Department responded to the incident in the river near the City of Rogue River. Marine deputies said the 81-year-old man's boat became disabled on the Rogue just below Evans Creek. After checking on the man's welfare, deputies assisted him in returning the boat back upriver and loading it onto his trailer. As the weather warms, sheriff's officials remind boaters to include life jackets and safety equipment. They also said to check vessels thoroughly before launching and stay safe.

Posted on 5/23/24 6:28AM by Sam Marsh