Local News

The US Forest Service recently selected a Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest worker as the Pacific Northwest Region's Technology Applications Employee of the Year for 2023. Troy Phillis, a Rogue-Siskiyou employee and 1992 graduate of Oregon Institute of Technology, received the award from the federal agency. Phillis was among the recipients identified for annual Engineer of the Year awards in four categories in March. He was nominated by his supervisors, peers and employees for being known to consistently deliver a high caliber of performance and for taking initiative in completing priority work for the agency. Acting Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Supervisor Dan Quinones said Phillis has helped them further develop one of the best fleet organizations in the region. He said their shop and crews follow impeccable standards of safety, quality and service, adding that Troy has also significantly enhanced fleet capabilities and efficiency while doing so.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Grants Pass area man yesterday for being in possession of a vehicle that was reported stolen out of Douglas County. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested the 55-year-old suspect at a home in the 11,000-block of Peco Road off Azalea Drive on Thursday at 4:20 p.m.. Deputies said the Douglas County Sheriff's Office reported a 2004 Dodge Durango had been stolen that morning and the local man had been identified as the suspect. The Peco Road residence was listed as the address for the man, and that's where he was located and the vehicle was recovered. Upon contact with the suspect, he advised deputies that he had called the victim's parents, told them he didn't steal the vehicle and that he had permission to drive it. However, the parents and law enforcement disagreed so he was taken into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Possession of a Stolen Vehicle and he was being held without bail. The victim traveled to Grants Pass from Douglas County and picked up his vehicle.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man wanted on two local warrants early yesterday after he backed his car into another vehicle at a city park. The Police Department reports officers responded to the reported collision at Morrison Centennial Park on Rogue River Highway around 9:40 a.m. Thursday. Police said the 46-year-old man was backing out of a parking space at the park when he struck another vehicle. Upon contact, they discovered that his license was suspended, he had no insurance and he was not driving for emergency reasons. Further investigation determined that the man was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangerment and Suspended Driving. He was also wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for DUII and Suspended Driving. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants. He was also cited for the traffic violations and his vehicle was impounded.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a woman for multiple crimes yesterday after she caused a disturbance in a southwest city neighborhood and struggled with law enforcement. According to the Police Department, officers eventually arrested the 31-year-old female subject near the corner of SW Alder and I streets on Thursday at 1:48 p.m.. Police said the woman had generated multiple calls for service due to causing public alarm by knocking over trash cans and walking in the middle of the street. One caller reported the woman was standing on their front porch and pounding on the door. Responding officers contacted the suspect and advised her she was under arrest. The woman said "No, I'm not" and walked away. Officers made physical contact to effect the arrest, but the subject began to resist and physically pulled away. She was eventually subdued and placed into custody. The uncooperative suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Resisting Arrest, Disorderly Conduct and Escape. She was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant after he tried to steal a pair of shoes from Grange Co-op late yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 32-year-old subject at the store on West Schutzwohl Lane near Redwood Highway on Thursday at 5:22 p.m.. Police said the man selected a pair of shoes from the Grange, put them on, placed his old shoes into the box and returned the box to the shelf before walking out of the store without paying. He was detained by loss prevention and placed into custody by responding officers. A routine records check revealed that the man was wanted on an Oregon State Parole Board warrant for Felony Parole Violation related to a previous criminal conviction. He was lodged in jail on the warrant plus a new charge of 3rd-Degree Theft and was being held on a no-bail detainer. The suspect and his girlfriend were both trespassed from Grange Co-op.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested two people for stealing items from a store in Cave Junction and one of them for violating her post-prison supervision early yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a shoplifting complaint at the Dollar General store on North Redwood Highway at 9:15 a.m. Thursday. Deputies said store employees reported that a man and woman came into the store and he stole an 18-pack of beer while she stole a can of beer and other items. The workers advised the woman had previously been trespassed from the store, but returned with a male companion. The 29-year-old woman was placed into custody near the Cave Junction Post Office and the 41-year-old man was placed into custody near Shop Smart. The woman was charged with 3rd-Degree Theft, 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass and the resulting Felony Parole Violation related to a previous criminal conviction. The man was charged with 3rd-Degree Theft. Both were lodged at the Josephine County Jail where the woman was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for driving recklessly around the parking lot of Three Rivers Medical Center in his sister's vehicle last night. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the traffic complaint at the hospital on SW Ramsey Avenue on Thursday at 9:25 p.m.. TRMC security reported the male driver of a pickup was driving dangerously and they believed the man might be impaired. They were concerned for public safety. Police said the 70-year-old man was operating his sister's 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 in the hospital parking lot while intoxicated from alcohol. They contacted him near the pickup, which had an open can of White Claw in the cup-holder. According to the report, the man admitted to driving the truck through the parking lot and he displayed numerous signs of impairment. He performed poorly in field sobriety tests, was placed into custody and transported to the Sobering Center. The suspect was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants before he was cited to appear in court and then released.

 

The Ashland Police Department and two state agencies were forced to lethally remove a cougar that had wandered into a residential area of that city yesterday. On Thursday at 1:15 p.m., Ashland police officers responded to the 700-block of Glendale Avenue for a report of an aggressive cougar. After speaking with residents, it was determined that an adult cougar had attacked at least one domesticated animal -- a cat -- while the cat was under the control of its owner. Upon checking the area, officers found evidence of other wild animals having been attacked and consumed as well. APD requested the assistance of the Oregon State Police Fish & Game Division and the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. Both agencies responded to assist and -- upon conferring -- everyone agreed that the cougar was well beyond the statutory threshold calling for the lethal removal of the animal. APD, OSP and ODFW searched for the animal, locating it at about 2:45 p.m. in a residential yard in the same area. The cougar was lethally removed and the carcass was turned over to ODFW for examination. APD Chief Tighe O'Meara said an elementary school in the immediate area was asked to keep everyone inside during the incident. He said APD never seeks to be put in the position of lethally removing a wild animal. But given the circumstances, this course of action was clearly the most prudent to safeguard human lives.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for roughing up his girlfriend in a rural area near Grants Pass this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested the 35-year-old male subject at a property in the 1,000-block of Plumtree Lane on Wednesday afternoon. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her boyfriend pulled a chair out from underneath her, causing her to fall and hurt her back. The caller said he also threw the chair at her and punched a door, stating he would hit her that way. The victim -- who advised dispatchers that she has bone cancer -- fled the trailer and hid in the woods to make the 9-1-1 call. She said her boyfriend followed her for a short distance and then returned to the trailer they share. Upon arrival, deputies interviewed both parties and placed the man into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Domestic Menacing and the resulting Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.