Local News

Deputies Snared 2 People for Violating Court Orders after Cheney Creek Call
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested two people for violating court orders after a weekend domestic disturbance in the Wilderville area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the disturbance in the 200-block of Cheney Creek Road on Saturday shortly after 10 a.m.. Deputies said 9-1-1 dispatchers alerted them to a man who reported he woke up to someone coming into his trailer and punching him in the mouth. The caller said he had a busted lip and requested medical assistance. Upon arrival, deputies determined that the incident was the result of an altercation between a 67-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman. Both of them had restraining orders against each other and they had obviously disobeyed the court orders. Both suspects were placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. Both were held without bail.
Posted on 4/15/24 10:58AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Arrested Man for Probation Violation by Vandalizing Pot Retailer
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violating his probation over the weekend by vandalizing the windows at a downtown cannabis business. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the vandalism incident at Diamond Cannabis on SW 6th Street on Saturday at about 12:40 p.m.. Police said store employees reported a male transient came into the store on Friday night asking for free product. When he was refused, he got upset and returned with a metal pole which he dragged across the windows. Damage to the frosted vinyl on the front and side windows of the store was estimated to be more than $3,000. Officers searched the area, eventually located the 25-year-old suspect and placed him into custody around 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief plus Probation Violation related to numerous arrests for Petty Theft, Criminal Mischief and Criminal Trespass. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.
Posted on 4/15/24 10:55AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Arrested Pair for Attempting to Steal Home Depot Merchandise
Grants Pass Police arrested two people for attempting to steal merchandise from Home Depot. The Police Department reports officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at the store on NE Mill Street on Saturday around 4:45 p.m.. Police said they were alerted to a man and woman loading a Chevrolet El Camino with stolen items -- including oil, gloves, spray paint and a shovel -- and fleeing the scene. The stolen merchandise was valued at more than $161. Officers caught up with the suspects a short distance away and detained them before determining that the 30-year-old man had committed the heist and the 44-year-old woman assisted him by loading the items into the car. All the stolen items were recovered and returned to Home Depot. Both suspects were charged with 2nd-Degree Theft. The man was lodged at the Josephine County Jail while the woman was cited to appear in court and released.
Posted on 4/15/24 10:54AM by Sam Marsh
 

Deputies Nabbed Motorist for DUII after Weekend Complaint near Merlin
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving after a weekend traffic complaint in the Merlin area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies were alerted to an intoxicated male driver from a caller in the 300-block of Thornbrook Drive on Friday at 11:44 p.m.. Deputies said the caller reported a 24-year-old man left that location while driving a white Dodge Challenger. The driver was said to be highly intoxicated as he left on Galice Road toward Merlin with the intent to head to Grants Pass. Responding deputies located the suspect vehicle in the parking lot of Li'l Pantry Market & Deli. The driver was contacted, displayed signs of impairment and then placed into custody. The suspect was transported to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he was cited to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. The Challenger was picked up at the market by the reporting party.
Posted on 4/15/24 10:50AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Arrested Motorist for Impaired Driving after North Valley Traffic Stop
The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving after a weekend traffic stop in the North Valley area. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Dodge 1500 pickup driven by a 44-year-old man near the corner of Merlin Road and Holbrook Way on Saturday at about 12:15 a.m.. Troopers said they stopped the suspect for traffic violations and he displayed signs of impairment by alcohol. They said the man performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was transported to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was more than twice the legal driving limit. The suspect was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and lodged at the Sobering Center. His pickup was impounded.
Posted on 4/15/24 10:49AM by Sam Marsh
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No One Hurt When SUV Crashed into Back of Semi-Trailer on Interstate 5
No one was hurt when a sport utility vehicle smashed into the back of a slow-moving commercial vehicle on Interstate 5 on the ascent toward Sexton Summit. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 69 at about 4 p.m. Saturday. Troopers said a 26-year-old Springfield man driving a Chevrolet Tahoe tried to pass a commercial vehicle on the right while climbing the mountain and crashed into the back of another commercial vehicle operated by a 32-year-old truck driver. According to OSP, no injuries were sustained in the crash -- but the SUV sustained heavy damage and towed into Grants Pass. The commercial vehicle drove away from the scene. It was unclear whether any citations were issued.
Posted on 4/15/24 10:47AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Jailed 2 IV Residents after Recovering Stolen Pickup in Cave Junction
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed two Illinois Valley residents after recovering a stolen vehicle in Cave Junction. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested a 30-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman in the 100-block of West Hanby Lane on Friday shortly before 11 p.m.. Deputies said they pulled over a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe containing the suspects after spotting it and discovering that it had been reported stolen in the Central Point area by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office. Both suspects were placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. The man was also charged with Probation Violation related to another crime. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office was notified about the recovery of the vehicle and family members of the registered owner made arrangements to pick it up.
Posted on 4/15/24 7:34AM by Sam Marsh
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Weekend Patrol on Disabled Vehicle Led to Arrest of Man on Statewide Warrant
A weekend patrol check on a disabled vehicle in northern Josephine County led to the arrest of a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies contacted the 37-year-old man near the corner of Lower Wolf Creek and Grave Creek roads on Friday at 7:45 p.m.. Deputies said they were on patrol when they spotted a disabled vehicle, contacted the driver and discovered that he was wanted on an Oregon State Parole Board warrant for Parole Violation stemming from convictions for Felony Attempt to Elude Police and Possession of a Controlled Substance. The suspect was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. At the arrestee's request, the disabled truck and trailer were to be moved to another location by a friend.
Posted on 4/15/24 7:33AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Snared Motorcyclist Who Tried to Outrun Them in GP before Crash
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for trying to elude deputies while riding a motorcycle on the southeast side of Grants Pass before crashing on Fruitdale Drive near Rogue River Highway. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies initially attempted to pull over the motorcycle ridden by the 39-year-old man on Fruitdale near Hamilton Lane on Friday around 11:15 p.m.. Deputies said the motorcycle rider refused to yield and led them out Fruitdale to its eastern intersection with Highway 99. However, the rider lost control of the bike and laid it down on Fruitdale just short of the highway. There was damage to the left side of the motorcycle, which was towed into town. The suspect sustained minor injuries in the crash. He was checked out by medics at the scene, released and placed into custody before being lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempt to Elude Police and Reckless Driving.
Posted on 4/15/24 7:31AM by Sam Marsh
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High-Speed Rollover Crash near Merlin Lands Driver in Hospital with DUII Cite
A high-speed rollover crash west of Merlin landed the driver in the hospital and with a citation for impaired driving. On Saturday at 10:11 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the single-vehicle wreck in the 2200-block of Galice Road. Arriving units found a vehicle off the roadway, with car parts including the engine scattered in a field. The unidentified male driver was already self-extricated and located down the road by the Josephine County Sheriff's Office. He was taken by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Unable to confirm if the vehicle had been occupied by any passengers, firefighters search the surrounding woods with a thermal imaging camera -- they were unable to locate anyone. The Sheriff's Office later contacted the driver at the hospital and cited him to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants.
Posted on 4/15/24 7:30AM by Sam Marsh
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Driver of Vehicle that Crashed near Cave Junction Escaped Injury Last Night
The driver of a vehicle that crashed near Cave Junction last night escaped serious injury. The Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the single-vehicle wreck on Rockydale Road near Pine Cone Drive on Sunday at 6:55 p.m.. IVFD officials said bystanders put out a smoldering portion of the vehicle before they arrived on scene. They said the unidentified driver was able to self-extricate from the vehicle and they were not injured. Jerry's Towing removed the vehicle from the crash scene and towed it to Cave Junction. The Sheriff's Office was investigating the cause of the accident.
Posted on 4/15/24 7:28AM by Sam Marsh
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GP City Council will Convene Workshop after Annual Arbor Day Celebration
The Grants Pass City Council will start its day with the annual Arbor Day Celebration at Garrison Field before beginning its bi-weekly workshop session. The City Council will open the workshop with presentations from Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc., RCC Small Business Development Center and Chamber of Commerce. Next up on the agenda is the Reed Building at Riverside Park, more commonly known as the historic caretaker's cottage. The Council is leaning toward a vote to demolish the building while the Historical Buildings & Sites Commission would like to see it saved and repurposed. After concluding the workshop with a review of the agenda for Wednesday night's regular meeting. Mayor Sara Bristol will convene a Special Meeting in Executive Session. The closed-door meeting is being held for sensitive labor negotiations. Today's workshop begins at 11:45 a.m. in the City Council Chambers at Grants Pass City Hall, 101 NW A Street.
Posted on 4/15/24 7:02AM by Sam Marsh
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