KRRM - Local News

GP Police Jailed Man for Assaulting Estranged Wife & Returning to Her Home

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for beating up his estranged wife when he returned to her residence early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 49-year-old John Scott Jessen for the incident at a residence on SW Laurel Street on Wednesday at about 10:25 a.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that Jessen had assaulted her Tuesday night, returned the next morning and was yelling at her through the door. She told dispatchers they were still legally married -- but separated -- and she had locked the door to keep him outside. She said he broke her phone when she tried to call for help the night before. Jessen left the scene, but the alleged victim said she believed he went to apartments on SW Bridge Street where his children live. That's where officers located him and placed him into custody. Jessen was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for probable cause of Strangulation, Menacing and Harassment -- all constituting Domestic Violence -- plus Interfering with Making a Police Report. He was being held without bail pending arraignment in Circuit Court this afternoon.

Posted on 2/13/25 11:27AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed Corrections Client for Escaping from Work Crew at GP Airport

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Community Corrections client yesterday after he tried to escape from a work crew at the Grants Pass Airport. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 46-year-old Jacob Girtman at or near the Josephine County Animal Shelter on Brookside Boulevard on Wednesday at 12:12 p.m.. Deputies said an airport maintenance worker caught Girtman loitering around the hangars and he fled when contacted. The male subject reportedly jumped the fence and ran toward the Animal Shelter. When deputies arrived, Girtman continued eastbound through the dog kennels and jumped over a barbed wire fence before he was detained at Taser point. He tried to run again and kept fighting with deputies after being placed in handcuffs. It was believed he may have been under the influence of a narcotic stimulant. Once Girtman was put into a patrol vehicle, he tried to kick out a window and had to be restrained with leg wraps. During transport, he was somehow able to slip out of the wraps, so deputies were forced to pull over and contact the Oregon State Police to help restrain him again. Girtman eventually arrived at the Josephine County Jail where he was booked on charges of Escape, Resisting Arrest, Criminal Mischief and Furnishing False Information to Police plus the resulting Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 2/13/25 11:26AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Arrested Pair for Warrant & Weapon Crimes after Williams Area Spat

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested two people for warrant and weapon violations following a disturbance in the Williams area early yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the incident at a home in the 1400-block of Rock Creek Road on Wednesday around 6:30 a.m.. Deputies said the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center received a call from that address, but the call taker only heard shuffling on the line followed by the voice of a young woman asking someone to leave her alone. Dispatchers eventually learned that a verbal confrontation was taking place and they alerted deputies before it escalated. Upon arrival, deputies discovered that the two parties were arguing about the man allowing smoke into the home. The woman stated that she was helping clean up the property for the owner and denied that she was in a relationship with the man, who was identified as 37-year-old Bobby Gillette. Gillette was found to be wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant containing a secret indictment for three counts of 1st-Degree Forgery. He was arrested and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. The young woman -- who was not identified -- was arrested for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. She was cited to appear in court and then given a courtesy ride into Grants Pass. The firearm was seized.

Posted on 2/13/25 11:24AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man on Local Warrant after Citizen Complaint near South Y

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant last night following a citizen complaint near the South Y interchange. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the incident involving 31-year-old Kale Phillip Luke at the corner of Redwood Highway and the Grants Pass Parkway on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.. Police said Luke was contacted after he was observed walking in the middle of the roadway. They said he was discovered to be wanted on a local warrant for failing to appear in court for Probation Violation related to an arrest for Felony Criminal Mischief. After the warrant was confirmed, Luke was placed into custody and lodged in jail on $40,000 bail. He was also warned for Disorderly Conduct.

Posted on 2/13/25 11:21AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Man on Local Warrant - He was Throwing Rocks at Cars

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender on a local warrant after he was caught throwing rocks at cars on Rogue River Highway early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to the intersection of Highway 99 and Maple Lane on Wednesday around 8:15 a.m.. Police said 26-year-old Nick Dustin Farmer was called in for throwing rocks at vehicles and hitting at least two of them. He was detained near Playford Lane and found to be wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Larceny or Petty Theft. Farmer was placed into custody and lodged in jail on the warrant. He was also warned for Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Mischief.

Posted on 2/13/25 11:19AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Cited Motorist for Multiple Violations & Impounded Modified Car

Grants Pass Police cited a motorist for multiple violations and impounded his modified vehicle late yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a Nissan 350Z driven by a man they identified as "Ashton Ring" on NE 7th Street near Mead Street at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday. Police said they observed Ring driving lowered black sedan with an aftermarket exhaust northbound on 7th Street, which precipitated the traffic stop. They said the exhaust caused greater noise than is reasonably necessary for the proper operation of a vehicle. They added that the exhaust pipe modification mimicked gunshots. Ring was cited for Unreasonable Noise and No Insurance. He was also warned about being in violation of minimum vehicle clearance and his car was impounded.

Posted on 2/13/25 11:18AM by Sam Marsh

One Person Hospitalized with Serious Burns after Merlin Area Shed Explosion

An explosion and fire in a small Merlin-area garden shed sent one person to the hospital with serious burn injuries early yesterday. On Wednesday at 10:03 a.m., Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 3,000-block of Camp Joy Road. Rural Metro officials said arriving units found the shed already mostly consumed by flames. The private company consulted with the Oregon State Fire Marshal in the investigation and it was determined that propane was being utilized inside the shed, which was being used as a sleeping area. One unidentified person was transported by ambulance to a local hospital with serious burn injuries. As fire crews were responding, another occupant tried to suppress the fire with a garden hose, but found it inoperable due to being frozen. Officials urge residents to keep garden hoses thawed indoors with nozzles attached and to protect the exterior water spigots from freezing.

Posted on 2/13/25 6:55AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Incarcerated Man for Attacking Girlfriend at Northeast City Residence

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for attacking his girlfriend at a northeast city home. The Police Department reports officers arrested 57-year-old Richard Allen Wood for the incident at a NE Baker Drive residence on Tuesday night. Police said a taxi cab driver called 9-1-1 to report a male subject shoving a female subject outside the home. They said an investigation determined that Wood subjected his girlfriend to unwanted physical contact during an argument when he pushed the woman with the muzzle of his firearm. According to the report, Wood's conduct placed the victim in fear of imminent physical injury or death. She sustained red marks on her face and body from the incident, but she declined medical treatment. The gun was seized as evidence. Officers placed Wood into custody and lodged him at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing and Harassment.

Posted on 2/13/25 6:53AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed Man for Violating Court Order by Contacting Protected Woman

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for violating a court order by contacting his estranged girlfriend at U-Turn for Christ. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a disturbance at the organization in the 300-block of Lind Road on Tuesday evening. Deputies said they were alerted to the incident involving 34-year-old Jake Cameron Callin by a U-Turn for Christ staff member who reported a belligerent male subject yelling at a female subject in a verbal argument about a vehicle. The caller advised the man may have been intoxicated and the woman took his keys. Upon arrival, deputies interviewed all parties before discovering that the woman had a no-contact order in place to protect her from Callin. They said he displayed manic and aggressive behaviors while being placed into custody. He was loaded into a patrol vehicle with some difficulty. Callin was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Violating a No Contact Order. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 2/13/25 6:47AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Frequent Flyer for Stealing Fire Extinguisher & Other Items

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender for stealing a fire extinguisher from Fire Mountain Gems and discharging it this week. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident involving 31-year-old Kody Tyler Halverson at the business on Fire Mountain Way around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Police said Halverson stole a fire extinguisher from Fire Mountain Gems valued at about $125. They said he ran across the street and discharged the fire extinguisher for fun, without any real reason for doing so. Halverson fled into Joann's Fabrics at the Grants Pass Shopping Center and he was contacted while leaving the store with stolen merchandise visible in his clothing. He admitted he did not pay for the items. During a consent search, he was found to be in possession of a glass pipe with methamphetamine residue. It was seized. Halverson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft, Meth Possession and 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief.

Posted on 2/13/25 6:45AM by Sam Marsh

GPPD Showed Compassion while Citing Man for Setting Fire at Riverside Park

Grants Pass Police showed a measure of compassion when they cited a homeless man for lighting a warming fire at Riverside Park this week. Police said they contacted a man they identified as "Ryan Burrows" on Tuesday morning after they received a complaint that Burrows had started a fire at the city park. He was actively putting the small fire out as officers arrived on scene. GPPD cited Burrows for violating park rules by starting a fire. GPPD also provided Burrows with a sleeping bag and some warm socks.

Posted on 2/13/25 6:43AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Department Recognized Heroic Contributions in Awards Ceremony

The Grants Pass Police Department recognized heroic contributions from its employees over the past year during a ceremony this week. GPPD Chief Warren Hensman hosted the ceremony that included 16 awards ranging from life-saving medals to employees of the year. Lifesaving Awards were presented to Dispatchers Cameron Cates and Jessi Leppla along with Sergeant Brian Coney and Officer Darron O'Donnell. Lucas Six was named Officer of the Year and the Chief's Award went to Corporal Andrew Aguinaga. Telecommunicator of the Year was Dispatcher Treana Carrier. The Unit Citation Award went to the GPPD Records Division and Supervisor of the Year was Sergeant Josh Nieminen. Trainer of the Year was Dispatcher Naomi LaTourrette. The Fitness Award went to 9-1-1 Manager Marci Haack. The Non-Sworn Employee of the Year was Community Service Officer Arianna Donovan. On-Call Employee of the Year was Records Specialist Susan Stone. Citizen Appreciation Awards went to Teri Schmidt and Lonnie Summers while Dan Horowitz was named Volunteer of the Year. Congratulations!

Posted on 2/13/25 6:39AM by Sam Marsh