Local News

Grants Pass Police received an assist from the arrestee when they placed him into custody on an outstanding warrant late yesterday. According to the Police Department, a 32-year-old male subject called officers from a residence in the 1700-block Fruitdale Drive late Wednesday afternoon and told them he believed he had a warrant out of Medford. Police said the man advised he was unable to reach anyone in the Medford courts and wanted to know whether he needed to turn himself in. The man called back a short time later and said he discovered that he was wanted on a Jackson County warrant for failing to appear in court for Resisting Arrest. The suspect told officers he would lock up his house and be waiting for them at the corner of Fruitdale and Carnahan drives. That's where he was picked up and placed into custody before being lodged at the Josephine County Jail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man who apparently made a New Year's resolution to attempt to steal from a local supermarket in 2025. The Police Department reports officers responded to a theft complaint involving 51-year-old Sean William MacDowell at WinCo Foods on NE Terry Lane at about 11:40 a.m. Wednesday. Police said MacDowell tried to deprive WinCo of more than $42 worth of items, but was stopped outside the store by loss prevention. They placed him into custody after reviewing video surveillance footage that showed him selecting items and passing all points of sale without paying for them. MacDowell reportedly admitted to stealing from WinCo. It was the fourth time he had been contacted for stealing from the store this year. MacDowell was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft and he was being held without bail. He was also trespassed from WInCo.

 

Icy roads and dense fog contributed to several motor vehicle accidents in Josephine County early today -- including one near Cave Junction. The Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash near milepost 2 of Holland Loop Road this morning at 6:50 a.m.. IVFD officials said the vehicle was found in a ditch, but no one was injured and arrangements were made for towing. Officials attributed the crash to icy road conditions. Motorist are encouraged to drive carefully in the overnight and early morning hours because of cold temperatures and poor visibility that are expected to last until at least the middle of next week.

 

Firefighters battled a structure fire that destroyed a home near Lake Selmac late yesterday. On Wednesday at 4:06 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to a structure fire in the 3600-block of Lakeshore Drive. IVFD initially responded to what was reported as a vehicle fire -- but dispatchers upgraded the incident to a structure fire, prompting the dispatch of additional units. Upon arrival, IVFD found a single-family dwelling fully-involved with flames. Crews successfully contained the fire and released Rural Metro to cover the district. Rural Metro and AMR responded to an unrelated medical incident. No injuries were reported among civilians or fire personnel. Officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a felon for suspicion of numerous fraud crimes this week following a patrol check at a church thrift store in the north part of the city. The Police Department reports officers arrested 37-year-old Russell Ellis Davis at the Seventh Day Adventist Thrift Store on NE 9th Street on Tuesday. Police said they contacted Davis at that location and placed him into custody for a Felony Parole Violation related to a 2024 arrest for 1st-Degree Forgery. He was also wanted for probable cause for a total of 15 other crimes involving fraud. Davis was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for seven counts each of Felony Identity Theft and Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card or ATM, plus a single count of 2nd-Degree Theft. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a local fugitive in Cave Junction this week following a brief pursuit in the downtown area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies eventually arrested 32-year-old Nickolas Eugene Stephens in the 300-block of West Lister Street on Tuesday afternoon. Deputies said they spotted Stephens riding a black BMX bicycle on Redwood Highway and knew that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Probation Violation related to a 2023 arrest for Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Stephens reportedly ditched the bike on South Kerby Avenue, hopped a fence to Lister Street and then hopped another toward Sawyer Avenue. Deputies knew that his girlfriend lives on Lister Street and that's where they placed him into custody at Taser point. Stephens was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. A charge of Escape was referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration. He was also trespassed from properties on Pinewood Way and Logan Cut Drive.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding felony warrant early yesterday during a traffic stop behind the Grants Pass Shopping Center. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a bicycle ridden by 41-year-old Travis Edward McGee Blake near the corner of NE D and Anderson streets shortly after 4 a.m. Wednesday. Police said they stopped Blake after he was observed operating his bicycle without proper lighting equipment. A routine records check revealed that he was wanted on a Jackson County felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for narcotics possession. Blake was lodged at the Josephine County Jail where he was being held on a no-bail detainer. His bike and personal property were logged into evidence for safe-keeping.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for petty theft and vandalism at a store in the Williams Highway Plaza this week. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a theft complaint at the south Safeway supermarket late Tuesday night. Police said 26-year-old Nick Dustin Farmer entered Safeway and selected more than $70 worth of merchandise which he concealed in his jacket and proceeded past all points of sale. He was stopped by a store manager and all the stolen items were recovered. He previously had been trespassed from the store in December. Farmer remained in the area and began to draw on Safeway's ice machine and curb with a black permanent marker before he was placed into custody. Farmer was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft, 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief and 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass. His blankets and a sleeping bag were logged into evidence for safekeeping.

 

Mercy Flights has donated an ambulance to the Illinois Valley Fire District that will be repurposed into a dedicated rehab unit. The new IVFD rehab unit will provide crucial resources to help firefighters recover during intense operations, ensuring they can continue serving their communities while at their best. In addition to supporting the local fire district, this vehicle will also serve as a regional asset, available to assist other first responders when needed. Mercy Flights officials said they are honored to play a role in strengthening local emergency services and supporting those who work tirelessly to protect our local communities.