Local News

OSP Jailed GP Man for Multiple Crimes following Rogue River Highway Stop
The Oregon State Police jailed a Grants Pass man for multiple crimes including impaired driving and drug possession following a traffic stop on Rogue River Highway late yesterday. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Ford F-350 driven by 42-year-old Jason Lee Amundson on Highway 99 near Clara Avenue on Wednesday at 5:22 p.m.. Troopers said Amundson was the subject of a driving complaint and -- upon locating the vehicle -- they observed poor driving behavior. Signs of impairment were displayed, but the suspect refused to participate in field sobriety tests and he had to be physically extracted from the truck. During a search of the vehicle, a large amount of methamphetamine and money were located. The drugs and currency were seized as evidence. Amundson was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented impairment by both alcohol and drugs. He was lodged in jail for two counts of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving, Resisting Arrest and Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance. Based on the large quantity of meth found in the stop near Fruitdale Elementary School, a charge of Delivery of Meth within 1,000 Feet of a School was referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration. The truck was impounded.
Posted on 11/2/23 10:04AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Arrested Motorist for Leading Officers on Chase in North Part of City
Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for leading officers on a pursuit in the north part of the city yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers attempted to pull over a Lincoln Navigator driven by 28-year-old Kayla Marie Sandgren at the intersection of NE 7th Street and Hillcrest Drive on Wednesday at 12:26 p.m.. Police said Sandgren failed to yield and led them on a chase up NE 7th Street to Morgan Lane to Hawthorne Avenue back to Morgan and then Highland Avenue. They said the suspect ran through the stop sign at Highland and finally stopped near the corner of Pleasant View and Black Oak drives. Kayla Sandgren was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempt to Elude Police. She was interviewed at the jail for her possible involvement in another unrelated crime. Her vehicle was parked and secured.
Posted on 11/2/23 10:03AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Corralled Young Man for Causing Disturbance at Downtown Safeway
Grants Pass Police jailed a young man for causing a disturbance at a downtown supermarket early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 18-year-old Justis Ivan Cory at the Safeway store on SE 7th Street shortly after midnight on Wednesday. Police said Cory returned to Safeway after being trespassed from the store earlier this year. They said store workers reported that he was screaming and cursing at them while trying to get them to fight him. According to the report, Cory took off on a bicycle before the arrival of officers -- but he was contacted and placed into custody a short time later either at or near City Plywood on NE F Street. Justis Cory was booked into the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass.
Posted on 11/2/23 10:02AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Evicted 3 Campers from City Parks after Spotting Various Violations
Grants Pass Police evicted three campers from city parks located south of the Rogue River during patrol checks on Wednesday. At Fruitdale Park on Hamilton Lane, officers cited Robert Sanders for Inoperable Vehicle and Scattering Rubbish. He was trespassed from the park and given one hour to clean up his mess and leave or he would be arrested for trespassing. Lori Signs was cited for Buffer Zone Violation and Scattering Rubbish at Fruitdale Park. She was also given one hour to remove herself from the park. Earlier in the day, officers cited Mark Lyon for Scattering Rubbish and Open Fire at Baker Park. He was told to clean up his mess and was trespassed from the park for 30 days.
Posted on 11/2/23 10:00AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Motorist Cited for Violations after Causing Crash at NE 6th and Manzanita
A Grants Pass motorist was cited for two violations after she caused a crash in the north part of the city early yesterday. Grants Pass Police and emergency personnel responded to the two-vehicle wreck at the intersection of NW 6th Street and Manzanita Avenue shortly after 9 a.m. on Wednesday. The involved vehicles were a GMC Yukon and a Toyota sedan. Police said an investigation indicates Kyle Fenn was driving south on 6th Street and Ava Elder was driving east on Manzanita when she ran through a stop sign and collided with the side of Fenn's vehicle, which he had just purchased on Tuesday. Fenn's 15-year-old son complained of pain, but he refused medical transport to the hospital. At least one of the vehicles had to be towed from the crash scene. Following the investigation, Elder was cited for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device and No Insurance.
Posted on 11/2/23 9:59AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Cited Young Motorist for Causing Redwood Highway Crash near Selma
The Oregon State Police cited a young motorist yesterday for causing a collision on Redwood Highway near Selma. According to OSP, troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle crash on US Highway 199 near milepost 19 on Wednesday at 1:10 p.m.. State troopers said 19-year-old Samantha Marie Flinders was driving a Ford F-150 pickup when she ran into the back of a Ford F-500 that had slowed to avoid a crash with a Jeep. No injuries were reported. The F-500 was towed to Cave Junction. The northbound travel lane of Redwood Highway was closed for about one hour. Following an investigation, Flinders was cited for Following Too Closely.
Posted on 11/2/23 9:58AM by Sam Marsh
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National Weather Service Posts Flash Flood Watch for Wildfire Burn Scar Area
Southern Oregon travelers planning a trip to the coast may want to leave early Friday or wait until Sunday. The National Weather Service has posted a Flash Flood Watch for US Highway 199 through the Smith River Complex burn scar area from Friday evening through Saturday afternoon. A period of heavy rainfall is expected during that time period across the burn scar, which stretches from the Oregon border to Gasquet, California. Flash flooding or debris flows caused by excessive precipitation are possible. Possible thunderstorm activity will yield enhanced rainfall rates and an increased threat of debris flows. The NWS station in Medford said heavy rainfall has a low probability of triggering flash flooding and debris flows on the Oregon side of the Smith River Complex. Travelers should monitor weather forecasts and be prepared to take action if a Flash Flood Warning is issued. Residents living near the burn scar should prepare for potential flooding and/or rock slide impacts.
Posted on 11/2/23 8:55AM by Sam Marsh
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Sheriff's Office Responded to Three Separate Shooting Incidents in Late October
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to three separate shooting incidents in the latter part of October, with one of the shootings resulting in the death of an adult male. On October 21st in the Illinois Valley, an adult male was shot in the foot by a landowner after a report of a restraining order violation in progress. The suspect survived. On October 22nd in the North Valley area, an adult male was shot in the neck by a homeowner who had just pulled into their driveway. The suspect -- who attempted to enter the vehicle occupied by the homeowner and his spouse -- survived. On October 27th in Cave Junction, an adult male was shot and killed by a citizen during a reported trespassing incident on private property. The Oregon State Police is the lead agency in this case. OSP has not provided any information on the most recent incident, but trusted sources have identified the shooter as 57-year-old Michael Orentlicher and the deceased as 35-year-old Theadore Crowly. Orentlicher has been arraigned on felony charges of 2nd-Degree Murder and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Lieutenant Jim Geiger said each incident has been referred to the Josephine County District Attorney's Office and no further information is available from the Sheriff's Office.
Posted on 11/2/23 5:30AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Jailed Man on Felony Warrant and Added New Charge to Criminal Bill
Grants Pass Police jailed a man on an outstanding felony warrant and added another felony-level charge to his criminal bill after he fled on foot this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 41-year-old Felix Melvin Stiglbauer on NW Conklin Avenue on Tuesday afternoon. Police said an anonymous caller informed them that Stiglbauer was at a home in the 1300-block of NW Washington Boulevard and that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for Felony Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. Officers noted that the house was vacant and deemed unsafe to occupy due to plumbing issues. Officers were met at the door by a woman identified as "Valerie Swanson" who delayed them while Stiglbauer fled out of a bedroom. He was detained a short time later and admitted to driving his vehicle from Reinhart Volunteer Park to the home even though his license was suspended. Felix Stiglbauer was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Felony Driving While Suspended. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 11/2/23 5:29AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Snared Felon for Probation Violation after He Started Fight at City Park
Grants Pass Police arrested a felon for violating terms of his probation after he started a fight in the camping area of Riverside Park this week. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a disturbance in the city park just west of Caveman Bridge on Tuesday during the noon hour. Police said 43-year-old Elijah Samuel Greene caused public alarm by fighting with and yelling at other campers. They said he had confronted several people regarding allegations that they had stolen items from him. There were no injuries reported. Elijah Greene was placed into custody and booked into the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct plus the resulting Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. He was trespassed from the park for 30 days and his property was logged into evidence for safekeeping.
Posted on 11/2/23 5:28AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Collared Felon at City Park for Violating His Post-Prison Supervision
Grants Pass Police apprehended a local felon wanted for violating his post-prison supervision at a city park this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 35-year-old Jonathan Michael Bull at Baker Park on Tuesday morning. Police said they were on patrol in the park when they spotted Bull and knew that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation related to a past conviction for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. During a consent search, he was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. Jonathan Bull was lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. He was also cited to appear in court for the narcotics violation and trespassed from the park for 30 days. Jail records show it was the fourth time this year Bull has been jailed for violating his post-prison supervision.
Posted on 11/2/23 5:27AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Arrested Man for Breaking into Abandoned Car on Interstate 5 in GP
The Oregon State Police arrested a man for breaking into an abandoned vehicle on Interstate 5 in the Grants Pass area this week. According to OSP, troopers contacted 33-year-old Brad Lee Middleton near an abandoned Hyundai Elantra parked along the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 58 late Tuesday night. The car had already been tagged for towing. State troopers said Middleton initially told them he knew the owner of the vehicle and had been requested to check on it. They said he later admitted to lying and did not know the vehicle owner. Troopers noticed the front passenger-side window was smashed and the suspect had several tools on him and in his vehicle capable of breaking the glass. They said it appeared the incident had just happened. Brad Middleton was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle and 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief.
Posted on 11/2/23 5:19AM by Sam Marsh
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