Local News

GP Police Collared Men on Felony Warrants while Investigating Theft Call
Grants Pass Police apprehended two men wanted on outstanding felony warrants early yesterday while investigating a theft complaint in the northwest part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident in the 1200-block of NW Highland Avenue on Wednesday around 8:45 a.m.. Police said they contacted 54-year-old Paul Daniels and 42-year-old Paul Allyn during an investigation into unpaid labor. They said a 50-year-old woman worked for one of the men and was given a check that bounced due to insufficient funds. During the investigation, it was discovered that Paul Daniels was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation and Paul Allyn was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Identity Theft and 2nd-Degree Theft. Both Pauls were lodged at the Josephine County Jail. On the original call regarding the bad check, the complainant agreed to enter into a civil agreement for payment of the money owed.
Posted on 10/26/23 11:05AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Located Missing Man and Then Arrested Him on Local Warrant
Grants Pass Police located a missing man at a city park and then arrested him on an outstanding local warrant early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers located 40-year-old Travis Edward McGee Blake at Tussing Park at 6:23 a.m. Wednesday after his mother had reported him missing. Police said Blake had walked to Tussing Park from Baker Park and he was contacted in the parking lot off West Park Street. That's when they learned that he had been reported as a missing person from Jackson County. Officers also discovered that Blake was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance and two counts of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail. Blake's mother was contacted and advised of her son's current disposition.
Posted on 10/26/23 11:04AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Man Nearly Hit by Vehicle in Redwood Area Snared on Outside Warrant
A Grants Pass man who was nearly struck by a vehicle after disregarding a traffic control device was arrested on an outside warrant yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to a reported disturbance at the intersection of Willow Lane and Redwood Avenue on Wednesday at 3:50 p.m.. Police said 24-year-old Drake Anthony Evans ignored a pedestrian control device at the intersection and was almost hit by a vehicle. They said Evans called 9-1-1 and proceeded to confront the driver who he said threatened to kill him. However, evidence showed Evans was riding a skateboard and using his phone at the time. Officers responded and contacted Evans at a nearby bus stop, discovering that he was wanted on a Klamath County warrant for failing to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Theft. After the warrant was confirmed, he was lodged at the jail facility.
Posted on 10/26/23 11:02AM by Sam Marsh
 

OSP Snared Two Motorists on Local Warrants in Separate Tuesday Stops
The Oregon State Police arrested two people on local warrants during separate traffic stops that occurred within a 22-minute period in the Illinois Valley. OSP reports the first incident occurred on Tuesday at 11:34 p.m. when troopers pulled over a Dodge Dart driven by 43-year-old Kristopher Everett Kelley of Cave Junction near the corner of Redwood Highway and East River Street. Troopers said they stopped Kelley for a traffic violation and discovered that he was wanted on a local bench warrant for failing to appear in court. He was cited to appear in court and then released from custody. The second incident happened on Tuesday at 11:56 p.m. when troopers pulled over a Honda Accord driven by 43-year-old Daren Alan McCollum on US Highway 199 near Eight Dollar Mountain Road. Troopers said they stopped McCollum for traffic violations and learned that he was wanted on a local warrant for Contempt of Court. He was issued a criminal citation and advised that he must appear for his scheduled court date. He was then released.
Posted on 10/26/23 11:00AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Arrested Woman for Allegedly Defecating on Door of Apartment
Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for allegedly defecating on the front door of an apartment near the downtown area late yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident in the 800-block of NE E Street on Wednesday at about 5 p.m.. Police said 59-year-old Marjorie Rose Anderson was contacted a short distance away from the apartment and the reports of her defecating on the door proved to be accurate. They said the evidence was in such a manner it was not able to be picked up. Anderson was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Offensive Littering. A shopping cart she was pushing was returned to the retailer and her belongings were logged into evidence for safe-keeping.
Posted on 10/26/23 10:59AM by Sam Marsh
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Josephine County Man Jailed for Alleged Sex Crimes with Child at Bowling Alley
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A Josephine County man has been jailed for alleged sex crimes with a young child at a Grants Pass bowling alley. The Grants Pass Police Department reports 78-year-old Edward Ray Benavente was arrested and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on Tuesday. Police said they received allegations of sex abuse at Caveman Bowl on Rogue River Highway last weekend. Detectives conducted a thorough investigation into the alleged abuse of a child under 12 years old. Lieutenant Jeff Hattersley said the investigation led to the arrest of Benavente for three counts of 1st-Degree Sex Abuse of a Minor and two counts of Purchasing Sex with a Minor. The suspect was being held without bail. Anyone with information about this investigation or additional victims is urged to contact Grants Pass Police Detective Miguel at (541)-450-6260. Please reference Case #23-44691. Due to the sensitive nature of this case, Lieutenant Hattersley said additional details will not be released.
Posted on 10/26/23 6:42AM by Sam Marsh
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Authorities Seeking Public Assistance in Locating Missing Illinois Valley Woman
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UPDATE: SKYLER HAS BEEN LOCATED.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was asking for public assistance in locating a missing Illinois Valley woman. According to a Wednesday afternoon news release, 28-year-old Skyler McKinney was last seen in the Selma area near Lake Selmac around October 3rd. Friends and family have not heard from McKinney since that time, but they have received information that she is still in the area. They said she may have dyed her hair purple. McKinney is described as a white female adult, 5-feet-3-inches tall and 150 pounds, with blonde hair and hazel eyes. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Skyler McKinney is encouraged to contact the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123. Please refer to Case #23-26917.
Posted on 10/26/23 6:41AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Snared Motorist for DUII after She Crashed Car into Parked Trailer
Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving after she crashed her car into a parked travel trailer on the west side of the city this week. According to the Police Department, officers and emergency crews responded to the incident in the 2100-block of Shane Way on Tuesday evening. Police said 43-year-old Breana Lee Verser was driving a Subaru sedan when she crashed into a 2022 Keystone Hideout travel trailer that was parked on the street. Upon contact with Verser, they said she displayed indicators of impairment and admitted to consuming alcoholic beverages before driving. Verser performed poorly in field sobriety tests, but no further testing was done due to reported physical limitations. A search warrant was obtained and she was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that verified impairment. Breana Verser was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Reckless Driving. Her wrecked car was impounded. The amount of damage done to the travel trailer was not disclosed.
Posted on 10/26/23 6:30AM by Sam Marsh
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Motorist Cited for Running Red Light and Crashing into GPPD Patrol Vehicle
A motorist was cited for running a red light and crashing into a Grants Pass Police patrol vehicle this week. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency units responded to the two-vehicle collision at the corner of SE 7th and H streets around midday Tuesday. Troopers said a 72-year-old Grants Pass woman was driving a Toyota Yaris north on 7th Street and admitted to running a red light at the intersection. They said a GPPD Chevrolet Tahoe driven by a 43-year-old police officer was traveling east through a green light on H Street and struck the driver-side door of the Toyota. According to OSP, the GPPD vehicle had dash camera footage clearly showing a green light for the Chevrolet and a red light for the Toyota. The Toyota was towed from the scene, while the Chevrolet was driven away. No one was injured. Following the investigation, the female motorist was cited for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device.
Posted on 10/26/23 6:29AM by Sam Marsh
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RR City Council to Tackle Old Business and Focus on New Business at Meeting
The Rogue River City Council will take care of some old business before focusing on new business during its monthly meeting tonight. Following Committee Reports and Public Input, the City Council will consider Old Business that includes an ordinance amending the purchasing policy for the City of Rogue River along with another ordinance amending the municipal code for storm and surface water management. Under New Business, the Council will hold a public hearing for consideration of a change to a zoning designation and the panel will consider a Rogue River Planning Commission recommendation to rezone a property at 5450 North River Road. The City Council is also scheduled to consider the renewal of a retainer agreement with Michael Franell. Also on the agenda are reviews of the minutes from recent meetings of the Council Advisory Committee and Tree City USA Committee. Tonight's meeting begins at 6 p.m. at Rogue River City Hall, 133 Broadway Street.
Posted on 10/26/23 6:17AM by Sam Marsh
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RR-Siskiyou Forest Reduces Area and Road Closures Associated with Anvil Fire
The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest has reduced some emergency area and road closures associated with the recently vanquished Anvil Fire. Acting Forest Supervisor Jake Winn has signed an order the reduces the closures for the wildfire that burned more than 22,000 acres east of Port Orford. The reduction of the closure areas went into effect Wednesday and continues through July 1, 2024, unless rescinded sooner. The smaller closure area still includes the entirety of the Grassy Knob Wilderness. The road closure still includes Sixes River Road from the junction of Elk River Road to Butler Creek Road. The trail closure still includes Grassy Knob Trail.
Posted on 10/26/23 6:16AM by Sam Marsh
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Board Suspends Mining Permits and Updates Policy on Homeless Encampment Removals
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The Josephine County Board of Commissioners approved two administrative action items and four annexations to the local library district during its weekly business session on Wednesday. The Board voted unanimously to approve an order that temporarily suspends the acceptance of applications for mineral exploration permits and mining leases. Legal Counsel Wally Hicks testified that the code addressing mineral exploration applications and mining leases on county-owned land needs to be updated and the order suspends these actions for up to one year. Board Chair Herman Baertschiger said the public will have the opportunity to comment on the amended code before it's adopted. The Commissioners also unanimously approved an order that updates policy and procedure for removing homeless encampments from county-owned property due to conditions that may compromise the health, safety and general welfare of the community. The new policy recognizes the social nature of the problem of homeless individuals camping on public property and ensures the most humane treatment for removal of those individuals from camping sites on public property.
Posted on 10/26/23 6:14AM by Sam Marsh
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