Local News

DA Upgrades Charges against Man Who Caused Motor Vehicle Crash near RCC
The Josephine County District Attorney's Office has upgraded charges against a man who was seriously hurt in a motor vehicle accident that he caused near Rogue Community College late last year. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 25-year-old Matthew Davis Trevino last week and lodged him at the adult jail facility on felony charges of 3rd-Degree Assault, 4th-Degree Assault and Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. On December 1st, 2023, the Sheriff's Office, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to a two-vehicle collision in the 3500-block of Demaray Drive. An investigation determined that Trevino was driving a Ford Focus with his father as a passenger when he turned right in front of a Toyota Corolla driven by a female motorist. Trevino, his father and the woman identified only as "Cover" had to be extricated from their wrecked vehicles and all were transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of various injuries. Trevino reportedly displayed signs of impairment at the crash scene. He admitted to drinking a beer and taking two shots of hard alcohol before driving. His father said he did not remember the crash and did not wish to pursue charges against his son. He was initially charged with DUII, Reckless Driving and 4th-Degree Assault. The suspect was cited and released to the care of hospital staff. It was unclear why the Sheriff's Office waited nearly three months to arrest him.
Posted on 3/4/24 6:44AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Jailed Convicted Sex Offender for Not Registering after Trespass Call
Grants Pass Police jailed a convicted sex offender for being out of compliance late last week following a trespassing complaint at a downtown area business. The Police Department reports officers arrested 47-year-old Beau Thomas Beard at Layana Beauty Spa on SE H Street on Friday morning. Police said the spa manager called 9-1-1 to report a male subject camping out and blocking the doorway to their business. The caller said it was an ongoing problem, but they are usually gone by then. The manager had to use the back entrance. Officers arrived on scene and contacted Beard who was found to be out of compliance with his sex offender registration as he did not register within 10 days of his birth date. He was placed into custody and issued a trespass warning. Beau Beard was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 3/4/24 6:42AM by Sam Marsh
 

Deputies Jailed Man on Local Warrants after Trespass Complaint He Made
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man on three local warrants after responding to a trespassing complaint at a rural Grants Pass home late last week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 50-year-old Eugene Lynn Jenkins, Jr., near the corner of Elk Lane and Majestic Drive early Friday morning. According to the report, Jenkins called 9-1-1 himself and advised that he needed deputies to extract him because he was not supposed to be at his mother's home in the 2700-block of Elk Lane. He said he was sitting in his mother's Buick sedan. Deputies responded to the scene and found Jenkins walking away from the home. A routine records check revealed that he was wanted on three Jackson County and Medford warrants for charges including Theft and Criminal Trespass. Eugene Jenkins was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants. No one wished to pursue any additional charges.
Posted on 3/4/24 6:41AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Arrested Motorist for Impaired Driving after He Collided with Tree
Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving after he crashed his vehicle into a tree in the north part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the single-vehicle wreck in the 100-block of NE Savage Street on Friday around 10:15 p.m.. Police said 47-year-old Aaron James Garrison was driving a 1998 Ford Ranger pickup when he lost control and crashed into a tree on Savage Street near 7th. They said he was not hurt, but he displayed numerous signs of impairment. The tree and some shrubs at Jefferson State Mortgage sustained minor damage. Garrison reportedly admitted to consuming alcoholic beverages at a nearby bar prior to operating his vehicle. He performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was placed into custody before being transported to the Sobering Center where he provided a positive breath sample. Aaron Garrison was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. He was cited to appear in court and released, but his damaged pickup was impounded.
Posted on 3/4/24 6:39AM by Sam Marsh
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City Council Workshop Features Higher Housing Density on Private Streets
The Grants Pass City Council will consider an opportunity to increase affordable housing during its bi-weekly workshop session today. The City Council is scheduled to open the workshop with a staff presentation on increasing housing density on private streets followed by discussion. No formal action on the topic is expected today. City Manager Aaron Cubic will provide an update on the 4th Quarter Work Plan of 2023 before the Council reviews the agenda for Wednesday's regular meeting. Following the workshop, Mayor Sara Bristol will convene a Special Meeting in Executive Session. The closed-door meeting is being held for 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 3/4/24 6:31AM by Sam Marsh
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Pacific Power Crews Continue to Respond to Scattered Electricity Outages across Region
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After a third wave of winter weather over the weekend, Pacific Power crews continue to respond to multiple scattered outages across its Southern Oregon and Northern California service areas. Roughly 500 customers were still affected by power outages in Southern Oregon last night and 60 customers were still affected in California. Working in challenging winter conditions, field crews have made steady progress in their restoration efforts and most customers were expected to have electricity restored by the end of the day. Due to access issues in some areas, some customers may experience extended outages and they should be prepared for the possibility of being without power overnight. Pacific Power encourages customers to always be prepared for outages and the utility supports emergency management agencies that recommend Oregonians have an emergency plan for up to 72 hours without essential services. For restoration estimates, visit "pacificpower.net/outages." If you spot a downed power line, call 9-1-1 and then report the outage to Pacific Power at 1-(877)-508-5088.
Posted on 3/4/24 6:29AM by Sam Marsh
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Grants Pass Police and Firefighters Battled the Elements as They Protected Community
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Grants Pass police officers and firefighters battled the elements last week as they protected the community. Heavy rain, high winds and even some snow hit the city. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 691 calls for service along with 323 officer-initiated calls that resulted in 33 arrests, 24 citations, 53 warnings and three highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 80 traffic stops in the city and made 27 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The Community Response Team (CRT) contacted a total of 168 potential trouble-makers while arresting two people, citing 43 more and warning 38 others. The CRT unit also trespassed 21 individuals, posted 80 transient camps and removed trash from 14 campsites. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 97 calls last week including 41 for emergency medical service, two for reports of fire or smoke, seven lift assists, 10 rescue situations, five assists to other agencies and one false alarm.
Posted on 3/4/24 6:27AM by Sam Marsh
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Grants Pass Parks Department Preparing for Start of Youth Baseball & Softball Seasons
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The Grants Pass Parks Department is preparing for the beginning of spring youth baseball and softball seasons next month. Parks crews have spread several tons of Turface, cleaned the dugouts and lowered the lips that divide infields from outfields on ballfields throughout the park system. City officials are reminding parents that Grants Pass has new buffer zones around ballfields and new rules regarding behavior in local parks. If parents or others need to report violations, they can contact Grants Pass Police at (541)-450-6260. In other park-related news, tree wells were chipped, lawns were mowed, tables were repainted, signs were repaired and a new tree was planted at Riverside Park. Park staff also pressure-washed the patio paver area at Morrison Centennial Park.
Posted on 3/4/24 6:18AM by Sam Marsh
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DA Upgrades Charges against Man Who Caused Motor Vehicle Crash near RCC
The Josephine County District Attorney's Office has upgraded charges against a man who was seriously hurt in a motor vehicle accident that he caused near Rogue Community College late last year. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 25-year-old Matthew Davis Trevino this week and lodged him at the adult jail facility on felony charges of 3rd-Degree Assault, 4th-Degree Assault and Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. On December 1st, 2023, the Sheriff's Office, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to a two-vehicle collision in the 3500-block of Demaray Drive. An investigation determined that Trevino was driving a Ford Focus with his father as a passenger when he turned right in front of a Toyota Corolla driven by a female motorist. Trevino, his father and the woman identified only as "Cover" had to be extricated from their wrecked vehicles and all were transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of various injuries. Trevino reportedly displayed signs of impairment at the crash scene. He admitted to drinking a beer and taking two shots of hard alcohol before driving. His father said he did not remember the crash and did not wish to pursue charges against his son. He was initially charged with DUII, Reckless Driving and 4th-Degree Assault. The suspect was cited and released to the care of hospital staff. It was unclear why the Sheriff's Office waited nearly three months to arrest him.
Posted on 3/2/24 5:53AM by Sam Marsh
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Sheriff's Office Investigation Led to Arrest of Illinois Valley Woman for Theft 2
A Josephine County Sheriff's Office investigation led to the arrest of an Illinois Valley woman on a theft charge this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 40-year-old Stacy Elizabeth Schwarz in the 3500-block of Rockydale Road on Thursday afternoon. Deputies said they had probable cause from an ongoing investigation to arrest Schwarz for 2nd-Degree Theft. No information about the alleged theft was available except that deputies had been looking for her for several days. Stacy Schwarz was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail. Jail records show that Schwarz was arrested for Endangering the Welfare of a Minor twice last year -- on September 8th and November 15th.
Posted on 3/2/24 5:52AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Snared Man for Drugs while Conducting Investigation into Burglaries
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for drug possession this week while they were conducting a burglary investigation in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers responded to the break-in of apartments in the 800-block of SW 5th Street on Thursday afternoon. Police said two apartments had been burglarized after both were entered by force from their back doors. They said approximately $5,000 in household items were stolen from the residences. One tenant reported that her safe was missing. Officers processed both crime scenes and some fingerprints were lifted. The upstairs neighbor -- identified as "Calvin Bertik" -- gave consent to search his apartment where small amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine were found. Bertik was cited to appear in court for the two narcotics violations and released. According to GPPD, the burglary investigation was continuing.
Posted on 3/2/24 5:51AM by Sam Marsh
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One Person Hurt in Weather-Related Accident on Galice Road West of Merlin
One person was injured early yesterday in a weather-related motor vehicle accident west of Merlin. Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response responded to the single-vehicle crash on Galice Road around 9:45 a.m. Friday. Rural Metro officials said the unidentified motorist appeared to have lost control of their vehicle when there were slushy conditions on the roadway. The driver was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with what were believed to be non-life-threatening injuries. First responders are reminding motorists to monitor changing road conditions that are related to winter weather. Snow- and slush-covered roads will vary across the area, depending on elevation.
Posted on 3/2/24 5:49AM by Sam Marsh
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