KAJO 99.7FM - Local News

GP Police Patrol Collared Fugitive Wanted on Outstanding Felony Warrant

Grants Pass Police apprehended a fugitive wanted on an outside felony warrant during a weekend patrol check on the east side of the city. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 37-year-old Lillian Ruth Stohlman in the 100-block of NE Agness Avenue around 9 p.m. Saturday. Police said they observed Stohlman in the driver's seat of her vehicle. They ran the license plates and learned that she was wanted on a Curry County felony warrant for Probation Violation related to recent arrests for Theft, Resisting Arrest, Escape, Reckless Driving, Methamphetamine Possession and Possession of a Marijuana Item. Lillian Stohlman was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. She was awaiting transfer to the Curry County Jail in Gold Beach.

Posted on 10/9/23 11:01AM by Sam Marsh

Weekend Calls at GP Shopping Center Led to Probation Violation Arrest

Multiple weekend complaints at the Grants Pass Shopping Center led to the arrest of a woman for violating terms of her probation along with two other charges. Grants Pass Police responded to reports of disorderly conduct near Glidden Paint in the 300-block of NE Beacon Drive on Saturday at about 11:25 a.m.. Police said 29-year-old Carly Brooke Jensen was acting disorderly and causing public alarm by displaying her rear end and exposing her breasts to passersby. When officers contacted her, she attempted to flee by walking away. She was placed into custody without incident and her corrections officer was notified. Carly Jensen was charged with Disorderly Conduct and Escape plus the resulting Probation Violation related to arrests for Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct. She was being held at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 10/9/23 10:59AM by Sam Marsh

Wolf Creek Man Snared for DUII after He Caused Crash on I-5 Overpass

A Wolf Creek man was arrested for impaired driving after he crashed into another vehicle on an Interstate 5 overpass and sent three people -- including himself -- to the hospital. The Oregon State Police reports troopers, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the two-vehicle collision on the freeway overpass near milepost 66 on Saturday around 8:50 p.m.. Troopers said an investigation determined that 22-year-old Joaquin Orlin Bushnell-Robles was driving a Jeep Wrangler when he failed to obey a stop sign and drove into the path of a Mitsubishi Lancer driven by 26-year-old Francisco Alejandro Bedoya-Tinajero of Grants Pass. The Jeep struck the Mitsubishi on the driver side, causing major damage to both vehicles. Both were towed to Grants Pass. According to OSP, Bushnell-Robles and Bedoya-Tinajero as well as a 21-year-old female passenger in the Jeep were all transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. During the investigation, Bushnell-Robles displayed indicators of impairment and refused to provide a blood test. A search warrant was applied for and granted, which resulted in him being charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. He was cited to appear in court and released to medical staff at the hospital.

Posted on 10/9/23 10:58AM by Sam Marsh

CJ Man Cited for 4 Violations including DUII after Highway 199 Crash

A Cave Junction man was cited for multiple violations including drugged driving after he struck another vehicle on Redwood Highway in Selma and fled the scene. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle crash near milepost 20 of US Highway 199 on Saturday at 5:02 p.m.. Troopers said 43-year-old Joseph Michael Evans was driving a Toyota Tundra when he crashed into a Toyota RAV-4 driven by 40-year-old Isaac James Lowther of Merlin. They said Evans abandoned his vehicle at the scene and fled on foot, but he was located a short time later after a nearby trespassing complaint was received. Upon contact with Evans, troopers said signs of impairment were observed and he performed poorly in field sobriety tests. He was transported to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis and Controlled Substances, Reckless Driving and Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Evans' vehicle was impounded and towed to Cave Junction.

Posted on 10/9/23 10:55AM by Sam Marsh

California Motorist Injured after Colliding with Riverbanks Road Tree

A California motorist was injured after she struck a tree just off Riverbanks Road west of Grants Pass. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the single-vehicle crash near milepost 15 of State Route 260 on Saturday at about 11:15 a.m.. Troopers said evidence at the scene indicated 81-year-old Mary Marcelle Hulet of Tehachapi, California, was driving a Honda Civic when she left the roadway and hit a highway marker before striking a tree. She was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with minor injuries. Her heavily damaged car was towed to Grants Pass. OSP did not list a reason for the crash, but a citation or warning was issued.

Posted on 10/9/23 10:53AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Cited Motorist after He Crashed into Downtown Light Pole

Grants Pass Police cited a motorist early yesterday after he crashed into an antique light pole in the downtown area and his vehicle overturned. According to the Police Department, officers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle accident at the corner of SE 7th and I streets on Sunday at about 4:35 a.m.. Police said they were on an unrelated call when they heard a loud scraping noise and found a vehicle on its side. Officers contacted the driver -- Wyatt Navarro -- who was still suspended by his seatbelt in the driver's side of the vehicle. He was able to remain steady until firefighters arrived to stabilize the vehicle and remove him. Navarro did not display any indicators of impairment and advised that he was sleepy due to having an early work shift. He declined medical attention and was cited for Failure to Drive Within Lane. His wrecked vehicle was towed away. Officers said Navarro's vehicle collided with a light pole and sheared it off near its base. They said there was debris littered throughout the roadway. On-call city workers were notified about the damaged light pole and exposed wiring.

Posted on 10/9/23 10:51AM by Sam Marsh

Fugitive Wanted on Statewide Felony Warrant Captured at GP Shopping Center

A man wanted on a statewide felony warrant was apprehended during a weekend theft investigation at the Grants Pass Shopping Center. The Grants Pass Police Department reports 39-year-old Matthew Ryan Barton was arrested near Hero's on Saturday at 6:35 p.m.. Police said Barton was contacted after a customer at JoAnn's observed him cutting packaging and concealing items in his backpack inside the store. Store managers refused to press charges but requested that he be trespassed from the business. During a routine records check, officers discovered that Barton was wanted on a 2021 Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation. His corrections officer was advised and he was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 10/9/23 6:29AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Woman for Mail Theft after Westside Neighborhood Calls

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for stealing mail while investigating a disorderly conduct complaint in a neighborhood on the west side of the city. The Police Department reports officers contacted 43-year-old Diana Marie Reynolds on SW Eastern Avenue on Saturday around 1 p.m.. Police said they responded to calls about a female subject walking through the neighborhood and screaming at no one in particular except a telephone pole. They contacted Reynolds, warned her and sent her on her way. As Reynolds walked away from officers, they watched her steal mail from a mailbox in the 1300-block of SW Jordan Street. That's when they placed her into custody. Diana Reynolds was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Mail Theft. The stolen mail was returned to its owner and she was trespassed from the area.

Posted on 10/9/23 6:28AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Nabbed Motorists for DUII after Two Incidents in North Valley Area

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested two motorists for impaired driving after separate weekend incidents in the Merlin-North Valley area. According to the Sheriff's Office, the first incident occurred on Friday at 7:35 p.m. when deputies were alerted to a vehicle in a ditch in the 3,000-block of Camp Joy Road. Deputies said the crash occurred when 60-year-old Lisa Wilson lost control of a 1993 Eagle Vision ESI. She was not hurt. Deputies said Wilson displayed signs of impairment at the crash scene and did poorly in field sobriety tests, so she was placed into custody. She was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented a high level of impairment. The second incident happened on Saturday at 11:05 p.m. when deputies pulled over a 2006 Land Rover driven by 34-year-old Desiray Tolson at the intersection of Ort Lane and Merlin Road. Deputies said they stopped Tolson for a traffic violation and she exhibited strong signs of impairment. After performing poorly in field sobriety tests, Tolson was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where she provided a breath sample that was nearly three times the legal driving limit.

Posted on 10/9/23 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police & Firefighters Engaged in Numerous Activities to Protect Citizens

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters were engaged in numerous activities to help protect the community last week. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 662 calls for service along with 335 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 43 arrests, 22 citations, 48 warnings and two highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 57 traffic stops in the city. The Community Response Team (CRT) made a total of 136 contacts with potential trouble-makers while arresting five people, citing 31 more and warning 79 others. The CRT unit also trespassed 34 individuals and posted 112 new transient camps. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 102 calls last week including 49 for emergency medical service, one for fire and/or smoke, 15 lift assists, 11 rescue situations, six assists to other agencies and six false alarms. Firefighters performed 20 business inspections and assisted the public 18 times. The 9-1-1 Dispatch Center fielded a total of 1,059 emergency calls in addition to 904 calls for non-emergency service.

Posted on 10/9/23 6:14AM by Sam Marsh

CJ City Council to Consider Requests and Ordinances at Tonight's Meeting

The Cave Junction City Council will consider some requests and a couple of ordinances during its regular meeting tonight. After receiving an update from the Public Works Department, the City Council will tackle its Consent Agenda which includes minutes from previous meetings and planning updates. Also on the agenda are requests for amplified sound for the Harvest Festival Event next Saturday at Bigfoot Printing, for amplified sound and extended hours for the Illinois Valley High School Haunted House on October 28th, and for an OLCC liquor license for the KOA Campground. The Council will consider the first reading of an ordinance for Paint the Pavement and another ordinance for revisions to city signage. There will also be Council liaison reports and time for public comments during tonight's meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at Cave Junction City Hall, 222 Lister Street.

Posted on 10/9/23 6:13AM by Sam Marsh

Authorities Apprehended Connecticut Murder Suspect and Raided Illegal Pot Site near Merlin

Authorities apprehended an out-of-state murder suspect and dismantled an illegal marijuana growing operation near Merlin last week. Detectives with the Oregon State Police assisted the Connecticut State Police with locating and apprehending 31-year-old Christopher Suarez in Josephine County on Wednesday. He was lodged in jail without bail pending extradition proceedings. According to OSP, Suarez was wanted on a nationwide fugitive warrant for murder related to a shooting in Connecticut that occurred in February of this year. No other information on that incident was disclosed. During the investigation, detectives determined Suarez was associated with an illegal marijuana grow in the Merlin area. A search warrant was served with help from the Josephine County Sheriff's Office and District Attorney's Office. During execution of the warrant, four greenhouses and 796 marijuana plants were seized and destroyed. In addition, six grams of cocaine, three packages of meth and some unidentified orange pills were found and seized as evidence. Due to the ongoing investigation, detectives said no further information will be released at this time.

Posted on 10/9/23 6:11AM by Sam Marsh