Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a woman for threatening her husband with a gun last night. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 56-year-old Karen Pinnell Tate for the incident in the 200-block of Ewe Creek Road on Tuesday around 7:20 p.m.. Deputies said a man from that address called 9-1-1 to report that his wife pulled a loaded firearm at him during an argument. The caller said he fled the house and his spouse followed him after putting the gun down. Upon arrival, deputies interviewed both parties, located the weapon and placed the female suspect into custody. Karen Tate was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Domestic Menacing. She was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for multiple crimes after he punched another man and unlawfully entered a residence in the northeast part of the city early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 29-year-old Joey Lee Hooser at NE 10th Street and Pepperwood Drive on Tuesday at 6:34 a.m.. Police said Hooser was sleeping in the back of another man's vehicle in the 900-block of NE Beacon Drive when he woke up and physically injured the victim by repeatedly striking him with a closed fist and stating that he would "kill" him. In an effort to exit the vehicle, the suspect broke the passenger-side window and fled the scene on foot, bloodied by the broken glass. Hooser threw a trash can at a passing vehicle driven by an off-duty police officer and then ran into an occupied house, causing alarm with his violent and tumultuous behavior. He fled from the home on foot, but ultimately surrendered to a less-lethal weapon display by law enforcement. According to the report, the suspect was also found to be in possession of stolen credit cards that were related to a separate case. Joey Hooser was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Assault, Menacing, 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief, Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Trespass. Additional charges were pending further investigation.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant after responding to an ordinance violation at a city park on the Rogue River yesterday. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to large tents located within the designated buffer zone at Tussing Park at about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Police said they contacted 27-year-old Vinnie Dale Shuler for the violation and discovered that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. Property belonging to Shuler was logged into evidence for safe-keeping. The two tents inside the buffer zone were posted for immediate removal. During a subsequent patrol check, officers contacted Joseph Wilder who had a methamphetamine pipe in plain view. He was cited to appear in court for narcotics possession and evicted from the park for 30 days.

 

A shoplifting incident at the liquor store in downtown Grants Pass yesterday led to the arrest of a man for violating his post-prison supervision. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a theft complaint at the OLCC store on SE 8th Street on Tuesday at about 3:55 p.m.. Police said 40-year-old Kyle William Waycott concealed a bottle of whiskey in his pants and left the store without paying for the $16 item. They said he was located about 15 minutes later across the street near A-1 Market & Deli. The partially consumed whiskey was recovered and disposed of. He was placed into custody. Kyle Waycott was booked into the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

A Grants Pass man was arrested for throwing rocks at passing vehicles near the downtown area yesterday. Grants Pass Police responded to a report of vandalism involving 43-year-old Jonathan Dallas Wells near the corner of SE 9th and H streets around 12:25 p.m. Tuesday. The incident was reported by a city employee. Police said Wells was obstructing traffic while recklessly throwing rocks toward passing vehicles at that location. They said he struck one motorist's vehicle and chipped the windshield. He was also reported to be yelling, screaming and pulling his pants down. Upon arrival, officers placed Jonathan Wells into custody and lodged him at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief and Disorderly Conduct.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Merlin woman for extremely impaired driving after responding to a crash on Redwood Highway in Kerby late yesterday. OSP reports troopers, the Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to the single-vehicle wreck near milepost 27 of US Highway 199 on Tuesday shortly after 5 p.m.. Troopers said an investigation indicated that 23-year-old Taylor Ann Joy lost control of the Honda Civic she was driving, left the highway and rolled. She was not badly hurt, but her vehicle was damaged. According to OSP, Joy displayed several signs of impairment and performed very poorly in sobriety tests, so she was taken to the Cave Junction Substation where she provided a breath sample that was nearly three times the legal driving limit. Taylor Joy was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Reckless Driving. She was cited to appear in court and released to a family member. Her car was impounded and towed to Cave Junction.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a woman wanted on two Portland area warrants after responding to a shoplifting complaint at Walmart this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 37-year-old Bobby Rae Miller near Parkway Christian Center after the theft call from the big box retailer on NE Terry Lane came in on Monday night. Police said Miller entered Walmart where she concealed a total of eight items valued at nearly $164 in a black bag and then exited the store without paying. Store security watched her leave and cross the Grants Pass Parkway toward the church. Upon contact with Miller, officers discovered that she was wanted on a Multnomah County warrant for Computer Crime and Theft as well as a Washington County warrant for failing to appear in court for Theft and Supplying Contraband to a Corrections Facility. Bobby Miller was lodged at the nearby jail on the warrants along with a new charge of 2nd-Degree Theft. She was also found to be in possession of a Schedule 2 Controlled Substance and was cited to appear in court for the narcotics violation.

 

The Josephine County District Attorney's Office was deciding whether to charge an Eagle Point man for successfully eluding the Oregon State Police in the Wolf Creek area last weekend. OSP reports troopers attempted to stop a Honda Accord driven by 34-year-old Kyle Robert Young for reckless driving on Lower Wolf Creek Road at Front Street last Friday night. Troopers said Young refused to yield, sped away and a pursuit was initiated. After several miles, they said the suspect bailed out of the car and ran into the woods. The suspect was identified as Young, but he was not located. Charges of Felony Attempt to Elude Police, Misdemeanor Attempt to Elude Police and Reckless Driving against Kyle Young were referred to the DA's Office for consideration. According to OSP, the Honda was unable to be recovered due to the condition of the mountain road.

 

The Oregon State Police was looking for a Selma man who is responsible for causing a multi-vehicle crash at the Interstate 5 Merlin Interchange this week. According to OSP, troopers, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the four-vehicle collision at the Exit 61 northbound off-ramp on Monday afternoon. Troopers said 27-year-old Naythen Garrett Franks was driving a Chrysler 200 at a high rate of speed when he collided with four vehicles that were stopped at a red light at the intersection with Merlin Road. Three of the vehicles sustained severe damage, but none of the occupants were injured. The driver of the Chrysler fled the scene and he was identified as Franks from a picture taken at the scene by one of the victims. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Naythen Franks is encouraged to dial *OSP.