KAJO 99.7FM - Local News

Grants Pass City Council President in Washington DC for Supreme Court Hearing

Grants Pass City Council President Vanessa Ogier and her mom Cindy Ogier arrived Saturday in Washington, DC, and snagged the first spot in line to camp outside the US Supreme Court, hoping to be among those allowed in the limited public seating for today's oral arguments on a case that originated in their hometown. Lawyers for Grants Pass are urging Supreme Court justices to overturn a lower court's ruling that barred the southern Oregon city of 40,000 from enforcing anti-camping regulations against "involuntary homeless" people who have nowhere else to go. The Oregonian reports a decision, expected by the end of June, is expected to be one of the most significant rulings to address homelessness in more than four decades. Vanessa Ogier and her mother Cindy Ogier rented an Airbnb nearby and took turns maintaining their space. Sitting in camping chairs beside the hedge bordering the south edge of the courthouse, they were dressed in extra layers Sunday night under cloudy skies as the temperature was forecast to dip to the low 40s. The elder Ogier said attending a Supreme Court hearing has always been on her bucket list and this one drew her because of the local connection and the issue's complexity. She said she opposes the use of the city's parks for public camping and hopes for a humane solution, though she isn't sure what that is. Council President Vanessa Ogier said she's glad the Supreme Court agreed to review the lower court's ruling, but directed any other questions to the city's legal counsel. She said she's been on the local council for four years but took the helm as its president in January.

Posted on 4/22/24 11:10AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Collared California Fugitive during Welfare Check Outside Pizza Parlor

Grants Pass Police apprehended a fugitive wanted on an out-of-state felony warrant during a welfare check at a local pizza parlor late last week. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to a male subject passed out or sleeping in the passenger seat of a Ford hatchback outside Mountain Mike's Pizza on NE F Street around 11 a.m. Friday. Police said restaurant workers called 9-1-1 after they knocked on the window of the car and got no response from the man. Responding officers awakened the man and discovered that he was wanted on a California Parole Board warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction related to dangerous drugs. According to the report, the 35-year-old man admitted to using fentanyl and lied about his name. He eventually provided his identity which led to his arrest on the outstanding warrant. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. He was awaiting extradition proceedings that will likely send him back to California.

Posted on 4/22/24 11:09AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Arrested Man Who Tried to Elude Troopers in North Valley Area on Sunday

The Oregon State Police arrested a man who tried to elude troopers in the North Valley area yesterday. OSP reports state troopers eventually pulled over a green Ford Expedition driven by a 37-year-old man in the 200-block of Tech Way on Sunday at 10:56 a.m.. Troopers said they tried to stop the suspect vehicle for running a red light at the intersection of Monument Drive and Merlin Road. They said the vehicle continued for about one mile at slow speeds, passing numerous safe locations to pull over. According to OSP, the driver finally stopped at a family member's property and made a statement that he did not stop immediately because he did not want his vehicle towed. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempt to Elude Police and Reckless Driving. He was also cited for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device.

Posted on 4/22/24 11:08AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Snared Man for Trying to Elude Deputies after Weekend Stop in Merlin

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for trying to elude deputies during a weekend traffic stop in Merlin. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a passenger car driven by a 44-year-old man near the intersection of Merlin Road and Merlin Avenue on Saturday around 9:25 p.m.. Deputies said the man stopped his vehicle, bailed out and tried to run away. He was apprehended a short distance away and lied about his identity because he did not have a driver's license on him. There was an unidentified passenger in the car. The suspect was charged with Attempt to Elude Police, Escape, Furnishing False Information to Police and Failure to Carry & Present a License. He was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail without any scheduled bail.

Posted on 4/22/24 11:06AM by Sam Marsh

Police Snared Male Transient for Causing Ruckus at Pinnacle 365 near GPHS

Police arrested a male transient for causing a ruckus at a convenience store near Grants Pass High School early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at Pinnacle 365 on NE A Street on Sunday shortly after 6 a.m.. Police said store workers reported the 57-year-old male subject threw trash around, harassed customers and employees, and interfered with moving vehicles in the parking lot. They said his unruly conduct caused public alarm. Officers contacted the man and placed him into custody after taking photos of the trash strewn all over the store parking lot. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and trespassed from Pinnacle 365.

Posted on 4/22/24 11:05AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Nabbed Motorist for Impaired Driving after Weekend Stop near Williams

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving following a weekend traffic stop near Williams. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Hyundai Accent drive by a 33-year-old Grants Pass man near the intersection of Water Gap and Blodgett Roads on Friday at 6:35 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped the driver for failing to maintain his travel lane. They said he appeared to be visibly impaired, admitted to consuming alcohol and being under its influence. He performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that exceeded the legal driving limit. The suspect was issued a criminal citation for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and his vehicle was impounded.

Posted on 4/22/24 11:03AM by Sam Marsh

Two Hurt in Separate Motor Vehicle Crashes in Sunny Valley and near Murphy

Two separate motor vehicle accidents in Josephine County sent two people to the hospital on Saturday. At 11:03 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response and the Oregon State Police were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash in the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 near milepost 71 in Sunny Valley. OSP reports an 83-year-old Grants Pass man was driving a Honda Civic when he lost control while negotiating a curve, crashed into an embankment, trees and a small fence. After being extricated through the windshield of his car, the man was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. He was either cited or warned for an unspecified violation. At 12:57 p.m., Rural Metro, AMR and OSP responded to a two-vehicle collision on Williams Highway at the entrance to Fields Home Improvement Center near Murphy. OSP reports a 75-year-old man driving a Nissan Frontier made an unsafe turn in front of a Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by a 43-year-old Grants Pass man. The motorcycle rider could not stop before crashing into the pickup. He was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The Nissan driver was not hurt, but he was cited for the traffic violation.

Posted on 4/22/24 6:46AM by Sam Marsh

Sheriff's Deputies Jailed Woman for Injuring Boyfriend at Williams Area Home

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a woman for injuring her boyfriend at a home in the Williams area late last week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a domestic disturbance in the 800-block of Glenlyn Drive on Friday around 10 a.m.. Deputies said they were alerted to the disturbance by a man who called 9-1-1 to report that his girlfriend was throwing things and breaking bottles inside the house they share. Dispatchers said they could hear a woman screaming over the phone. According to the report, the 40-year-old woman became upset that morning and threw a cat dish at her boyfriend, causing a cut on his leg. He managed to avoid being struck by other flying objects and declined medical transport to the hospital. Upon arrival, deputies interviewed both parties before placing the woman into custody. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for felony crimes of 2nd-Degree Domestic Assault and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. She was being held without bail.

Posted on 4/22/24 6:45AM by Sam Marsh

GPPD Jailed 2 People for Drug Crimes after Traffic Stop on NE Agness Avenue

The Grants Pass Police Department assisted Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) by arresting two people following a traffic stop on the east side of the city late last week. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a silver Infinity coupe with California plates at Elmer's Restaurant on NE Agness Avenue on Friday around 9:44 a.m.. Police did not say why they stopped the car occupied by a 49-year-old male driver and a 33-year-old female passenger. However, they said a law enforcement K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. No other details were available in the report, but the occupants were arrested and the drugs were seized as evidence. The man and woman were both lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Possession and Delivery of Methamphetamine. Both were being held without bail.

Posted on 4/22/24 6:43AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Burning China Hutch Outside Mother's Residence

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for burning a piece of furniture at his mother's southwest city home this past weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing complaint in the 1400-block of SW Bridge Street on Saturday at about 2:20 a.m.. Police said they received a call from the 34-year-old man's grandmother who reported her grandson was trying to break into his mother's residence. The man had been kicked out of his mother's house and was sleeping outside on a trampoline. According to the report, the mother has legal custody of the man's two juvenile children who were sleeping inside the house when the man decided to burn his mother's hutch in the very narrow backyard. He used gas propellant to fuel the fire, which damaged his mother's property. Officers arrived on scene, made sure the fire was out and placed the man into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Reckless Burning.

Posted on 4/22/24 6:42AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Motorist for Impaired Driving after Weekend Traffic Complaint

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving following a weekend traffic complaint in the north part of the city. The Police Department reports officers contacted the 47-year-old man at Hampton Inn & Suites on NE Morgan Lane on Saturday at about 12:45 a.m.. Police said a fellow motorist called 9-1-1 to report they were following the driver on NE 7th Street and he was swerving all over the roadway at very slow speeds. The caller suspected the driver was impaired and followed the suspect vehicle to the motel where it appeared he was going to check in. Upon arrival, officers contacted the man and developed probable cause that he was the suspected impaired driver. He displayed signs of impairment, but refused to participate in field sobriety tests or to provide a breath sample. A search warrant was obtained and he was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a blood draw. The suspect was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. His vehicle was impounded.

Posted on 4/22/24 6:41AM by Sam Marsh