Local News

Josephine County Search & Rescue Unit Announces Passing of K9 Rex This Week
With deep regret and sadness, Josephine County Search & Rescue has announced the passing of its lead K-9 "Rex." It's a sad time for the Search & Rescue Team and particularly for Rex's handler Melissa Madsen. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. K-9 Rex joined the local Search & Rescue unit in July 2015. During his time with the unit, he became certified in wilderness air scent by the Oregon State Sheriff's Association. Rex recorded numerous hours of training, mission searches and community events for Josephine County as well as neighboring counties.
Posted on 2/10/24 5:27AM by Chuck Benson
 

GP Police Apprehended Theft Suspect after Responding to Drug Overdose at Park
Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted in connection with a recent theft case when they responded to a drug overdose at a city park early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 37-year-old Kelcey Edwin Cummings at Kesterson Park at the corner of NE 6th Street and Evelyn Avenue on Friday at 1:38 a.m.. Police said someone at the park called 9-1-1 to report that a camper had overdosed on narcotics. The unidentified caller stated they were told to call for an ambulance. They did not know who was overdosing or on what, but they suspected it might be fentanyl.
Medics responded to the park, performed CPR and were able to revive the patient, who also was not identified.
Posted on 2/10/24 5:25AM by Chuck Benson
 

GP Police Jailed Felon for Fraud and More after He Tried to Cash Stolen Check
Grants Pass Police jailed a man for fraud and weapon crimes this week after he tried to cash a stolen check in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers arrested 28-year-old Luke Wyatt Mulligan at Ace Cash Express on SE 7th Street on Thursday afternoon. Police said Mulligan attempted to cash a stolen check for $948.33 at the business. They said an employee called the check owner who advised his checks were stolen from his mailbox and his signature was forged. The suspect was taken into custody and found to be in possession of a spring-activated double-edged knife. A records check showed Mulligan was a convicted felon who was prohibited from possessing a knife. He was also found to be in possession of a blank check from the same bank account. The victim was contacted and he advised there were other fraudulent transactions from the stolen checks
Posted on 2/10/24 5:24AM by Chuck Benson
 

GP Police Jailed Felon for Fraud and More after He Tried to Cash Stolen Check
Grants Pass Police jailed a man for fraud and weapon crimes after he tried to cash a stolen check in the downtown area yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 28-year-old Luke Wyatt Mulligan at Ace Cash Express on SE 7th Street on Thursday at 12:59 p.m.. Police said Mulligan attempted to cash a stolen check for $948.33 at the business. They said an employee called the check owner who advised his checks were stolen from his mailbox and his signature was forged. The suspect was taken into custody and found to be in possession of a spring-activated double-edged knife. A records check showed Mulligan was a convicted felon who was prohibited from possessing a knife. He was also found to be in possession of a blank check from the same bank account. The victim was contacted and he advised there were other fraudulent transactions from the stolen checks. The investigation is continuing. Luke Mulligan was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges of 1st-Degree Forgery, Identity Theft, 2nd-Degree Theft and Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon. He was being held without bail and additional charges are pending.
Posted on 2/9/24 11:11AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Felon Jailed for Parole Violation after Causing Disturbance at Local Church
A Grants Pass felon was jailed for violating his post-prison supervision after he caused a disturbance at a local church early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 45-year-old Eric Delbert Rossiter near the Pinnacle 365 store on NE A Street on Thursday at 6:30 a.m.. Police said Rossiter was the subject of two calls related to his loud, strange and erratic behavior at the Bible Believers Baptist Church. The pastor of the church reported the suspect was sitting next to the building "throwing a fit and yelling very loudly." When officers located Rossiter near the store, he was standing in the street yelling, flailing his arms and making threats to fight. They were able to calm him down and place him into custody. Eric Rossiter was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct as well as the resulting Felony Parole Violation stemming from a previous criminal conviction. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.
Posted on 2/9/24 11:09AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Arrested Felon for Weapon Crime after Disturbance on Summit Loop
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a felon for a weapon crime last night during an investigation into a disturbance southeast of Grants Pass. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to reports of residential squatters engaged in a physical fight in the 1700-block of Summit Loop Road on Thursday around 6:20 p.m.. Deputies said several people were gathered in front of a home at that location yelling at each other and disturbing the neighborhood. They said one person told them a subject driving a car tried to hit them while a woman advised that her kids' father came over and they got into an argument. No other details were available. One of the people interviewed about the incident was identified as 39-year-old Matthew Pankey. He was uncooperative, detained and found to be in possession of brass knuckles in his pants pocket. The weapon was seized as evidence. Pankey was charged with Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon. In lieu of being lodged in jail, he was cited to appear in court and then released.
Posted on 2/9/24 11:08AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Arrested Motorist for Impaired Driving following Citizen Complaint
Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving following a traffic incident in the downtown area early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a Toyota Scion driven by 44-year-old Marissa Ziegler near the intersection of 6th and G streets on Thursday around 8:45 a.m.. Police said Ziegler had been reported as a traffic complaint by a fellow motorist who reported observing her swerving and unable to maintain a single travel lane. The caller said they began following the suspect vehicle after it ran a stop sign and nearly hit them at the corner of SE 7th and M streets. Upon contact with Ziegler, officers said she displayed indicators of impairment and performed poorly in field sobriety tests. The suspect was taken to the Sobering Center where she was detained and a urine sample was collected. The Oregon State Police drug recognition specialist was unavailable. Marissa Ziegler was charged with suspicion of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. She was cited to appear in court and released. An acquaintance arrived to assume custody of the vehicle and a canine passenger.
Posted on 2/9/24 11:07AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Nabbed Motorist for Impaired Driving after Traffic Stop in Downtown GP
The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving following a traffic stop in downtown Grants Pass late last night. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Ford F-150 pickup driven by 44-year-old Brandon John Bretl near the corner of SE 7th and I streets at 11:35 p.m. Thursday. Troopers said they stopped Bretl for a traffic violation and he exhibited signs of impairment. They said he performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to the Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was exactly the legal driving limit of .08%. Brandon Bretl was lodged at the Sobering Center on charges of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His pickup was impounded.
Posted on 2/9/24 11:05AM by Sam Marsh
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Commercial Truck Driver Escaped Serious Injury after Rolling on Interstate 5
A semi-truck driver escaped serious injury yesterday after he rolled his vehicle over on Interstate 5 in the Sunny Valley area. The Oregon State Police reports troopers, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the commercial vehicle crash in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 70 on Thursday at 11:45 a.m.. Troopers said an investigation indicates 27-year-old Matewos Adale was driving a Volvo semi-truck too fast for the wet road conditions when he lost control in a left-hand corner. The semi rolled and came to rest on its top in a ditch. According to OSP, Adale was not seriously hurt. The truck -- which was not carrying any hazardous cargo -- was eventually towed to Grants Pass. The Oregon Department of Transportation provided traffic control while the scene was active. Adale was warned for Violating the Basic Rule. Rural Metro officials said the sweeping corners on that stretch of I-5 quite often contribute to rolled semi-trucks and other vehicles. They urged motorists to slow down on that section of freeway -- especially when it is wet.
Posted on 2/9/24 11:04AM by Sam Marsh
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Josephine County Sheriff Seeks Public Help Finding Missing GP Area Woman
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UPDATE: HOPE HOOVER HAS BEEN LOCATED AND IS NO LONGER MISSING.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was seeking public assistance in locating a missing Grants Pass area woman. In a Thursday afternoon press release, the Sheriff's Office reported that 32-year-old Hope Susan Hoover left from the northeast area of Grants Pass on January 22nd with an unknown direction of travel. Hoover's family has not been able to contact her since that time and they called the Sheriff's Office to report her missing. She did not take any of her belongings with her when she left. Hoover is described as a white female adult, 5-feet-7-inches tall and 150 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She is possibly driving a gray 2004 BMW X5 sedan with Oregon license plate 036 LWC. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Hope Hoover is encouraged to call the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123.
Posted on 2/9/24 6:42AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Collared Man on Texas & Douglas County Warrants in Patrol Check
Grants Pass Police apprehended a fugitive wanted on out-of-state and out-of-county warrants during a routine patrol check in the south part of the city this week. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 50-year-old Douglas Hale Wiggins, Jr., in the 600-block of Redwood Highway on Wednesday night. Police said they were on patrol when they observed a Chevrolet Trailblazer with switched license plates and contacted Wiggins who told them he knew the plate did not belong on his vehicle. A subsequent records check revealed that he was wanted on a Liberty County, Texas, felony warrant for narcotics possession and a Douglas County misdemeanor warrant for failing to appear in court for impaired driving. After confirming the Texas warrant was extraditable, Wiggins was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail. Officers removed the license plate from Wiggins' vehicle and planned to return it to the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles.
Posted on 2/9/24 6:41AM by Sam Marsh
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OSP Arrested Motorist for DUII and Drug Possession after SE GP Traffic Stop
The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving and drug possession after a traffic stop in southeast Grants Pass this week. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Chevrolet Blazer driven by 38-year-old Lionell Augustus Lims of Grants Pass near the intersection of Fruitdale Drive and Poplar Drive late Wednesday night. Troopers said they stopped Lims for traffic violations and he displayed signs of impairment. They said he then performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was positive for alcohol but below the legal limit. A drug recognition specialist responded to assist with the investigation which revealed the use of narcotics. Lionell Lims was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Controlled Substances as well as Possession of Cocaine. He was also cited for Failure to Drive Within Lane, Unsignaled Turn and Expired Registration. After being cited to appear in court, Lims was released and given a courtesy ride home. His vehicle was parked and secured at the scene of the traffic stop.
Posted on 2/9/24 6:39AM by Sam Marsh
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