Local News

Motel Video Surveillance Helped GP Police Apprehend Car Vandalism Suspect
Video surveillance helped Grants Pass Police with a vandalism investigation that resulted in the arrest of a suspect on Wednesday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 42-year-old Jennifer Rachelle Perez at Taser point at Koi Sushi on NE Hillcrest Drive at 1:34 p.m. yesterday. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report she was visiting a friend staying at Motel 6 on Monday when Perez came to the room. The caller said she did not let the woman in because her friend was in the shower. She then observed the suspect standing next to her vehicle and later discovered her passenger-side tires had been slashed. The value of the tires on the Toyota Corolla were valued at about $250. The vandalism victim did not see the crime happen, but motel video surveillance captured a person matching Perez's description leaning down and slashing the tires. Probable cause was developed due to the video and officers starting looking for the suspect. They eventually located the suspect's vehicle parked next to the restaurant. Jennifer Perez was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. She was being held without bail.
Posted on 2/1/24 11:07AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Nabbed Man for Leaving Mound of Trash at Illegal Parkway Campsite
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for leaving a mound of trash on the side of the Parkway near an illegal campsite. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing complaint involving 33-year-old Ryan Adam Burrows at Big 5 Sporting Goods around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police said the Big 5 manager called 9-1-1 to report that Burrows had set up a campsite in some bushes between their building and the Parkway. The caller said they told the man he couldn't be there, but he refused to leave or clean up his site. Responding officers contacted Burrows and advised him that he was under arrest. Ryan Burrows was placed into custody, charged with Offensive Littering and lodged at the nearby adult jail facility. He was also trespassed from the business.
Posted on 2/1/24 11:06AM by Sam Marsh
 

Corrections Client Arrested by GP Police for Being Intoxicated While on Parole
A Josephine County Community Corrections client was arrested yesterday for violating terms of his post-prison supervision while loitering at a local restaurant. Grants Pass Police contacted 30-year-old Dennis Alan Knight, Jr., at Abby's Pizza on NE Beacon Drive on Wednesday at about 2:40 p.m.. Officers said Knight had been reported as a suspicious person while they were on an unrelated call. They said he showed significant signs of impairment and was not capable of caring for himself, so he was placed into custody. Knight's corrections officer was contacted and requested his client be detained for being intoxicated while under his supervision. He was lodged in jail for Felony Parole Violation and was being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show Knight has been arrested five times for violating his parole since April 2023.
Posted on 2/1/24 11:04AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Arrested Suspended Probation Client for Unlawfully Driving Vehicle
Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for traffic and probation violations this week after his corrections officer observed him unlawfully driving a motor vehicle. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 34-year-old Cody Eugene McQuilliams on Tuesday afternoon after his corrections officer pulled him over in the 300-block of NE C Street. Police said McQuilliams was stopped because his driving privileges had been suspended and he had no emergent reason to be driving on a public roadway. The suspect admitted that he knew he was not allowed to drive. Cody McQuilliams was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Driving While Suspended and the resulting Probation Violation related to a past arrest for Menacing. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.
Posted on 2/1/24 11:03AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Snared Woman on Local Warrant after Drug Call near High School
Grants Pass Police apprehended a woman on a local warrant while investigating a drug complaint near the high school yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle with individuals using drugs in the area of NE 10th and Madrone streets at about 2:50 p.m. yesterday. Police said they contacted 32-year-old Melia Lei Mitchell and a man identified as "Ricky Lane" in the white sedan with tinted windows. They placed Mitchell into custody when they discovered she was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for 2nd-Degree Theft. Melia Mitchell was lodged at the Josephine County Jail. There was no further mention of drug use in the report.
Posted on 2/1/24 11:01AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Made Arrests in City Parks for Probation and Warrant Violations
Grants Pass Police made two arrests during city park patrol checks in one day this week -- one for a probation violation and the other for outstanding warrants. The Police Department reports the first incident occurred on Tuesday morning when officers arrested 24-year-old Cody Allen Pickle at Morrison Centennial Park. Police said Pickle was observed with a warming fire and he was cited for Burning Rubbish. His corrections officer was contacted and requested his client be placed on a detainer. Pickle was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Probation Violation related to arrests for Theft, Criminal Mischief and Criminal Trespass. The second incident happened on Tuesday afternoon when officers arrested 29-year-old Kraig Dean Toothman at Riverside Park. Police said they observed Toothman walking toward the tent area of the park west of Caveman Bridge. They knew he was wanted on two Grants Pass warrants for failing to appear in court for Escape and Criminal Trespass. He was placed into custody and lodged at the adult jail facility.
Posted on 2/1/24 10:59AM by Sam Marsh
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One Driver Cited after Two Related Crashes on Interstate 5 near Wolf Creek
Two related crashes on Interstate 5 in northern Josephine County yesterday resulted in a citation for one motorist. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the first crash in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 78 at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Troopers said 61-year-old Daniel Christonson of Azalea was driving a Toyota RAV-4 and he stated 30-year-old Rosamaria Reyes of Wolf Creek lost control of the Dodge Journey she was driving and slid into his vehicle, causing him to veer off the freeway and into a tree. Neither driver was injured. Reyes told OSP that her vehicle began to drive "funny," so she maneuvered to the I-5 shoulder. Neither vehicle showed signs of contact, so no citations were issued. While multiple vehicles were stopped at the crash scene, a Kia Forte driven by 36-year-old Kevin De Jesus of Grants Pass lost control and slid in between vehicles on the shoulder, impacted the sideslope and rolled over. None of the vehicles already on the shoulder were hit by the Kia and the driver was not injured. Following an investigation, De Jesus was cited for Failing to Drive Within Lane. The Toyota and the Kia were towed to Grants Pass.
Posted on 2/1/24 10:57AM by Sam Marsh
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Jackson County SO Accepting Applications for Citizens Academy until Friday
The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is still accepting applications for its 2024 Citizens' Academy, but time is quickly running out. The Sheriff's Office is looking for citizens and community leaders to apply for the academy that will start toward the end of this month. The due date for applications is Friday. Attendees will be notified of their acceptance by February 9th. The Citizens' Academy topics include a presentation from Sheriff Nate Sickler and a tour of the Jackson County Jail. The classes start on February 20th and run through May 14th. The classes will be held on Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m., with a couple of Saturday mid-morning hands-on classes included. Regular attendance is mandatory to remain the academy as there are limited openings. Attendees must be over the age of 18 and be able to pass a criminal background check. Previous or current involvement with the community is highly encouraged. You can download an application from "jacksoncountyor.gov." Applications can then be dropped off at the Sheriff's Office at 5179 Crater Lake Highway or e-mailed to "pinihr@jacksoncountyor.gov" before the deadline.
Posted on 2/1/24 10:55AM by Sam Marsh
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Fiery Accident on Redwood Highway South of O'Brien Claimed Life of Motorist
A fiery wreck on Redwood Highway near O'Brien claimed the life of a motorist yesterday. On Wednesday afternoon, the Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response, Josephine County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash near milepost 36 of US Highway 199. Few details about the incident were disclosed, but IVFD officials confirmed one person died of severe injuries in the accident. The 9-1-1 Dispatch Center reported the driver was trapped inside the burning vehicle. The Oregon Department of Transportation was brought in for traffic control as the highway was completely shut down until it reopened to a single lane at 1:57 p.m.. OSP was completing the investigation and we are still awaiting a press release with more details on the fatal crash.
Posted on 2/1/24 6:28AM by Sam Marsh
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Detectives Investigating Armed Heist at Time Out Sports Bar in South Medford
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The Medford Police Department was investigating an armed robbery that occurred early yesterday at a sports bar in the south part of that city. MPD officers responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Time Out Sports Bar in the 1200-block of Stewart Avenue on Wednesday at about 2 a.m.. Upon arrival, officers discovered the suspect had fled on foot. They learned that an unknown subject displayed a handgun and demanded money from an employee who was in the process of closing the business for the night. The suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. Officers used a police K-9 to track the suspect through nearby neighborhoods, but they were unable to locate them. MPD has released a photo from the business's video surveillance system in hopes that a member of the public may have some information about the suspect's identity. The suspect is believed to be a young white male with a slim build. He was wearing all dark clothing, a hood, gloves and a black-and-white face mask along with distinct Van's brand shoes. Anyone with information on this case can call Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon at (541)-770-4783 and reference MPD Case #24-1792.
Posted on 2/1/24 6:26AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Jailed Man for Felony-Level Crimes after Fight in the Downtown Area
Grants Pass Police jailed a man for multiple felony-level crimes this week after a fight between at least two male transients broke out in the downtown area. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 35-year-old Anthony John Gambale, IV, for the incident in the 400-block of SE 7th Street on Tuesday night. Police said Gambale intentionally caused physical injury to another man by punching him several times in the head. They said he was aided by another male subject who has yet to be identified. The victim had pain and swelling, but denied medical attention or transport to the hospital. During the altercation, Gambale took the victim's backpack which he claimed contained over $3,000 in personal items. The suspect was located several blocks away, but he did not have possession of the backpack and refused to speak about it. He is a convicted felon and was found to be in possession of some weapons. Anthony Gambale was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 3rd-Degree Assault, Felony 3rd-Degree Robbery, Felony 1st-Degree Theft and two counts of Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 2/1/24 6:25AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Motorist Facing Numerous Charges after DUII Crash on Redwood Highway
A Grants Pass motorist is facing numerous charges after he crashed into the back of another vehicle on Redwood Highway this week. Grants Pass Police and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision on US Highway 199 at Ringuette Street on Tuesday night. Police said 31-year-old Nicholas Thomas Ryder was both impaired and suspended while driving his truck with his two juvenile children inside. They said he crashed into the back of a vehicle that was lawfully stopped at a red light at the intersection. Fortunately, no one in either vehicle was hurt. Upon contact with officers, Ryder displayed numerous indicators of impairment including bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol. His truck was disabled in the center of the highway and his children were escorted to safety at the nearby Dairy Queen. Ryder refused to participate in sobriety tests, so a search warrant was obtained and he was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that revealed impairment by alcohol. After providing a breath sample at the Josephine County Jail, Ryder was booked for Felony Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Felony Driving While Revoked, five counts of Reckless Endangering and Probation Violation related to a previous arrest for Felony Driving While Suspended. He was also cited for No Insurance.
Posted on 2/1/24 6:18AM by Sam Marsh
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