Local News

Man Jailed for Creating Traffic Hazard
A local man was jailed Tuesday night after creating a traffic hazard by jumping in front of vehicles on the Grants Pass Parkway, including a Sheriff’s Deputy. At approximately 9:44 Tuesday night a Josephine County Deputy was outbound on the Parkway near ‘M’ Street and observed a man on the side of the road, As the Deputy drove closer, traveling at about 45 miles per hour, the man jumped in front of the Deputy’s vehicle. The Deputy was able to slow enough to miss the man, identified as 43-year-old Robert Michael Musella, As the Deputy was stopping Musella proceeded to jump in front of another vehicle on the opposite side of the Parkway. The Deputy arrested Musella and lodged him in the Josephine County Jail on disorderly conduct charges.
Posted on 12/27/23 5:51AM by Chuck Benson
 

US Forest Service Publishes Notice of Intent to Amend Northwest Forest Plan
The US Forest Service has published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement on the proposal to amend 17 land management plans of the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) that provide direction for the management of those national forests and grasslands. The process will be informed by robust engagement with stakeholders across all affected geographies to address urgent land management concerns including wildfire resilience, climate change adaptation and greater tribal inclusion. While the plan has guided important progress over the past three decades, changed ecological and social conditions are challenging the effectiveness of the plan. This action launches the public process of amending the Northwest Forest Plan with a 45-day public comment period. The NOI identifies changed conditions that are driving the need to amend the plan. The process will focus on five key areas: wildfire resilience, climate change adaptation, tribal inclusion, sustainable communities, and conservation of old growth ecosystems and related biodiversity. Amending or otherwise strengthening the effectiveness of the Northwest Forest Plan can incorporate the latest science and help forests adapt to social, economic, cultural and ecological changes. The Forest Service intends to preserve elements of the plan that are working well.
Posted on 12/27/23 5:00AM by Chuck Benson
 

GP Police Nabbed Motorist for DUII after Christmas Night Stop on SW L Street
Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving on Christmas after he was observed committing multiple traffic violations on the west side of the city. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a Ford pickup driven by 32-year-old Kyle Christopher Dovel near the corner of SW 5th and L streets on Monday shortly after 9 p.m.. Police said Dovel was the subject of citizen complaints about an erratic motorist who spun out into someone's yard, ran through several stop signs and nearly hit some other vehicles. One citizen followed the suspect vehicle and copied down the license plate so officers were able to track it to his home on SW L Street.
Posted on 12/27/23 4:58AM by Chuck Benson
 

GP Police Snared Woman for Probation Violation after Trespassing Complaint
Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for violating terms of her probation by trespassing on her mother's property. The Police Department reports officers responded to a trespassing complaint involving 42-year-old Dion Micki Cleek in the 1300-block of NE 10th Street on Christmas Day at 11:50 a.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her daughter was in a shed on her property against her wishes and that she was under the influence of narcotics. The suspect had been trespassed from the family home on October 24th. Officers arrived on scene, found Cleek in the shed and placed her into custody.
Posted on 12/27/23 4:57AM by Chuck Benson
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GP Man Jailed for Committing Domestic Violence against Estranged Girlfriend
A Grants Pass man was jailed early yesterday for committing domestic violence against a woman he is legally prohibited from having contact with. The Grants Pass Police Department reports officers arrested 30-year-old Damien Michael Clark on Tuesday at 3:48 a.m for the incident that occurred at a home in the 500-block of SE 9th Street. Police said Clark is legally prohibited from contacting his ex-girlfriend, but he went to her residence and -- after a significant amount of methamphetamine use -- an argument erupted. They said he grabbed the woman by the ears and told her he wanted to kill her. He also grabbed her throat with one hand and squeezed enough that she was unable to breathe for a few seconds. The victim refused medical help.
Posted on 12/27/23 4:52AM by Chuck Benson
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Wind Advisory for Parts of Southwest Oregon Remains in Effect
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The National Weather Service’s has Wind Advisory for Josephine, Jackson, Douglas and eastern Curry counties remains in effect until 7 p.m. tonight. Southwest winds from 25 to 35 miles per hour with gusts up to 50 miles per hour are expected. Areas expected to be affected by wind include the Kalmiopsis Wilderness and the foothills of the Cascade and Siskiyou mountains including US Highway 199 near O'Brien, the southern Rogue Valley along Interstate 5 between Medford and Ashland, Butte Falls and the higher terrain of eastern Jackson and Douglas counties. Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Driving may be difficult for high-profile vehicles during the advisory period.
Posted on 12/27/23 4:39AM by Chuck Benson
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GP Man Jailed for Committing Domestic Violence against Estranged Girlfriend
A Grants Pass man was jailed early today for committing domestic violence against a woman he is legally prohibited from having contact with. The Grants Pass Police Department reports officers arrested 30-year-old Damien Michael Clark at 3:48 this morning for the incident that occurred at a home in the 500-block of SE 9th Street. Police said Clark is legally prohibited from contacting his ex-girlfriend, but he went to her residence and -- after a significant amount of methamphetamine use -- an argument erupted. They said he grabbed the woman by the ears and told her he wanted to kill her. He also grabbed her throat with one hand and squeezed enough that she was unable to breathe for a few seconds. The victim refused medical help. Clark reportedly fled when the victim called police, but he returned and contacted her via phone within the next hour. He was located in a backyard shed that doubles as a laundry room and placed into custody. Damien Clark was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Strangulation, Menacing, Harassment and three counts of Contempt of Court-Violating a No-Contact Order. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 12/26/23 11:23AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Collared Statewide Fugitive after Weekend Stop on Fruitdale Drive
Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant after a weekend traffic stop in the southeast part of the city. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by 38-year-old Eric Ray Rice on Fruitdale Drive near Brookhurst Way on Sunday at 3:35 a.m.. Police said they stopped Rice for crossing over the fog line. They quickly learned that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation related to a previous conviction for Felon in Possession of a Weapon and Possession of Dangerous Drugs. He was immediately placed into custody. According to the report, a plastic baggie of a brown substance that tested positive as fentanyl was in plain view inside his car. It was seized for destruction. Eric Rice was lodged at the Josephine County on a no-bail detainer. He was also cited to appear in court for the narcotics violation, Driving While Suspended and No Insurance. His passenger took possession of the vehicle.
Posted on 12/26/23 11:20AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Arrested Woman for Likely Stealing from Walmart Numerous Times
Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for stealing merchandise at Walmart last weekend and there is reason to believe she has been involved in other store thefts. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a shoplifting complaint involving 67-year-old Debra Lynn Jones at the store on NE Terry Lane shortly after 4 p.m. on Saturday. Police said Jones skip-scanned items valued at more than $122 at the Walmart self-checkout. They said she was observed on video surveillance and detained by loss prevention before she could leave the store. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree and was being held without bail. Walmart managers said Jones had 10 separate prior shoplifting incidents at the store that were not reported. Staff members were looking into several of those incidents in order to compile the total amount of product lost. The investigation was continuing.
Posted on 12/26/23 11:19AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Snared Man for Stealing from Home Depot and 5 Other Businesses
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing merchandise from Home Depot last weekend and he may be facing more charges after he was found with items stolen from several other stores. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to a shoplifting call involving 30-year-old Kody Tyler Halverson at the store on NE Mill Street at 4:40 p.m. on Saturday. Police said Halverson was detained by Home Depot loss prevention after he passed all points of sale with nearly $100 worth of unpaid-for merchandise. During a consent search, they said he was found to be in possession of multiple items stolen from Walmart, Fred Meyer, Big Lots, Harbor Freight and TJ Maxx. Kody Halverson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft and all the stolen items were returned to their respective stores. He was trespassed from all of the named businesses.
Posted on 12/26/23 11:17AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Arrested Motorist for DUII and More after Hit & Run MVA at Alibi Bar
Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving and more after she crashed into an occupied taxi cab at a local bar and then fled the scene. The Police Department reports officers responded to a hit-and-run incident at the Alibi Bar on NW 6th Street on Saturday around 11:10 p.m.. Police said 41-year-old Tiffany Lynn Mitchell was driving a 2005 GMC Denali when she struck a parked 2010 Chevrolet Malibu. They said the taxi was occupied with the driver-side door open, damaging the cab but not hurting the driver. Mitchell fled the scene without making contact with the other driver, but she was located by officers a short time later on Lincoln Road and pulled over. The suspect showed strong signs of impairment, and she admitted to being both impaired and suspended. She also had no insurance and was carrying a passenger in her vehicle. After Mitchell admitted to the crash and performed poorly in field sobriety tests, she was placed into custody for Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangering. She was also cited for Driving While Suspended, No Insurance and Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device. She was lodged in jail and her SUV was impounded.
Posted on 12/26/23 11:16AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Nabbed Motorist for DUII after Christmas Night Stop on SW L Street
Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving last night after he was observed committing multiple traffic violations on the west side of the city. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a Ford pickup driven by 32-year-old Kyle Christopher Dovel near the corner of SW 5th and L streets on Monday shortly after 9 p.m.. Police said Dovel was the subject of citizen complaints about an erratic motorist who spun out into someone's yard, ran through several stop signs and nearly hit some other vehicles. One citizen followed the suspect vehicle and copied down the license plate so officers were able to track it to his home on SW L Street. Dovel was contacted on the front porch of his residence where he showed several signs of impairment. He refused to participate in field sobriety tests, so a search warrant was obtained from an on-call judge and he was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented his impairment. Dovel was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. His pickup was parked and secured at his residence.
Posted on 12/26/23 11:15AM by Sam Marsh
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