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Deputies Snared Man Wanted for Hog Creek Arson Incident after Sunday Pursuit

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office captured a man wanted in connection with a Hog Creek area arson incident following a high-speed pursuit in the Applegate and Williams valleys. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 32-year-old William Wayne Fox after he crashed a Mercury Sable on Cedar Flat Road on Sunday at 6:30 p.m.. Deputies said Fox was wanted for his role in the incident that occurred in the 4700-block of Galice Road on January 9th. They said he and his 19-year-old girlfriend torched a travel trailer, injured a dog and stabbed a tire on a vehicle before he fled into the woods and escaped law enforcement. His girlfriend was arrested. Fox was spotted by deputies in the 7200-block of Williams Highway on Sunday afternoon and two state troopers joined the pursuit, which reached speeds of more than 90 miles per hour on Highway 238 to Water Gap Road to Cedar Flat Road. That's where he crashed the car and was placed into custody at the point of a Taser. Fox was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-Degree Arson, 1st-Degree Burglary, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing, Felony and Misdemeanor Attempt to Elude Police, and Reckless Driving. He was being held without bail. A woman identified as 68-year-old Teresa Ann Mayo-Brown was arrested at the crash scene and jailed for Hindering Prosecution. An aggressive, unaltered pit bull mix dog was removed from the vehicle and taken to the Josephine County Animal Shelter. The wrecked car was towed.

Posted on 1/15/24 10:21AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man for DUII after Deputies Found Him Passed Out in Vehicle

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for impaired driving after Josephine County sheriff's deputies found him unconscious behind the wheel of a vehicle at a busy intersection near the jail. The Police Department reports deputies found 52-year-old Johnnie Thomas Brown, Jr., passed out in a vehicle at the intersection of NE F Street and Beacon Drive on Saturday at about 12:20 a.m.. Police said an investigation determined that Brown had left a local bar after getting into a physical confrontation with a friend. They said he admitted to drinking alcohol and he displayed several indicators of impairment at the scene. According to the report, Brown refused to take part in field sobriety tests, so a search warrant was obtained and he was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a blood draw that documented his impairment. Johnnie Brown was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. He was being held without bail and his vehicle was towed to the impound yard.

Posted on 1/15/24 10:20AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Woman for Attempting to Steal Grange Co-op Merchandise

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for attempting to steal merchandise from Grange Co-op late last week. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a shoplifting call at the store on West Schutzwohl Lane near Redwood Highway on Friday around 10 a.m.. Police said 28-year-old Adrianna Kathleen Jacobsen selected under $100 worth of items from Grange Co-op, proceeded to pass all points of sale without paying and was detained by loss prevention. While in custody, she admitted to the crime. Jacobsen was charged with 3rd-Degree Theft and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. The stolen merchandise was returned to Grange Co-op and she was trespassed from the business.

Posted on 1/15/24 10:18AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Causing Weekend Complaints at Southgate Cinema

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for causing a weekend disturbance at the movie theater in the south part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing complaint involving 71-year-old Russell Dewitt Coe at Southgate Cinema in the 1600-block of Ringuette Street on Friday around 8:15 p.m.. Police said Coe entered the theater, purchased a ticket for a movie sat down and made several comments which sparked concern among other patrons. The patrons complained to the theater manager and the manager called 9-1-1. Upon arrival, officers contacted Coe and discovered that he had a prior trespass warning at the theater from October 25th. He was placed into custody and lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass.

Posted on 1/15/24 10:17AM by Sam Marsh

Multiple Agencies Responded to Redwood Highway Crash at Kerby-Mainline

Multiple agencies responded to a weekend motor vehicle accident in Kerby. On Saturday at 12:34 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response, Josephine County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State Police responded to the two-vehicle crash on Redwood Highway at Kerby Mainline Road. IVFD officials said no one was hurt, but the crash temporarily blocked one travel lane of US Highway 199. The Oregon Department of Transportation assisted with traffic control while the scene was active. Jerry's Towing removed the damaged vehicles and hauled them into Cave Junction. OSP was investigating the cause of the collision.

Posted on 1/15/24 10:14AM by Sam Marsh

Grants Pass Police Apprehended State Fugitive and Found Him with Body Armor

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant while performing a weekend patrol check in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers arrested 27-year-old Vinnie Dale Shuler in the 300-block of SE H Street near Catalyst Pizza on Saturday at 11:21 a.m.. Police said they were on patrol when they spotted Shuler whom they recognized from criminal incidents. They said they knew he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation related to an assault conviction, so they placed him into custody. During a consent search, Shuler was found to be in possession of a soft armor vest and a Josephine County Sheriff's Office uniform shirt. Both items were seized as evidence. Vinnie Shuler was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the no-bail warrant as well as a new charge of Felon in Possession of Body Armor. He remained in custody on Sunday.

Posted on 1/15/24 6:27AM by Sam Marsh

GP City Park Camper Revived from Overdose & Then Fought with Police Officers

A Grants Pass city park camper was revived from a near-lethal drug overdose late last week and she showed her gratitude by fighting with police officers. The Police Department reports officers and emergency personnel rushed to a drug overdose at Morrison Centennial Park on Friday at about 9:20 a.m.. Police said the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center received a call reporting a female subject later identified as 34-year-old Marissa Elizabeth Winters had overdosed on drugs and CPR was in progress. They said Winters was administered Narcan four times before she starting breathing and coughing. She refused transport to the hospital. An investigation determined that Winters had remained unlawfully at the city park after she was trespassed on January 10th. Officers placed her into custody and she began actively using physical force to prevent her arrest. She attempted to spit on at least one officer before intentionally spitting and vomiting in the patrol vehicle. Winters was eventually subdued and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Attempted Aggravated Harassment, Resisting Arrest, 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. She was being held without bail.

Posted on 1/15/24 6:26AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Incarcerated Young Man for Punching Security Guard at TR Hospital

Grants Pass Police jailed a young man for punching a hospital security guard and prompting a weekend trespassing complaint. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 20-year-old Jackson David Sutton at Three Rivers Medical Center on Friday around 11:15 p.m.. Police said Sutton was contacted by hospital security and asked to leave the premises as they had similar incidents with him over the past week. Prior to police arrival, the suspect stepped toward a security officer and punched him once in the side of the face with a closed fist. The guard was not injured and placed the suspect in handcuffs. Upon arrival, officers took Jackson Sutton into custody and transported him to the Josephine County Jail where he was booked on a charge of Physical Harassment. He was being held without bail and was trespassed from the hospital.

Posted on 1/15/24 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Motorist for DUII after He Crashed Pickup on Highway 199

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving after he crashed his vehicle into a ditch on Redwood Highway at the start of the weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a motor vehicle crash on the south side of US Highway 199 near Rogue Credit Union on Friday shortly after 6 p.m.. Police said 21-year-old Ulises Leonel Saldivar was passed out in a Ford Ranger at the Chevron station at the corner of the highway and Ringuette Street. They said he was awakened by concerned citizens and then drove the pickup out of the lot, through the intersection, across all travel lanes of the highway and into a ditch. Saldivar was treated at the scene by American Medical Response, but he refused transport to the hospital. He was visibly impaired, but refused to participate in field sobriety tests. He was then taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that exceeded the legal driving limit. Ulises Saldivar was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. He was lodged at the Sobering Center and his truck was towed.

Posted on 1/15/24 6:15AM by Sam Marsh

Rural Metro & GP Firefighters Battled Foothill Boulevard Chimney Flue Fire

Firefighters from two agencies battled a chimney flue fire near the Josephine-Jackson county line early yesterday, sparing the house and its contents of serious damage. Rural Metro Fire Department and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to the reported structure fire in the 3700-block of Foothill Boulevard Sunday morning. Called in by a passerby, crews rushed to the scene to find the fire already spreading through the attic. The blaze was stopped after firefighters used long-handled tools to pull down ceiling material. These holes -- often created in living rooms and bedrooms -- provided access points where they were able to apply water. Rural Metro officials said most of the house and contents escaped serious damage. The contents were gathered together and covered with heavy tarps to shield against water and debris raining down from the attic. There were no injuries reported. Officials said the best way to avoid similar damage in homes that use wood heat is to have the chimney flue cleaned and inspected annually. They said always have working smoke alarms in case a fire breaks out in the middle of the night.

Posted on 1/15/24 6:13AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police & Firefighters Stayed Busy Protecting City from Crime & Hazards

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters remain busy protecting the community from criminal offenders and other dangers. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 583 calls for service as well as 226 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in numerous arrests, 14 citations, 11 warnings and six highly intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 84 traffic stops in the city and made 16 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The Community Response Team (CRT) made a total of 122 contacts with potential trouble-makers while arresting three people, citing 54 more and warning 63 others. The CRT unit also trespassed 30 individuals, posted 61 transient camps and helped remove trash from 11 campsites. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 96 calls last week including 43 calls for emergency medical service, two reports of fire or smoke, 13 lift assists, four rescue situations, six assists to other agencies and seven false alarms. The 9-1-1 Dispatch Center fielded a total of 956 emergency calls.

Posted on 1/15/24 6:12AM by Sam Marsh

ODOT Discouraging Travel Outside SW Oregon Due to Dangerous Roads in Much of State

Traveling outside the Rogue Valley is strongly discouraged due to challenging road conditions around other parts of the state. The Oregon Department of Transportation reported this morning that sub-freezing temperatures still cover much of the Willamette Valley, making road conditions challenging for at least the next couple of days. Freezing rain is expected Tuesday. Northbound Interstate 5 south of Eugene remains slow and congested due to overnight crashes. Last night, vehicles spinning out, crashing or losing traction in southern Lane County blocked the freeway for hours, causing a traffic backup. Crews are plowing 24/7 and using de-icer by the hundreds of thousands of pounds as well as sanding packed ice and snow on the roads. However, the amount of ice and extremely low temperatures limit the effectiveness of these tools -- especially for vehicles without chains. Meanwhile, warming temperatures in southwest Oregon could lead to flooding especially in Coos County. Watch for high water and debris on roadways on valley and coastal routes. ODOT officials said consider delaying your travel until later this week, if possible. If you must travel, be prepared for difficult driving conditions. Carry chains, plenty of fuel, snacks and blankets in case of delays. For the latest state highway information and to see current closures, visit "tripcheck.com."

Posted on 1/15/24 6:02AM by Sam Marsh

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