Local News

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.