Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for attempting to steal nearly $1,000 worth of merchandise from Walmart. The Police Department reports officers responded to a shoplifting call involving 42-year-old Carol Ann Shimer at the store on NE Terry Lane on Saturday at about 12:25 p.m.. Police said Shimer went to Walmart and selected more than $939 worth of items after she had purchased her prescription medications. They said she passed all points of sale and failed to pay for the large shopping cart full of merchandise. Carol Shimer was initially uncooperative with loss prevention at the store. She was placed into custody and lodged at the nearby Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft. A debit card in her possession was returned to a man staying at Motel 6.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for beating up a woman at a transient camp located just west of Grants Pass late last week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 32-year-old Jeffrey Allen McPeak for the incident at a campsite near Granite Hill Cemetery on Friday morning. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that she was sleeping in a tent when McPeak woke her up by head-butting and punching her repeatedly. The caller said her eye was swollen shut from the attack and the suspect threatened to burn her with rubbing alcohol if she did not stay inside the tent. McPeak had already been flagged for being uncooperative with law enforcement. He has a history with martial arts using swords and is known to carry the weapon. Upon arrival, deputies located McPeak near the railroad tracks and placed him into custody. He was in possession of a sword, which was seized as evidence. Jeffrey McPeak was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Assault and Menacing -- both constituting domestic violence. He was held without bail. Although the female victim had a large swollen black eye, she declined medical treatment. She and four dogs were taken to the Women's Crisis Support Team.

 

The Grants Pass Police Department and Josephine County Sheriff's Office worked together to arrest a woman for allegedly stealing a vehicle and personal belongings from a man at a north-city trailer park. The Police Department reports deputies made a traffic stop on the stolen Dodge Challenger and placed 29-year-old Brittanie Marie Miller into custody near the intersection of Highland Avenue and Merlin Road on Friday afternoon. Police said Miller entered a trailer at Jack's Landing on NW Morgan Lane and took the victim's car keys without direct or implied consent. They said she also took his Louis Vuitton bag valued at $3,200 and his iPhone 14 valued at $980 as well as his medications. All the items were recovered during the traffic stop. According to the report, Miller's passenger -- identified as Christopher Hawkins -- got out of the stolen car, but Miller initially refused to do so. The victim's brother was able to track the location of the stolen car using a cell phone app that followed it into the Merlin area. The brother picked up the victim's car and belongings. Brittanie Miller was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, 1st-Degree Theft, 2nd-Degree Theft and Driving While Suspended. She was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man on statewide and local felony warrants during a random encounter late last week. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies arrested 30-year-old Jacob Tyler Cottrell in an unspecified location around midday Friday. Deputies said they were on patrol when they spotted Cottrell passed out behind the wheel of a Hyundai Accent. They said he was uncooperative and initially refused to step out of the car. A records check revealed that Cottrell was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for five counts of 1st-Degree Burglary and one count of Heroin Possession. He was also wanted on a Grants Pass warrant containing a secret indictment for Felony Mail Theft. Jacob Cottrell was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing a sweater from a downtown store at the start of the weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the theft complaint at Wild Rogue Emporium on SW 6th Street on Friday around 5 p.m.. Police said 50-year-old Craig David Saddler took a sweater valued at $149 from the store, put it on and exited the business without paying. They said he walked several doors down to Gallop & Glitz where he was eventually located and placed into custody. Saddler reportedly admitted to the theft before he was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft. He was also trespassed from both downtown stores.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for siphoning gasoline from a vehicle parked at a north-city automobile dealership. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to the incident at Best Auto on NE Hillcrest Drive on Saturday shortly after 3 a.m.. Police said the dealership manager called 9-1-1 after seeing a male subject stealing gas from a vehicle on video surveillance. The caller stated that he wanted to press charges against the suspect, who had fled the scene before officers arrived. Officers searched the area for 22-year-old Alyczander Truel Morgan before finding him hiding behind a nearby massage business and abandoned shop building. He was located with a gas can and garden hose when he was placed into custody. Alyczander Morgan was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle and 3rd-Degree Theft.

 

Grants Pass firefighters had a busy January while responding to a diverse range of emergencies. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue reported that fire calls last month were moderate with 16 incidents, but medical aid calls surged to 171 while highlighting the agency's vital role in community health. A concerning trend emerged with 23 overdose calls in January, prompting efforts to continue raising awareness and providing resources for addiction support. Overall, the city fire department's dedication and expertise were on full display throughout the month, ensuring the safety and well-being of the community.

 

The Josephine Community Library District has announced that the Illinois Valley branch in Cave Junction will be closing for renovations early next month. The IV library branch on West Palmer Street will close on Sunday, March 3rd, and the last day of service before the closure will be Saturday, March 2nd. The library branch is expected to reopen to the public in mid- to late-fall of this year. During the library closure, temporary library services will be available at the Illinois Valley Senior Center at 520 East River Street. Services there will include a book drop open Mondays-Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and item pick-up service on Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.. To take advantage of the weekly pick-up service, patrons can use their library card account to place requests on books and other items through the online catalog at "josephinelibrary.org." Patrons will be notified when requested items are ready. For technical assistance, calls to the IV branch will be forwarded to library staff. The renovated library will include a meeting space with a maximum capacity of 80 people along with a teaching kitchen and dedicated ADA-accessible restroom, an early learning center, outdoor space for library programs and more.

 

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters were busy protecting the community last week. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 634 calls for service along with 348 officer-initiated calls that resulted in 47 arrests, 29 citations, 51 warnings and six highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 125 traffic stops in the city and made 17 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The Community Response Team (CRT) made a total of 222 contacts with potential trouble-makers while arresting two people, citing 39 more and warning 50 others. The CRT unit also trespassed 25 individuals, posted 89 transient camps and helped remove trash from five campsites. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 83 calls last week including 39 for emergency medical service, one report of fire or smoke, 15 lift assists, nine rescue situations, three assists to other agencies and five false alarms. The 9-1-1 Dispatch Center fielded a total of 1,069 emergency calls in addition to 744 calls for non-emergency service.