Local News

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant during a patrol check at a city park early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers arrested the 45-year-old male subject at Lawnridge Park on Wednesday at 10:42 a.m.. Police said they contacted the camper at the park and quickly discovered that he was wanted on an Oregon State Parole Board warrant for Felony Parole Violation, with the underlying charge not disclosed. He was placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. At his request, his personal belongings were taken to his father's place of employment.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for loitering at Three Rivers Medical Center last night. The Police Department reports officers responded to a trespassing complaint at the hospital on SW Ramsey Avenue on Wednesday at 9:12 p.m.. Police said the 41-year-old woman was highly intoxicated and refused to leave when asked to do so by TRMC Security. They said the woman was there with a friend causing a disturbance and she was not there to get medical care. The suspect was placed into custody and charged with Criminal Trespass. Due to her highly-intoxicated state, she was checked out by hospital staff before being lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing merchandise from a supermarket yesterday and he may be facing additional charges related to alleged thefts at the store that occurred over the past couple of months. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a shoplifting call at WinCo Foods on NE Terry Lane on Wednesday during the noon hour. Police said the 64-year-old suspect entered the store and concealed items worth about $20 in a bag and on his person. He passed all points of sale and left the store, but was detained by loss prevention until officers arrived on scene. Upon further investigation, loss prevention advised police that the man has been stealing from WinCo frequently over the past two months and they would be providing additional information for those thefts. They estimated the thefts had totaled around $300. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft, with the additional charges forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for consideration.

 

Grants Pass Police evicted two campers from a city park on Wednesday for repeat ordinance violations. At Morrison Centennial Park on Rogue River Highway, officers cited a woman for Buffer Zone Violation, and a man for Buffer Zone Violation and Staking a Tent. Both campers were trespassed from the park for 30 days. A total of 16 campsites were posted for Illegal Camping and an e-mail was sent to the United Community Action Network (UCAN).

 

The Josephine County Public Health Department is making a public presentation on the Animal Shelter and Control Levy tonight in Cave Junction, with another presentation taking place in Grants Pass in early May. Citizens are invited to join Public Health Director Michael Weber and Animal Shelter Supervisor Laura Jansen for the presentations. Find out what this levy would provide for the community including sketches for the proposed new shelter facility. Afterwards, Weber and Jansen will hold an open question and answer session so Josephine County voters can be well-informed before they cast their ballots. Tonight's presentation is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Wild River Brewing and Pizza Company in Cave Junction. The second presentation will take place on Tuesday, May 7th, at 7 p.m. at the Anne G. Basker Auditorium in Grants Pass.

 

The Rogue River City Council faces a busy agenda when it gathers for its monthly meeting this evening, with much of the agenda devoted to upcoming events. The City Council will open the meeting with a proclamation naming April 25th as "Arbor Day" in Rogue River followed by consideration of a request from the Rogue River Greenway Foundation for a banner to advertise "Ride the Rogue." Two other requests will be considered including the Cal Ore River Racers marine permit endorsement for the Rooster Crow Hydroplane Race on June 29th & 30th, and a rate increase of 2.58% for solid waste collection service from Southern Oregon Sanitation. Also on the agenda are the appointment of Barb Gregory as the representative for the Rogue River Community Center and a local government recommendation for a temporary use permit for Rooster Crow Weekend at Rogue Pub-N-Putt. Ordinances under consideration include establishing regulations for mobile vending and food truck sites, and updating the Flood Damage Protection standards of the city to comply with recommendations from the State of Oregon. Resolutions under consideration include adopting rules of the Common Council and establishing fees for the city's Building Department. Tonight's meeting begins at 6 at Rogue River City Hall, 133 Broadway Street.

 

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office arrested two suspects after an early-morning burglary call in rural Central Point on Wednesday. A Jackson County Community Service deputy took a report from 9-1-1 dispatch just after 8 a.m. yesterday of a burglary in the 5700-block of Upton Road. Several suspects were identified and tracked to an address in the 100-block of Laurelhurst Street in Central Point. The Sheriff's Office obtained a search warrant for the property and identified a female suspect. During the initial search of the property, deputies located another suspect hiding under a shed. The man did not respond to commands to come out and barricaded himself in the crawl space. After a lengthy standoff, deputies persuaded the man to give up through the use of pepper spray and a K-9. Detectives responded to assist in the arrests and search of the property. During the search, investigators discovered 10 firearms including a stolen pistol and an AR-style rifle with no serial number. Deputies also found body armor, an illegally-manufactured silencer, methamphetamine, heroin, butane honey oil, 35 pounds of processed cannabis, more than 58 grams of fentanyl and nearly $19,000 in cash. The first suspect -- 44-year-old Kelli Margaret Hernandez of Medford -- was lodged at the Jackson County Jail for Conspiracy to Commit Burglary and Hindering Prosecution. The second suspect -- 28-year-old Mickey Ray Galatz of Central Point -- was jailed on 15 charges related to the incident in addition to five outstanding warrants. Jackson County Public Information Officer Aaron Lewis said the case remains under investigation with detectives following additional leads.

 

A Grants Pass man who was arrested twice for three criminal incidents in one day this week found himself back behind bars early yesterday. The Grants Pass Police Department reports officers arrested 46-year-old David Israel McDonald at the Josephine County Fairgrounds at 12:47 a.m. Wednesday. Police said McDonald was arrested on Tuesday for vandalizing a vehicle on SW Ballinger Drive, ripping out plants at The Flying Lark and trying to steal a propane tank out of a vehicle in the Fred Meyer parking lot. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges including Criminal Mischief, Criminal Trespass, Disorderly Conduct, Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle and Petty Theft. According to the report, McDonald was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for an unspecified medical issue late Tuesday night. While being assessed by medical staff, he became uncooperative and engaged in violent and tumultuous behavior. He walked out of the hospital after making several threats to employees, yelling at everyone and throwing items around the emergency room. The suspect made his way into the Josephine County Fairgrounds by telling a horse trainer that he was cowboy. He was eventually located by officers, placed into custody and lodged in jail without bail on an additional charge of Disorderly Conduct. He was also trespassed from the local hospital and the fairgrounds.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man this week for roughing up workers at a church food distribution center. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 43-year-old male subject at the Seventh Day Adventist Food Center on NE 9th Street on Tuesday afternoon. Police said the man got into an argument with staff at that location, threw potato salad at an employee and punched the employee several times. He also reportedly kicked another employee twice. No one was seriously hurt. According to the report, the man admitted to using methamphetamine and he was found with two meth pipes which were seized for destruction. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for two counts of Physical Harassment plus the resulting Probation Violation related to previous arrests for Felon in Possession of a Weapon, Criminal Mischief and Petty Theft. He was also cited to appear in court for the drug violation and he was being held without bail.