Local News

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) detectives are investigating a domestic violence homicide that occurred at a residence in rural Rogue River. The suspect is in custody. Dispatch received a call Saturday at 12:35 from a man saying he had shot a woman during a domestic violence altercation. JCSO deputies responded to the residence in the 1900 block of Sykes Creek Road and took the suspect into custody without incident. Next-of-kin has been notified. The victim and the suspect were in a domestic relationship. The suspect is charged with second-degree murder, and was cleared for confinement at a local hospital before being lodged in the Jackson County Jail. Oregon State Police, Medford Police Department, Ashland Police Department, and the Jackson County Major Assault Death Investigation Unit responded to assist. The OSP Forensics Lab processed the crime scene.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District was dispatched to three traffic incidents over the weekend.

Starting Friday at 1:37 p.m., IVFD joined Oregon State Police and American Medical Response in response to a three-vehicle collision in the 24,000 block of Redwood Highway in Kerby. No individuals required transportation from the scene. Traffic management was provided until the vehicles were towed from the scene.

Saturday at 6:59 p.m., IVFD and AMR, along with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, were alerted to a single-vehicle rollover accident.

Upon arrival to the 7900 block of Deer Creek Road in Selma, it was determined that one individual had self-extricated from the vehicle. The driver was assessed by AMR personnel and declined transport. The scene was transferred to the Sheriff's Department for further investigation.

Lastly, IVFD reported to the scene of an overturned vehicle at the 9300 block of Holland Loop Road in Cave Junction.

The traffic accident occurred Sunday at 8:48 p.m. No individuals were found in association with the vehicle, which was marked, and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office was apprised of the situation.

 

A 75-year-old woman reported missing in the Wimer area was located safe Sunday morning after an extensive two-day search involving numerous local, state, federal, and volunteer resources. Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) received a report of a missing 75-year-old woman who was last known to be driving in the Wimer area in rural Rogue River Saturday around 11 a.m. JCSO Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel immediately began searching with assistance from the Oregon State Police providing aircraft support. Throughout the day, JCSO worked closely with Evans Valley Fire District 6, who coordinated and conducted search operations in the rugged terrain. As the search continued into Sunday, the California and Oregon Regional Search and Rescue task force activated additional search resources from across the region.

 

Oregon State Police cited a woman following a traffic stop for Possession of Methamphetamine.

Thursday at 9:58 p.m., troopers initiated a traffic stop on the driver of a white Chevy Malibu. Traffic violations were observed, and upon contacting Patricia Geib, 38, of Antelope, drug paraphernalia was visible inside her vehicle.

A substance present on the paraphernalia was field tested. Results came back positive for the presence of meth, so troopers cited Geib to appear in court for Meth Possession.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's office received word of a man blocking work trucks Thursday in the 6900 block of Applegate Road.

A call to 911 from a worker with Freddie Mac reported the suspect blocking work trucks from entering the property and texting the worker, threatening to sue. Law enforcement responded to the scene and contacted the suspect, Eugene Thrash, around 10:40 a.m.

Deputies charged Thrash with Second Degree Trespass and Menacing, and proceeded to taken him into custody. He was lodged in the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility.

 

Grants Pass Police lodged two suspects in separate cases at Resting Sites 6 South and 7.

Thursday morning at 9:19, Robert Cox was observed by an officer who recognized him from a previous contact. He was riding an electric scooter west on NE A Street towards NE 6th Street.

Upon contact in the 704 NW 6th Street site, it was found Cox was out of compliance with his annual sex offender registration, having last been contacted in January 2023. He was taken into custody by the officer and transported to the Josephine County Jail.

Cox was lodged on a charge of Misdemeanor Failure to Report as a Sex Offender, but was later released due to a lack of resources at the jail facility.

That same day, around 1:11 p.m., law enforcement observed Larry Knight in the 712 NE 7th Street site. He had been previously trespassed from the location, and was arrested for said trespassing June 10th. He had returned to the site and had set up a tent with numerous umbrellas.

Officers contacted Knight, who did not have a lawful reason to be there, and arrested him for Second Degree Criminal Trespass. An additional 180 day exclusion order was issued, and he was taken to jail for lodging without further incident. He was also released due to a lack of jail resources.

 

A woman was reported to dispatch for disorderly conduct at In-N-Out and the north Lil' Pantry Thursday evening.

According to police logs, Stephanie Porter was reported to be taking food from customers at In-N-Out, eating it, then proceeding to throw it. She also threw someone's phone before leaving for the 2017 NW Vine Street pantry.

Employees had previously trespassed her from the location, and a call to 911 reported her engaging in more disorderly conduct; throwing merchandise, yelling, and pushing employees, around 7:35 p.m. Porter knocked over equipment and pulled someone's ear, then proceeded across the street to the nearby Pinnacle 365.

Lil' Pantry employees requested law enforcement trespass Porter, and she was soon contacted by officers. She was trespassed from both the pantry and In-N-Out, and arrested for charges including Second Degree Disorderly Conduct, First Degree Trespass, Harassment, and Third Degree Criminal Mischief.

Officers lodged Porter in the Josephine County Jail.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners met for two Executive Sessions today.

The first was postponed until 9:59 a.m., and was held to conduct deliberations with the County's designated representative regarding labor negotiations. Following the session, direction was given to proceed with said negotiations.

A second Executive Session was held at 11:07 to consider settlement of a workers compensation claim. A motion to give authority to finish the issue in conjunction with counsel, and that the chair would sign the final agreement passed 3-0.

The next scheduled meeting of the board is Monday at 10 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium. The General Discussion will cover the Murphy Irrigation District. Pending other matters, the meeting will adjourn. The public may attend in person or stream the meeting at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man found drinking beer in his vehicle outside Southern Oregon Orthopedics Thursday morning.

Dispatch was notified of the man around 10:43 a.m. The caller report seeing the suspect drink two beers in the driver's seat of a gold Mazda pickup parked at the 1780 Nebraska Avenue location.

Upon arrival of officers, the pickup was unoccupied, but the suspect was found and identified as Steve Maples. He denied driving to police, but soon confessed to operating the vehicle on a public roadway while being felony suspended.

There was no probable cause for DUII, but Maples was arrested for Driving While Suspended and taken to the Adult Jail Facility for lodging. Due to a lack of jail resources, he was later released.