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JoCo Sheriff's Deputies Arrested Resistant Suspect on Warrant

Josephine County Sheriff's deputies arrested a man for a warrant at the corner of W Jones Creek Road and Foothill Boulevard.

On Wednesday at 5:48 p.m., deputies had to use force to hand cuff the suspect, Terry Carnicello, and take him into custody for his Sheriff's Office warrant. He was wanted for Possession of Methamphetamine and a Parole Violation.

Carnicello's white Ford F150 and trailer were towed from the scene, and he was subsequently transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for his warrant and a charge of Resisting Arrest.

Posted on 2/19/26 11:44AM by Alex Bauer

Man Flees Traffic Stop, Arrested by GP Police for Elude, Meth Possession, Detainer

A man fled on foot after being pulled over at the Lucky Lizard by a Grants Pass Police officer Wednesday evening.

The suspect, Dustin Thatcher, was stopped at the 261 Rogue River location after the officer observed traffic violations. However, upon contact, Thatcher fled the scene.

He was soon located and taken into custody after running down the driveway. He admitted to law enforcement that he fled because he was driving while suspended, he was on probation, and he had meth in the vehicle.

During a consent search, the officer found approximately two grams of a white crystal-like substance and a methamphetamine water bong in the vehicle. Thatcher was subsequently transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Attempt to Elude, Possession of Meth, and a Parole Violation Detainer. His vehicle was towed from the scene.

Posted on 2/19/26 11:32AM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Arrested Two Suspects for Warrants in Separate Cases

Grants Pass Police arrested two suspects for outstanding warrants Wednesday.

A woman called 911 at 4:50 p.m. on SW Bridge Street to report a sexual assault that had taken place in California. She gave law enforcement very little detail regarding the incident, but detectives were notified and the new case for the sex offense will be forwarded to them.

Officers then took the woman, Brooke Wise, into custody. She was wanted on a GPPD warrant charging her with two counts each of Luring a Minor, Third Degree Sex Abuse, and Use of a Child in Display of Sexual Conduct. She was lodged in the Josephine County Jail for her warrant.

Earlier in the day, the manager of Dollar General called 911 to report a shoplifter he had just kicked out.

The suspect was in the process of taking property from the 1290 Redwood Avenue store before being caught. The man tried to escape the scene on his black moped towards Gooseberries. The manager wished to have the suspect trespassed.

Officers were able to locate the suspect, Logan Hunt, and conducted a traffic stop on the moped. Hunt was not only found to be driving while suspended, but he also had a warrant out of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office for Second Degree Criminal Mischief.

Hunt was taken into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail. He was cited for Driving While Suspended, lodged on his warrant, and warned for trespassing the Dollar General. Due to a lack of jail resources, he was later released.

Posted on 2/19/26 11:05AM by Alex Bauer

Suspect in Custody Further Charged with GPPD Warrant for Burglary and Theft

A man already in custody at the Josephine County Jail was charged with a Grants Pass Police Department warrant.

According to a Josephine County Sheriff's Office police report, the suspect, Jack Doak, had been previously booked February 9th on Burglary charges in the First and Second Degree, Second and Third Degree Theft, Criminal Trespass in the First and Second Degree, and two Probation Violations.

Doak's Police Department warrant further charged him with First Degree Burglary and First Degree Theft.

Posted on 2/19/26 9:51AM by Alex Bauer

Colleen Martin and Gary Richardson Appointed to BCC

The Temporary Board of Other Elective Administrative Officers have chosen who will fill the Commissioner vacancies. After tabulating the scores of all nine interviews, Josephine County Commissioner Position Two will be filled by Colleen Martin, and Position One will be held by Gary Richardson. A motion to accept the tallied results passed unanimously. Pending background checks, both will be sworn in to the positions Monday the 23rd.

Posted on 2/19/26 9:47AM by Alex Bauer

GPCC Appoints 4 to Budget Committee & Okayed $9+ for Water Treatment Plant

The Grants Pass City Council interviewed three additional applicants for four positions on the City’s Budget Committee. The new applicants were Heidi Napier, Kurt Neathammer, and Cory Wiley. Previously interviewed were Tom Bradbeer, Nancy Lester and Nicholas Stark. The Council unanimously appointed Kurt Neathammer, Nicholas Stark, Tom Bradbeer and Nancy Lester. There was one item on the action agenda. A resolution authorizing the City Manager to sign an amendment with Slayden Constructors, Incorporated for Raw Water Pump Station Modifications to complete the water treatment plant. These modifications include the installation of a new electrical system, standby generator, the installation of new, larger raw water pumps, new screen wash and desilt pumps and filter system to keep the intake screens and the structure floor free of debris. Staff and the Design Build team estimated the work to cost between $9 and $10 million dollars. After formal bidding and negotiation, the final cost is $9,185,938.The resolution was approved unanimously.

Posted on 2/18/26 7:14PM by Chuck Benson

JCSO Search and Rescue Recovered Deceased Man on Wagner Butte Trail

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies responded to a report of a deceased man near the summit of the Wagner Butte Trail outside Talent. On Sunday at approximately 3:30 p.m., the individual was located at an elevation of approximately 7,000 feet in steep, mountainous terrain. The decedent is identified as Michael James Beagle, 63, of Central Point. Detectives investigated and determined the death was the result of a medical event. No suspicious circumstances were observed and there is no further investigation. The recovery required JCSO Search and Rescue (SAR) deputies and volunteers to respond in challenging conditions, including snow, ice, high elevation, and an approaching winter storm. Teams worked until after sundown to help ensure other hikers in the area exited safely as weather conditions deteriorated.

Posted on 2/18/26 1:50PM by Alex Bauer

2026 Water Quality Report Photo Contest Seeking Participants

The City of Grants Pass is inviting the public to enter the 2026 Water Quality Report photo contest.

This year's theme is "Every Drop Counts". K-12, Amateur, and Professional photographers are encouraged to enter. The first place winner will receive $200, second place receives $100, and the winning photos will be featured in the 2026 Water Quality Report.

Participants must submit an original photo that demonstrates the theme of “What Water Means to Me." All photos must be submitted in a digital format suitable for reproduction. Images created by artificial intelligence are not allowed.

Entries will be judged based on creativity, originality, and theme relevance. Photos must be taken in Southern Oregon, specifically Curry, Jackson, Josephine, and Klamath counties.

The deadline for all submissions is 5 p.m. December 31, 2026, and entries can be submitted to smorgan@grantspassoregon.gov. Entry forms and a complete list of rules can be found at www.grantspassoregon.gov.

Posted on 2/18/26 1:31PM by Alex Bauer

OSP Responds to Single Vehicle Crash on Interstate 5, Driver Hospitalized

A single vehicle crash occurred on Interstate 5 around milepost 79 southbound Tuesday.

Around 4:49 p.m., Oregon State Police troopers responded to the scene. The involved driver of the white sedan, Julianna Guerrero-Almaraz, 25, of North Las Vegas, had left her lane of travel and struck the center barrier.

She was injured during the incident and was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment. Her vehicle was towed from the scene.

Posted on 2/18/26 12:33PM by Alex Bauer

Woman Arrested by GP Police for Physical Harassment at Royal Trailer Park

An officer with the Grants Pass Police Department was dispatched to a trespassing complaint at the Royal Trailer Park Tuesday morning.

A resident of the 200 Lewis Avenue trailer park called 911 to report a woman who appeared to be under the influence was banging on their door. They didn't recognize her, and requested she be trespassed from the space. The caller then told dispatch the woman may have gone inside the trailer the next space over.

The officer arrived and could hear a physical disturbance in that next space. The door was locked, and a male was heard inside. Once the door was unlocked, the woman was detained.

The owner of the trailer reported to law enforcement what happened. He had allowed the woman inside, but when the door shut, she charged and pushed him to the ground. He sustained an injury from the fall but said he wasn't in any pain. He told the officer he didn't know the woman.

She was unable to clearly answer the man's questions during the altercation, but said she was looking for a different resident of the trailer park. When asked about the incident by police, she couldn't say what happened. She was subsequently taken into custody.

The officer transported the woman to the Josephine County Jail where she was lodged for Physical Harassment. She was also trespassed from the entire trailer park per the site manager.

Posted on 2/18/26 11:56AM by Alex Bauer

Sheriff's Deputies Arrested Man who Hospitalized Girlfriend in Hatchet Assault

A woman was brought into Three Rivers Medical Center Tuesday following an assault with a hatchet.

Dispatch was notified around 9:12 a.m. that the woman was brought to the hospital by a MINT employee, and that the incident occurred outside the city by a power station on Upper River Road near Pinecrest Drive.

In a report from Josephine County Sheriff's deputies, it was learned the assault happened on Pacific Power property. A large RV had been parked for a couple of days and was blocking the entrance to the substation.

The victim had left the RV after a verbal dispute with her boyfriend. While walking away, she was attacked with what she reported to be an axe or hammer from behind. She said she believed it was an unknown adult who attacked her, but she was reportedly hesitant about it not being her boyfriend.

Deputies arrived at the scene and contacted the boyfriend, who resisted. He was transported and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Second Degree Assault.

Posted on 2/18/26 11:23AM by Alex Bauer

Temporary Board Conducting Interviews for Two Commissioner Vacancies

The Temporary Board of Other Elective Administrative Officers are interviewing applicants for the two vacant Commissioner seats. The initial four interviewees for the vacant Commissioner positions include Colleen Martin, Lorna Jessee, Gary Richardson, and Simon Hare. According to the Daily Courier, Jonathan Knapp, Matthew Moser, Russell McAlmond, Darius Englen, and Michael Burdge round out the remaining candidates. Each applicant is presented with the same questions, including how do their past experiences position them to be a good candidate? They are then being asked to give two specific examples of successes and failures in this county within the last two years, and what they would have done differently to mitigate the failures. Other questions include asking them to describe a policy initiative they've directed that led to positive and negative outcomes, and how they would have handled it differently. The board is also asking how they would maintain and strengthen public confidence in county government, as well as what the top issues are in our county and how they would address them.

Posted on 2/18/26 11:02AM by Alex Bauer

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