Local News

On Wednesday, officers with the Grants Pass Police Department reported to an assault complaint.

At 8:32 a.m., a man called dispatch about the incident that occurred 15 minutes prior in the parking lot of a property in the 100 block of NE B Street. The suspect, Samantha Crutcher, reportedly threw hot noodles on and struck the man's girlfriend.

The girlfriend declined medical attention and didn't have any marks from the assault, but she did want to pursue charges. Dispatch was told Crutcher may be high on meth.

Upon arrival, officers observed noodles on the sidewalk and a yellow liquid from the noodles on the girlfriends blanket and hat. Crutcher admitted to throwing the noodles, then told officers that afterwards, the girlfriend grabbed a neck gaiter around Crutcher's neck.

Crutcher also wished to pursue charges. She was found to be warned for trespassing at the location back in December, and she was taken into custody. Officers lodged her at the Josephine County Jail for Harassment and Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree.

Charges of Harassment were forwarded to the District Attorney's office against the girlfriend.

 

Grants Pass Police were alerted to a man running and yelling in the street downtown.

On Wednesday at 9:22 a.m., a call to 911 reported the suspect yelling and screaming near the Grants Pass Pharmacy. He was out in traffic until he began chasing after someone near Liberty Tax Service.

The caller told dispatch the suspect continued following and chasing people in and out of the street, winding up in front of the Peoples Bank. Officers arrived at the scene and contacted the suspect, Brandon Stradford.

It was found he had a valid and serviceable warrant for his arrest charging him with Possession of Methamphetamine. Stradford was also issued a citation for warrants out of Klamath Falls charging him with Second Degree Criminal Trespass, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree, and Third Degree Theft.

Officers lodged Stradford in the Josephine County Jail on his Grants Pass Police Department warrant. Due to lack of resources at the jail, he was released.

 

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.

 

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 Highway 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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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. A new chair of the board will be elected at a later date.

 

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.

 

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.