Local News

The Grants Pass Police Department responded to a report of a crash Thursday at about 10:30 p.m.

A vehicle driven by Michael Knitter crashed into a home in the 700 block of Larch Road. Grants Pass Fire and Rescue and American Medical Response also responded to the scene, as one person was injured with non-life-threatening injuries. No one else in the home was struck by the car.

After the investigation, officers lodged Knitter at the Josephine County Jail on charges of Third Degree Assault, DUII, Reckless Endangerment, Reckless Driving, and Criminal Mischief.

The Grants Pass Police Department is urging drivers to avoid impaired driving, emphasizing that even one drink can impair judgment and lead to arrest.

 

AllCare Health has announced the Ms. Wheelchair Oregon 2026 Competition and Crowning event.

The competition is open to the public, and set to take place on February 28th, starting at 2 p.m. at AllCare Health, 1701 NE 7th Street.

This is the third year that the event is in coordination with The Equity Project of Josephine County and The Ms. Wheelchair Oregon Advocacy and Empowerment Program.

Ms. Wheelchair America is a platform for women who use wheelchairs to advocate for the more than 64 million Americans living with disabilities. Contestants will compete based on their advocacy, communication skills, and personal achievements to become the state’s representative for people with disabilities.

The winner of Ms. Wheelchair Oregon 2026 earns the honor of representing Oregon at the national Ms. Wheelchair America competition.

Crowned Ms. Wheelchair Oregon 2025 at AllCare Health last year, Grants Pass resident Alice Diehl went on to place third in the Ms. Wheelchair America 2026 competition. Her platform centered on creating hope and safe spaces for vulnerable communities.

 

Applications are being accepted for a position on the Historical Buildings and Sites Commission due to a vacancy.

This position expires on December 7th, 2026. The committee’s purpose is to review proposed alterations to any Historic District or designated structure in the Urban Growth Boundary.

The committee also works to promote the community's historic preservation, advise other interested agencies on matters related to historic preservation, and identify areas and buildings of historic or archaeological significance.

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. This position is for a representative who owns a business located within the Central Business District of the City of Grants Pass.

Applications are available at the City Administration Office, 101 N.W. A Street, or online at www.grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application. Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on April 3rd.

Applicants will be interviewed by the commission at the Historical Buildings and Sites Commission meeting April 9th, and by the Council at their workshop May 4th. Appointments will be made at the City Council meeting May 6th.

 

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.