Local News

The City of Grants Pass has announced that preparation work is continuing for the overlay project that begins next Monday in southeast part of the City. Monday crews with Pilot Rock Excavation will begin grinding and paving "N" Street. Tuesday the crews will grind Churchill Street and then move to Gladiola Street Wednesday. Gladiola is scheduled to be paved Thursday. Churchill will be paved on Friday. Final work will be done the following week beginning August 24th. Motorists are advised to look for changing road conditions including lane closures, road closures and delays throughout the project. For more information contact Pilot Rock Excavation (541) 779-4916

 

Josephine County Sheriff's Deputies arrested three individuals suspected of being involved in an assault that began over a dirt bike report.Wednesday night at 10:59 911 received a report from male caller reporting he had been attacked with a bat and was pepper sprayed. He stated he and his wife were sleeping in their camper when two men and a woman showed up and conducted the assault. The man was bleeding but it was being controlled. The wife received a bump on her left arm.The suspects were traced back to the Merlin area. The female suspect called 911 to report people were outside the home around her vehicle. She was informed they were deputies and she should step outside and talk with them. Arrested was Iris Maria Cartner-McFarland, 43, who had a myriad of aliases listed on her booking report. She is charged with assault III, unlawful use of mace and menacing. David Mitchell McFarland, 47, is charged with assault III, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing and criminal conspiracy. The second man was Kevin Rader, 56, who is facing charges of assault III, unlawful use of a weapon, criminal conspiracy and menacing. All three remained in custody this morning.

 

A 93 cent five year local option tax for the county jail was passed along to voters this November by the Board of County Commissioners during the Wednesday night Business Session. The 93 cents would fund 185 beds initially and could support juvenile justice. The former local option tax guaranteed 14 beds for juvenile offenders. Commissioner Richardson asserted expanded costs have reached a level where the 93 cents would provide funds for the jail only. Likely about $3 million short which is what the juvenile beds would costs. The general fund will be able to support juvenile justice for a couple of years. Commissioner Martin asserted the Board would find a way to fund the Juvenile Justice System.
The resolution passed unanimously.

 

Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel has announced the surveillance cameras contracted through FLOCK, have been turned off and the contract with that company has been cancelled.Sheriff Daniel, in a press release dated August 12th, stated that as a result of significant public feedback, the automated license plate readers are no longer active in rural Josephine County and the contract with FLOCK has ended. While the company's equipment remains in the field the cameras are no longer operational. Some of the equipment has been vandalized meaning the Sheriff's office will have to pay for that equipment. A contract for 10 cameras was entered into to increase the ability to identify/locate stolen vehicles, wanted or missing subjects associated with a specific vehicle and in general enhance the ability to investigate crimes. While the technology has been beneficial in solving crime and overall public safety, it is clear much of Josephine County is not ready or willing to accept the use of the technology. There has been a great deal of public concern over this technology and its potential infringement of Constitutional 4th Amendment rights.Sheriff Daniel wrote in the release that the Sheriff's office works for the public and they are listening to you. The FLOCK equipment remains in the field and it is unknown when the company will remove it.

 

Possession of Methamphetamine plus an out-of-county warrant was enough to incarcerate 29-year-old man Tuesday. An officer was requested to respond to the 800 block of Piedmont Avenue at 11:46 a.m. for a suspected burglary. According to the arresting officer's narrative Sage Thomas Gerald Green was invited into the premises by the resident, Michael Coggins. The home owner, referred to only as Zamboni returned to the residence finding both Coggins and Green intoxicated. A feud between Green and Zamboni made Coggins reconsider Green's presence. Coggins and Zamboni requested Green leave. Green walked outside but would not leave the premises and continued to try to enter the residence. Officers contacted Green who initially refused to remove his hand from his pockets, but did eventually comply. Green was taken into custody for public intoxication. A consent search yielded a syringe plunger that tested positive for methamphetamine. Green was lodged in the County Jail for possession of meth and an out-of-county hold warrant. He remained jailed this morning.

 

Jumping onto Scoville Road in front of an off duty law enforcement officer lands offender in jail. The officer called 911 to report the incident and kept in distant contact with the suspect who was acting aggressively with the caller. The journey continued to Hillcrest where the suspect was advised he was under arrest. He continued traveling another quarter of a mile until backup arrived and was taken into custody. The suspect would not identify himself but was later confirmed as 46-year-old Timothy Allen Davis. He remained in the Josephine County Jail this morning facing charges of escape III and disorderly conduct II plus an out-of-county hold warrant from Multnomah County and a parole detainer.

 

A repeat offender was arrested by Grants Pass Police Officers Tuesday for the 6th time since June.
Officers contacted and arrested 42-year-old Nicholas Richard Stephey at 9:25 Tuesday morning following and alleged altercation at the Alibi Tavern at 1220 Northwest 6th. 911 received a report of a male inside the Tavern threatening people and pushing the owner. The suspect left the incident location headed south on 6th and was followed by a Tavern employee. He was followed to the A-1 Market and proceeded down 6th continuing to yell at the employee. The suspect turned west on Manzanita and was contacted by officers and arrested. Stephey was lodged in the county jail on charges of disorderly conduct II and criminal trespass II. He remained in custody this morning.

 

Oregon State Troopers made two arrests locally Tuesday on out-of-county warrants. The first arrest came at 9:46 a.m. when the Trooper stopped a black Ford Mustang for a traffic violation on I-5 near milepost 66. Contact was made with the suspect and it was determined that 19-year-old Eduardo Torres-Ramirez was wanted on a valid warrant for attempting to elude. He was lodged in the Josephine County Jail.The Second arrest came in Grants Pass at the corner of 7th and A Street. The Trooper observed a young male walking in between vehicles asking for money. The Trooper contacted Caden Ferman Morris Welch, 19, of Roseburg and discovered he had two warrants out of Douglas County. He was also lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

A 46-year-old inmate in the Josephine County Jail was served with an out-of-county hold warrant yesterday. Timothy Allen Davis was being held on charges of escape III and disorderly conduct II. Tuesday evening a warrant from the Multnomah County Sheriff's office containing two charges of failing to register as a sex offender. Mr. Davis remains in custody.