Local News

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department arrested two suspects wanted on outstanding warrants on Sunday.

At 3:03 a.m., officers took Mark South into custody at Resting Site 7 following a disturbance. He was found to have two warrants both charging him with Possession of Methamphetamine.

His warrants were confirmed, and officers further trespassed South from an apartment complex in the 700 block of SW Bridge Street. He was lodged in the Josephine County Jail for his warrants, but was soon released due to a lack of jail resources.

Then at 10:52 p.m., officers contacted and detained a suspect at the Hay's Oil Company at 1998 NW Vine Street.

He was identified initially as David, but he wouldn't provide his last name. Officers were able to positively identify him as David Jones, who had a warrant out for his arrest charging him with Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance.

Jones' warrant was cleared, and he was subsequently taken into custody. Officers lodged him in the Josephine County Jail.

 

Grants Pass Police were alerted to a Safeway theft as the suspect left the scene on a bicycle.

On Thursday at 1:03 p.m., dispatch was told the suspect took approximately $100 in items from the 115 SE 7th Street grocery store, put them in an insulated grocery bag, and then proceeded down F Street on a bicycle.

The caller wanted to pursue a charge of theft and have the man trespassed. Officers were soon able to locate the suspect towards the rear of Resting Site 6 North. After contacting Steven Juergensen, officers took him into custody.

He was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on a charge of Third Degree Theft and a Parole Violation Detainer, plus a charge of Second Degree Theft from a separate incident. Juergensen was trespassed from both Safeway and WinCo.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to a restraining order violation Sunday afternoon.

Around 12:22 p.m., the caller reported to dispatch that the suspect, David Rich, was screaming and blasting his amplifier on a property in the 12000 block of Redwood Highway, disturbing all the tenants.

The caller said she had a restraining order against Rich, and that he was inside a cottage on the property. She wasn't sure how long he had been there.

Upon arrival, deputies contacted Rich at the property. He was taken into custody and charged with the Restraining Order Violation, as well as a warrant he had out for his arrest.

 

Grants Pass Police received a call about a hit-and-run suspect who was attempting to flee the scene around 10:30 a.m. Friday.

The original crash occurred at NW 6th Street and NW A Street. The victim followed the suspect, later identified as 43-year-old Mario Mota, to Interstate 5. Mota sped on I-5 from Milepost 58 at a high rate of speed before exiting at Milepost 55.

Mota lost control as he attempted to turn onto Foothill Blvd from NE D Street, rolling his truck into a private yard. He was arrested for Hit and Run, and Reckless Driving.

Grants Pass Fire and Rescue, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, and the Oregon State Police assisted at the scene. Motorists are reminded to remain at the scene of a collision. The driving acts demonstrated in this case highlight the danger to the public by reckless drivers.

 

Medford Fire Department crews responded to the scene of a structure fire in the 2000 block of Kingswood Drive Saturday.

The fire was extinguished, and crews remained on the scene due to extensive damage and mop-up operations. The scene began to clear around 1:38 p.m.

Fire investigators worked to determine the origin and cause of the fire. Two occupants were evaluated for smoke inhalation and transported to the hospital by private vehicle as a precaution.

 

Jackson County Sheriff's deputies arrested two armed carjacking suspects following the theft of a vehicle at gunpoint in Portland.

On Friday at 8:46 a.m., a Flock License Plate Reader camera alerted deputies to the stolen vehicle’s presence in the White City area.

Deputies attempted a traffic stop, but the driver failed to yield, leading deputies on a pursuit through the area of White City between Antelope Road and Avenue G. The suspect vehicle crashed into two uninvolved vehicles and was ultimately immobilized on Avenue G near Highway 62.

Three individuals exited the vehicle and fled on foot, but were quickly detained and taken into custody. Deputies arrested one adult and one juvenile suspect.

The adult driver, Jhaywon Damon Brant, 21, of Beaverton, was charged with Attempting to Elude by Vehicle, Attempting to Elude on Foot, Reckless Driving, Recklessly Endangering another Person, Second Degree Criminal Mischief, Providing False Information to a Police Officer, and a Detainer for Parole Violation. The juvenile suspect was lodged in the Jackson County Juvenile Detention facility for a Felony Parole Warrant.

The armed robbery is under investigation by the Portland Police Bureau. The local investigation is ongoing. During the pursuit, a JCSO patrol vehicle was involved in a minor collision with an Eagle Point School District bus. No injuries were reported. Oregon State Police are investigating the crash.

 

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a single-vehicle crash that claimed the lives of two teenagers early Sunday morning. On February 22nd around 12:44 a.m., deputies responded to a motor vehicle crash in the 1350 block of East Nevada Street in rural Ashland. Upon arrival, emergency personnel located an Audi A6 that had struck a tree. The car was occupied by five 17-year-old juveniles. The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene. Jackson County Fire District 5 and Ashland Fire & Rescue personnel conducted a complex extrication to remove the remaining occupants from the vehicle. The Ashland Police Department responded to assist with the investigation. Mercy Flights transported the four remaining occupants to a local hospital with critical injuries. Shortly after arrival, a passenger was pronounced deceased. The three remaining occupants continue to receive care at the hospital and are in stable condition. The families of those involved have been notified. Out of respect for their privacy, the names of the juveniles are being withheld. All five occupants were students at Ashland High School.

 

A Central Point man was sentenced to federal prison today for felon in possession of a firearm.

Jonathan Anthony Kinsella, 53, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. The verdict comes after he and his co-defendants targeted an elderly victim and stole over $250,000 worth of gold, cash, and firearms.

According to court documents, in August 2023, Kinsella, a convicted felon, came up with a plan and solicited his wife and friend to burglarize an elderly victim. Kinsella and the two co-defendants split approximately $103,000 in cash, $180,000 in gold coins, and five firearms.

Police executed a search warrant at Kinsella’s residence and found a .40 S & W caliber pistol, a .30-30 Winchester caliber rifle, a Colt .38 Special revolver, and a 12-guage weapon made from a shotgun.

On February 1st, 2024, a federal grand jury in Medford returned an indictment charging Kinsella with two counts of felon in possession of a firearm. On October 20th, 2025, Kinsella pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Judith Harper prosecuted the case.

 

An officer with the Grants Pass Police Department arrested a man screaming and yelling in the street Wednesday evening.

A report came in to dispatch about the man who was outside the building at 1574 NE 7th Street across from Grants Pass Automotive. The caller requested a response from law enforcement.

The officer arrived at the scene and contacted the suspect, Nicholas Knowles. His parole officer was contacted, and she requested a detainer. Knowles was then taken into custody without further incident.

During a consent search, a meth pipe was located on Knowles' person. It was later destroyed and discarded. The officer transported Knowles to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged.