Local News

Applications are being accepted for four positions on the Budget Committee.

According to the City website, the committee receives and reviews the Recommended Budget and approves a Budget for Council’s consideration.

Half of the City of Grants Pass Budget Committee members are elected officials, and half are applicants from the community at large. The committee representation welcomes divergent views, and special qualifications include being residents and electors of the City.

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. Wednesday, December 2nd.

Candidates will be interviewed by the City Council December 14th, and appointed Wednesday, December 16th.

 

The Board of Commissioners approved the signing of grant proposals and the cancellation of a Juvenile Justice sponsor agreement at today's workshop.

Community Justice Director Scott Hyde requested authorization to provide a 60-day cancellation notice to the Child Nutrition Program sponsor agreement, with cancellation effective no later than this December. Juvenile Justice has the funds to continue covering food costs. A motion to approve the request passed unanimously.

An Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Grant in the amount of $750,000 over three years was discussed next. A motion approving the request to submit the proposal and designate Shawn Martinez as the authorized County representative for submission and implementation passed 2-0, with Commissioner Gary Richardson abstaining. The grant would support placement of outreach officers at District 7 Schools.

Sheriff Dave Daniel requested the purchase of new Tasers, utilizing $57,100.39 in unclaimed currency and unclaimed property auction proceeds, which was approved unanimously. The board also approved the submission of an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant application for community engagement activities, with further discussion to take place at next week's Weekly Business Session.

The board approved without objection to make a decision on the Fair Housing Initiative at the October 14th session, as well as all Human Resources position requisitions, actions, and a Telework request.

 

Grants Pass Police, while conducting an area check of the 3rd Street trestle Monday afternoon, arrested a wanted man for methamphetamine and weapon charges.

Timothy Woods was located trespassing and walking on the railroad tracks around 2:20 p.m. He was contacted by police and found to have an active and serviceable warrant out of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office.

A consent search was conducted, and per the search and Woods' admittance, a small amount of a white crystal substance was found in his pant pocket. The substance field tested positive for the presumptive presence of meth.

Officers also located a spring-assisted folding knife on Woods, who is a convicted felon. He was arrested, and transported to be lodged in the Josephine County Jail for his warrant, and charges of Meth Possession and Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon.

His parole officer was advised, and Woods was trespassed from the railroad property.

 

After a brief vehicle pursuit, Josephine County Sheriff's deputies lodged a woman in jail Monday.

The suspect, Jaylen Jenkins, was pursued by law enforcement before turning into a driveway at the corner of Monument Drive and Mountain Paradise Drive around 1:36 p.m. Deputies held her at gunpoint, and successfully detained her.

Jenkins was taken into custody and transported to the Adult Jail Facility where she was lodged on charges of Felony Elude and Reckless Driving. Her vehicle was towed from the scene.

 

Hunger Action Month was a success as the Josephine County Food Bank announced the final tally of donations. With a goal of bringing in 10,000 pounds of food throughout September, the Food Bank posted to their Facebook page that 12,770 pounds of food were brought in, as well as $13,438. Rex on the Rogue raised $8,014, and 981 pounds of food towards the end goal. The Church of Jesus Christ in the Grants Pass Area held a drive that gathered 481 pounds of food, and raised $4,483. The Food Bank is grateful to the community and their partners for helping surpass their goal for Hunger Action Month.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department arrested a man after he called 911 regarding an attempted assault.

The caller, later identified as Christopher Rohrer, told dispatch around 8:42 p.m. that people had tried to punch him. He declined medical attention, and said he didn't know who the potential suspect was. He reportedly sounded to be under the influence, began swearing, ignored instructions, and refused to answer further questions.

Law enforcement contacted Rohrer outside the NW 6th Street Pinnacle 365. He advised police that the only conflict that occurred was verbal. The officer observed that Rohrer was impaired, and proceeded to take him into custody. He actively resisted however, and was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center.

He continued to resist at the hospital and attempted to kick the officer. After being cleared for incarceration, Rohrer was placed in a wrap, and proceeded to kick the cage and thrash his body around in the patrol vehicle, creating a crack in the seat.

Police lodged Rohrer in the Josephine County Jail for Second Degree Criminal Mischief, Attempted Assault on a Public Safety Officer, and Resisting Arrest.

 

An Oregon State Police traffic stop lead to the arrest of a man wanted on a warrant Monday night.

The trooper pulled over a green Jeep Grand Cherokee at 10:42 p.m. near NW Morgan Lane and Hawthorne Avenue. A traffic violation had been observed, and upon contact with the driver and further investigation, Bernardino Sanchez, 53, of Grants Pass, was arrested.

Law enforcement found he was wanted on an outstanding warrant, and he was taken into custody without incident. He was lodged in the Adult Jail Facility, and his Jeep was towed from the scene.

 

Police contacted and arrested a woman Monday for methamphetamine possession during a welfare check.

The suspect, Brittany Adams, was seen rolling around on the ground near the splash pad at Morrison Centennial Park around 8:10 p.m. She was surrounded by trash, and no one else was around her.

Upon contact with Grants Pass Police officers, a purple tooter, baggie, and tinfoil with burn marks were seen next to her. Probable cause was established for Possession of a Controlled Substance, and the baggie field tested positive for meth.

Officers proceeded to take Adams into custody and lodged her in jail for her Meth Possession charge.

 

A Medford man pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl and admitted that it caused the death of another person. Richard Scott Samuels, 60, has pleaded guilty to an indictment charging possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, announced the U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon. According to court documents, a death was reported on May 15th, 2025, and on August 6th, 2025. Both were determined to be deaths due to a fentanyl overdose. Law enforcement investigated these deaths and learned that Samuels was alleged to be the supplier of the fentanyl that both the deceased had used. Law enforcement arrested Samuels September 4th, 2025, and seized from his person and residence, a phone, over $5,300 cash, a handgun, and multiple drugs in approximate amounts; 283g fentanyl, 92g of heroin, 5g of meth, and 5g of cocaine. A federal grand jury in Medford returned an indictment November 6th, 2025, charging Samuels with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.