Local News

A man was trespassed from Debo Park and arrested for an active, serviceable warrant Thursday morning.

An officer with the Grants Pass Police Department recognized the suspect, Larry Knight, after he was observed in the 510 SW G Street park area. He had been previously trespassed from the location for 30 days, and law enforcement knew he was wanted out of the Police Department.

Knight's warrant charged him with Second Degree Criminal Trespass, and he was taken into custody. Law enforcement transported and lodged Knight in the Josephine County Jail for his warrant and another charge of Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree. He was also lodged on a detainer per his parole officer.

Knight's property was submitted into safekeeping, and he was trespassed from the park for 90 days.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man Thursday after he was found outside the Chamber of Commerce with a large amount of property.

The suspect was identified as Michael Brady following officer contact around 11:04 a.m. for having his property outside the 1995 NW Vine Street location. Officers learned Brady had a Failure to Appear warrant out of Jackson County for violating a restraining order.

He was promptly taken into custody at the scene, and transported to the Josephine County Jail. He was lodged on his warrant, but conditionally released at 2:37 p.m.

 

A federal grand jury in Medford returned an indictment charging a Creswell man after allegedly assaulting a federal officer and damaging the federal building in Eugene last January.

Trenton Alexander Van Zoeren, 19, has been charged with assault of a federal officer involving physical contact, aggravated assault on a federal employee causing bodily injury, and willfully injuring or committing any depredation against property of the United States.

According to court documents, on January 14 and 21, 2026, Van Zoeren damaged a window at the Eugene federal building. On January 28th, 2026, Van Zoeren assaulted a Federal Protective Service officer.

Van Zoeren made his initial appearance in federal court yesterday before a U.S. magistrate judge. He was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered released pending a jury trial scheduled to begin on December 7, 2026.

If convicted, Van Zoeren faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department warned two suspects for trespassing at the Post Office, and lodged one of them for Meth Possession Wednesday.

The two suspects were observed in a stairwell at the 132 NW 6th Street location and were warned for trespassing. One of the individuals, Heather Easom, was actively smoking a glass pipe with a white, crystalline residue inside.

The pipe field tested positive for the presumptive presence of methamphetamine. Easom was then taken into custody at the scene and lodged in jail for Meth Possession, and a parole violation detainer.

 

A man causing public alarm by walking into traffic this morning was arrested by Grants Pass Police.

Dispatch was alerted by multiple calls for service that the suspect, later identified as Timothy Ferguson, was walking out into traffic at the corner of Redwood Highway and Ringuette Street around 5:41 a.m.

He was yelling at people and flipping off passing cars. Officers located Ferguson and took him into custody. Following transport to the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility, he was lodged for Second Degree Disorderly Conduct and a detainer at his parole officer's request.

 

Police witnessed a disturbance at the 238 Bar this morning, and one suspect was lodged in jail for Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest.

While patrolling the parking lot at 1:33, the Grants Pass Police officer observed several individuals grabbing onto a man that was yelling and attempting to fight. After pulling up to the scene outside the 1620 Williams Highway business, the officer told the crowd to disperse.

The individuals began pointing at one suspect, indicating him as the primary aggressor. He refused to identify himself and started yelling at law enforcement, stating someone else had attacked him. He was placed in handcuffs, and continued yelling and cussing at officers, attempting to pull away during a search of his person.

A spit hood was placed on the suspect, later identified as Ronnie Shipley. He was placed under arrest for Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree, and Resisting Arrest. Officers transported him to jail where he was subsequently lodged.

 

WinCo loss prevention reported a shoplifting incident to dispatch Wednesday, and Grants Pass Police lodged the suspects for theft.

It was reported the suspect was actively concealing items in his bags at the 231 NE Terry Lane grocer around 12:45 p.m. Loss prevention observed the suspects via security cameras, and said contact with the two men would be attempted.

Upon contact, one of the suspects was cooperative as loss prevention detained him. Arriving officers identified both suspects as Zachary Parham and Christopher Souza. The two had collaborated to steal about $100 worth of merchandise from the WinCo.

Parham and Souza were taken into custody and both lodged on parole violation detainers and charges of Third Degree Theft.

 

Grants Pass Police officers arrested a man smoking from a glass pipe near a Les Schwab Wednesday morning.

Law enforcement observed the suspect, Lance Cardinal, and another individual on the south side of the 320 Union Avenue business with personal items, garbage, and food strewn about the property. Cardinal was approached and found to be openly smoking from a pipe with white residue.

A field test was conducted, returning positive for the presence of methamphetamine. Both individuals were trespassed from the Les Schwab at 8:24 a.m., and Cardinal was taken into custody.

He was lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Possession of Meth, Offensive Littering, and a detainer per his parole officer.

 

Following a Legal Counsel Update Executive Session, the Board of Commissioner's attorney was advised to proceed with the Gabbert et al vs. Josephine County et al case regarding a potential settlement of Surplus Litigation.

The board proceeded with a public comment agenda item concerning the US Forest Service, and a proposed rule to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Commissioner Ron Smith provided a draft proposal to Legal Counsel and will send a copy to the board to potentially open up more economic benefits regarding timber and mining.

The meeting adjourned, and the board reconvened in the BCC Conference room at 2 p.m. for an Executive Session for consideration or decision regarding the dismissal or discipline of, or to hear complaints or charges brought against a public officer, employee, staff member, or individual agent. Staff was directed to proceed with the process.