Local News

Officers with Grants Pass Police, during an area check of Walmart early this morning, arrested a man wanted on three warrants.

At 3:36 a.m., officers contacted the suspect, Jason Amundson, inside his vehicle at the 135 NE Terry Lane store. Deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office had previously tried to identify him.

Amundson wasn't compliant with the investigation, so officers attempted to pinch his vehicle. They advised Amundson that he was under arrest, but he refused to leave his vehicle.

A short time later, he complied with officers. He was taken into custody for his three warrants, one out of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, and two from the Grants Pass Police Department. Amundson's charges included Meth Possession, Trespass, and Second Degree Theft.

Officers lodged Amundson in the Josephine County Jail.

 

After several attempts, Cave Junction is foreclosing on the Junction City Inn next week.

The Daily Courier reports a foreclosure auction for the vacant motel is set for Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at the Josephine County Courthouse in Grants Pass. With the Chateau at the Oregon Caves closed indefinitely pending a multimillion-dollar seismic retrofit, the closure of the inn means there are few traditional lodging options for tourists in the Illinois Valley.

The city of Cave Junction and county officials have been battling with the owner in court since 2019. Erlinda Felizardo of Santa Clara, California, told the Courier in 2021 that she had owned the hotel for 34 years. She owes the city approximately $594,000, according to Pat Kelly, an attorney representing Cave Junction.

Kelly said the city isn't foreclosing on a separate lien owed to Josephine County. County Legal Counsel Wally Hicks said in an email Thursday that the county has a court judgement for $500 for a code violation fine and a supplemental judgment for over $8,300 in cleanup costs.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a woman during an area check of an apartment complex last night.

An officer observed a vehicle known to be associated with the suspect, Laura Paschal, at the property in the 1700 block of Harbeck Road. Paschal and a man were located inside the vehicle.

The officer knew from previous contacts that Paschal has run from law enforcement. Her vehicle was boxed in and the officer activated the patrol vehicle's overhead lights. She was taken into custody without further incident.

Paschal was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for her warrant charging her with Possession of Methamphetamine. Due to limited resources at the jail facility, she was later released.

 

A Cave Junction man wanted on an outstanding warrant was apprehended by Oregon State Police Thursday.

Troopers arrested the suspect, Logan Wargin, 48, at the Cave Junction Sheriff Substation at 222 W Lister Street.

Wargin had a Failure to Appear Warrant out for his arrest charging him with Delivery and Possession of Meth, two counts of Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon, and 13 counts of Felon in Possession of a Weapon.

Wargin was transported by troopers to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged.

 

Security cameras captured an attempted burglary and trespassing suspect Thursday evening.

At 6:03 p.m., dispatch was notified of the footage, which showed the suspect moving items around the caller's yard and porch in the 400 block of NW 3rd Street. The suspect then went to the back of the property and began moving pieces of a trampoline.

The footage continued, showing the woman attempting to open the back door to the residence. She tried to run from the scene, but the victim and other citizens in the area detained her prior to the arrival of law enforcement.

Grants Pass Police responded and took Ciera Lokken into custody, who said she had just gotten out of jail. She was charged with First Degree Attempted Burglary, Second Degree Trespass, and Third Degree Criminal Mischief.

Officers attempted to contact Lokken's Parole Officer, but there was no answer. A search of Lokken's backpack produced several vehicle documents that didn't belong to her. According to the police report, she then admitted to several Unlawful Entry into Motor Vehicle crimes.

Lokken was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on her charges.

 

Loss Prevention with Fred Meyer reported a trespassing complaint to dispatch Thursday afternoon.

The suspect, Seryne Martin, was in the fitting rooms when the report was made around 3:32 p.m. Loss Prevention requested she be trespassed from the 1101 Grants Pass Parkway store.

Martin had a warrant out for her arrest charging her with Hindering Prosecution. Grants Pass Police arrived and positively identified her. A consent search yielded controlled substances in Martin's possession, as well as a debit card that wasn't in her name.

Martin claimed the card was given to her willing, so it was logged as found property. A field test revealed the substances in her possession to be fentanyl, and she was subsequently taken into custody.

Officers lodged Martin in the Josephine County Jail for Possession of a Controlled Substance, her warrant, and a detainer requested by her Parole Officer.

 

Grange Co-op Loss Prevention witnessed a woman shoplifting Thursday.

At 9:02 a.m., the suspect, Hope Hoover, was taken into custody by Loss Prevention and held at the 1710 W Schutzwohl Lane store until officers with Grants Pass Police arrived.

Hoover admitted to concealing and not paying for $151 worth of merchandise from the store. Officers contacted her Parole Officer, and a detainer was requested. Hoover was taken into custody.

She was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for her detainer and a charge of Theft in the Second Degree.

 

A 65-year-old Central Point man driving a passenger truck struck and killed a 48-year-old man Wednesday evening in Central Point. The Jackson County Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) Team is investigating the incident that occurred in the crosswalk at the Interstate 5 Exit 33 northbound on-ramp. Dispatch received a report of a pedestrian struck at approximately 5:39 p.m. on Wednesday. Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO), Central Point Police Department (CPPD), Jackson County Fire District 3, and Mercy Flights responded to the scene. The vehicle involved was a 2022 GMC Sierra. Mercy Flights transported the victim to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased approximately one hour after the crash. The victim was from the Las Vegas area. JCSO deputies on scene requested a STAR Team callout to conduct a full investigation. The roadway was closed for approximately three hours while the investigation was conducted, and Jackson County Roads assisted with traffic control.

 

A traffic accident occurred on Rockydale Road at Sherier Road in Cave Junction Thursday.

The Illinois Valley Fire District responded to the reported incident at 6:30 p.m.

While units were en route, the caller advised dispatch that the individual involved had departed the scene in another vehicle.

Upon arrival, apparatus confirmed there were no individuals at the location.

The vehicle was subsequently flagged, and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office was notified for its removal.