Local News

Commissioner Chris Barnett posted a video to his Facebook page this morning saying he is concluding his service as County Commissioner. In the video, Barnett said his decision to conclude his service was made "after a thoughtful reflection and with respect for this office." He thanked county employees for their service and citizens for their engagement. As of today, there are no further meetings on the Board of Commissioner's calendar. Commissioner Ron Smith has confirmed he will appear on KAJO's Tuesday Talk Show at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow.

 

Oregon State Police apprehended two suspects for warrants during separate instances last week.

On Friday at 3:19 p.m., troopers contacted Aaron Chivers, 47, of Medford, at the OSP office in Grants Pass at 1463 NE 7th Street. He was found to have a state-wide felony warrant out for his arrest.

Chivers was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for the warrant and, according to jail logs, a charge of Second Degree Criminal Mischief. Due to lack of resources, he was later released.

Then on Saturday at 8:11 a.m., troopers conducted a traffic stop on a black Mazda SUV on U.S. Highway 199 at milepost 5. After contacting the driver, Micah Russell, 39, of Medford, it was discovered he had an active warrant for his arrest.

Troopers took Russell into custody and transported him to the Josephine County Jail. According to jail logs, he was lodged on three out-of-county warrants. OSP's police report shows two charges of DUII, and one for Driving While Suspended against Russell.

 

Deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office pulled over a suspect wanted on an out-of-county warrant Saturday.

At 8 p.m., a traffic stop was conducted on a white Nissan Xterra at the corner of Sand Creek Road and Hartley Lane. Deputies contacted the driver, Jason Harris, who was cooperative.

He was warned for speeding, but deputies found he was wanted on a Jackson County Sheriff's Office warrant charging him with Possession of Methamphetamine.

Deputies took Harris into custody, and family members of his were on the scene to remove his vehicle. He was transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged on his warrant.

 

Oscar Flores Jr., 25, pled guilty to multiple charges after assaulting a Medford Police officer during a December traffic stop.

According to the Jackson County District Attorney's Office, Flores was sentenced to 40 months in prison, followed by 3 years of post-prison supervision. His charges include Attempted Assault in the First Degree and Assaulting a Public Safety Officer.

Flores' license was suspended at the time due to multiple driving crime convictions in recent years. When the officer attempted to place Flores under arrest for the crime of Driving While Suspended, Flores ignored commands, tried to flee on foot, and fought the officer, causing the officer’s head to strike the concrete at one point.

The officer sustained a cut to his head as a result. During the struggle, Flores also grabbed for the officer’s gun and taser, but was stopped thanks to holster retention devices and the intervention of citizens who intervened to help subdue Flores until backup arrived.

 

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.