Local News

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.

 

After a special meeting, the Grants Pass City Council moved to hold American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for a future decision, and further consider, at a later date, invocation procedure and policy documents at their workshop.

The MidRogue Foundation was awarded $800,000 for the ARPA allocation for Public Infrastructure for Affordable Housing in August 2024. The foundation expects to be under the allocation as far as spending for the 36 rental units, with the remaining balance expected to be about $170,000.

No cost would be incurred to the city. A motion to hold the resources for a future decision passed 6-2. A policy and procedure for invocation was then recommended for transparency. A draft is still being put together. A motion passed unanimously to bring back a policy and procedure of invocation for possible adoption, with the documents to be further discussed at a future workshop.

Council then moved 5-3 to sunset the Construction Excise Tax (CET). The current uncommitted balance of these funds is about $524,000. The total amount of CET collected for each housing category since December 2021 totaled $765,000. $78,600 has been returned to the State for a down payment assistance program.

With the motion passing, the City will continue to assess the fee through until December 31st, 2026. A motion to support the Public Safety Advisory Committee motion, in support of the jail levy, failed.

During the initial special meeting, council moved 7-1, appointing four members to the Parks Advisory Committee. They were unanimous in approving the consent agenda in its entirety.

 

Sheriff's deputies were alerted to a man armed with a 6 inch blade at the reporting party's property Sunday, later to arrest the suspect for Burglary, Menacing, and Trespass charges.

The caller told dispatch the suspect, wearing gloves, a mask, gray sweatshirt, and black pants, was at the back door of the Sunny Valley Loop property around 9:29 p.m. He left at the time of the call on a bicycle, and the homeowner said the suspect was adamant about getting in, trying to open the sliding door.

Arriving units checked the property, and located the suspect at 9:36 p.m. He was identified as Joshua Wise, taken into custody, and then told deputies the clothes he was wearing had been stolen from TJ Maxx.

Deputies charged Wise with Attempted Burglary in the First Degree, two counts of Menacing, Methamphetamine Possession, and Second Degree Trespass. He was lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

Throughout the month of October, participating Ray's Food Place and Shop Smart stores are inviting customers to round up their purchases to the next dollar to benefit the Pink R Breast Cancer Round Up campaign. According to a release, this year's fundraising goal is $15,000. When customers participate, their donations will support local organizations serving the communities where customers live and shop. This year's beneficiaries include the Women's Imaging Center at Three Rivers Community Hospital in Grants Pass, and the Providence Community Health Foundation Breast Center in Medford, among others throughout the state. Held during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Pink R brings customers and store teams together to support breast cancer services in Oregon and Northern California.

 

Following a theft attempt at a Safeway, a man was arrested by Grants Pass Police Sunday night.

An employee of the 1640 Williams Highway grocer called 911, reporting three people, two women and a man, were in the store stealing items. The male was described as having a backpack and wearing a Cowboy football team shirt. One of the female suspects had a puffy black jacket and purse.

The identified suspects were putting items inside their respective purse and backpack. The reporting party was at the self-checkout, and said one of the female suspects, wearing a blue sweater and tank top was paying for a few items, while the male suspect left the store without paying.

He was contacted outside the store and admitted to stealing almost $47 worth of merchandise. Officers identified him as Andrew Urenda, and was lodged in the Adult Jail Facility.

The police report shows one of the female suspects had fled the scene before officer's arrival, and that she had two warrants out of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and Medford Police Department.

 

Grants Pass Police lodged a WinCo shoplifter on theft and methamphetamine possession charges.

Dispatch was notified Sunday at 8:58 p.m. that the suspect had taken items to her vehicle in the 231 NE Terry Lane parking lot, then went back inside the store. She had passed all points of sale without paying for the items, and was described to dispatch as wearing a white tank top, blue jeans, black tennis shoes, carrying a yellow purse, and having red hair.

Officers arrived and contacted the suspect, Blythe Attleson, who was with loss prevention staff. She was detained, and officers found she was in possession of a white crystal like substance that field tested positive for meth.

Attleson was transported to jail where she was lodged for Possession of Meth, and Third Degree Theft. She was also trespassed from the grocer.

 

Two men were arrested for larceny warrants and other charges following a traffic stop by Josephine County Sheriff's Deputies.

The traffic stop Saturday around 5 p.m. resulted in the identification of Richard Carlyle, the driver, and the passenger, Gary Halaas. Carlyle attempted to run but was detained, while Halaas was taken into custody after being located using the facilities.

Deputies found both men were wanted on Oregon Parole Board Warrants for Larceny. Halaas was also charged for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, while Carlyle was charged for Misdemeanor Driving While Suspended, Escape, Resisting Arrest, and Elude.

Both suspects were lodged in the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility for their crimes.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District and emergency partners were dispatched to a traffic accident and fire incident over the weekend.

Along with American Medical Response and the Oregon State Police, crews responded Friday at 12:04 a.m. to the accident in the 21,000 block of Redwood Highway in Kerby.

Upon arrival, responders discovered an unoccupied vehicle at the roadside. A thorough search of the vicinity showed no individuals. It has been determined that the occupant departed the scene to a different location and subsequently declined medical assistance.

The site was transferred to OSP for further investigation.

Crews then reported yesterday at 7:59 p.m. to a fire incident on Waldo Road in O'Brien.

The IVFD and Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District responded to the vehicle fire, successfully extinguishing it with no risk to the surrounding wildland.