KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

GP Police Jailed Man for Threatening Convenience Store Workers with Knife

Grants Pass Police jailed a man last weekend for threatening employees of a north-city convenience store with a knife. The Police Department reports 51-year-old Sean William MacDowell was arrested for the incident at the Li'l Pantry Market & Deli on NW Vine Street on Sunday at 9:12 p.m.. Police said MacDowell bypassed all points of sale with $15.49 worth of items without paying and was confronted by store employees. They said he became aggressive and presented a knife, opening it and threatening the workers before he fled across the street. The entire incident was captured on video surveillance. MacDowell was located and placed into custody. While being transported to the Josephine County Jail, he spit inside the patrol vehicle and kicked the cage. The patrol vehicle was stopped and the suspect was placed in a spit hood as well as leg restraints. Upon arrival, MacDowell was booked into jail for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Felony 2nd-Degree Robbery, Disorderly Conduct, 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief and 3rd-Degree Theft. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 8/19/25 11:23AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Young Man for Stealing Electric Bike from Store Worker

Grants Pass Police arrested a young man for stealing an electric bicycle from a store employee late last night. The Police Department reports officers responded to a theft complaint at the A-1 Market & Deli on NW 6th Street on Monday around 10:30 p.m.. Police said an employee called 9-1-1 to report a male subject entered the store, grabbed his "Go Life" brand E-Bike valued at $700, exited the store and rode away. The incident was captured on video surveillance. A short time later, officers observed a man identified as 19-year-old Michael Raymond Chezem riding the bike near Cavemen Bridge. They tried to stop him, with lights and siren activated, but he fled in an attempt to escape arrest. He was observed entering Baker Park, a perimeter was established and he was placed into custody without further incident shortly before midnight. After admitting that he stole the bike, Chezem was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft, Criminal Trespass and Attempted Escape. Jail records show that Chezem was charged with additional crimes including Felony 2nd-Degree Robbery, Menacing and 3rd-Degree Theft related to another alleged incident. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 8/19/25 11:22AM by Sam Marsh

Road Rage Incident on I-5 near Wolf Creek Led to Arrest of GP Woman

An alleged road rage incident on Interstate 5 near Wolf Creek led to the arrest of a Grants Pass woman for multiple crimes last weekend. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to a two-vehicle collision in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 79 on Sunday around 8:15 p.m.. During the course of the investigation, troopers said it was determined no crash occurred. However, they said probable cause was developed to charge 35-year-old Andrea Alyce Brundige for committing road rage against a 31-year-old man and his 29-year-old wife from Kenmore, Washington. No one was injured. According to OSP, a Toyota Tacoma was damaged and towed to Grants Pass. Brundige was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for two counts each of Menacing and Reckless Endangering plus single counts of Reckless Driving and Resisting Arrest. She was being held without bail. Her dog was collected by a family member.

Posted on 8/19/25 10:42AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Collared Man on Felony Warrant after Highway199 Stop in CJ

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man on a local felony warrant early yesterday following a traffic stop on Redwood Highway in Cave Junction. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a moped ridden by 44-year-old Noah James Reyelts on US Highway 199 near Laurel Road on Monday around 12:45 a.m.. Deputies said Reyelts was riding a moped with no license plate while pulling a trailer with no taillights.They said he initially gave them multiple false names before providing his real identity. He was found to be wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Probation Violation related to a past arrest for Identity Theft. Reyelts was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Furnishing False Information to Police. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. His moped and trailer were towed away.

Posted on 8/19/25 10:40AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Arrested Motorist for Impaired Driving after Merlin Traffic Stop

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving during a traffic stop near Merlin early yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies pulled over a Ford Ranger pickup driven by 22-year-old Isaac Eberle on Galice Road near Cherry Street on Monday at 2:26 a.m.. Deputies said they stopped Eberle for a traffic violation and he displayed signs of impairment. They said he performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that exceeded the legal driving limit. Eberle was cited to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His pickup was impounded.

Posted on 8/19/25 10:39AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Arrested GP Woman for Impaired Driving after North 7th Street Stop

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass woman for impaired driving late yesterday following a traffic stop in the north part of the city. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Dodge Challenger driven by 54-year-old Valerie Vick on north 7th Street near Interstate 5 on Monday at 5:31 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped Vick for a traffic violation and she displayed signs of impairment. They said she performed poorly in field sobriety tests, so she was placed into custody and transported to the Sobering Center where she provided a breath sample that was more than twice the legal driving limit. Vick was cited to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. Her car was recovered by her fiancé.

Posted on 8/19/25 10:38AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Evicted Woman from City Park after She Started Illegal Campfire

Grants Pass Police evicted a woman from a city park after she started a warming fire there early yesterday. Police said a security guard on the pedestrian bridge reported seeing a fire burning at Tussing Park downriver from the crossing on Monday shortly after midnight. Police officers and firefighters responded. Officers located Jessica Tope trying to hide in the bushes while firefighters quickly extinguished the smoldering blaze. Tope was cited for violating city rules that prohibit open fires and she was escorted out of the park. She was trespassed from the park for 30 days.

Posted on 8/19/25 10:36AM by Sam Marsh

Authorities Investigating Dog Attack that Killed Young Girl near Cave Junction

Authorities are investigating a fatal dog attack that occurred last weekend near Cave Junction. On Saturday at 1:31 p.m., the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center received a call from a home in the 1800-block of Laurel Road where it was reported a dog attacked a 4-year-old girl. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded along with personnel from the Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response. Despite lifesaving measures being administered, the child was pronounced deceased at the scene. The child's name will not be released. Undersheriff Travis Snyder said the Sheriff's Office began a death investigation with assistance from the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office. He said the dog -- a Cane Corso/Rottweiler/Pit Bull mix -- was seized by Josephine County Animal Control. The case remains under investigation and no further information is available at this time.

Posted on 8/19/25 6:35AM by Sam Marsh

Medford Man Drowned While Kayaking at Jackson County Lake Outside EP

A Medford man drowned while kayaking at Agate Lake outside Eagle Point last weekend. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office reports the 9-1-1 call came in on Saturday at 7:48 p.m. to report a 27-year-old man fell into the lake while kayaking without a life jacket. Marine deputies responded with Jackson County Fire Districts #3 and #4. First responders searched the lake until after 10 p.m., but they were unable to locate the victim. On Sunday morning, marine units along with the Search and Rescue dive team and Klamath County sheriff's deputies resumed the search. At 7:34 a.m., divers located the body of the missing man in the lake. The Sheriff's Office said they will not be releasing the victim's name out of respect for his family's privacy in this difficult time.

Posted on 8/19/25 6:28AM by Sam Marsh

Driver Hurt after Wrecking Vehicle off Forest Service Road near Cave Junction

One person was injured after wrecking their vehicle off a Forest Service Road near Cave Junction early yesterday. The Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response, US Forest Service, Oregon State Police and Oregon Department of Transportation were all dispatched to the single-vehicle crash at milepost 15 of Forest Service Road 4613 on Monday at 6:58 a.m.. IVFD officials said the vehicle was located approximately 30 feet below the road's surface. One individual was successfully extricated from the wreckage and brought up the embankment using a rope system. The individual sustained minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment. Jerry's Towing was assigned to remove the vehicle from the scene and haul it to Cave Junction.

Posted on 8/19/25 6:18AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Motorist for DUII after She Crashed Her Car into a House

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving after she crashed her vehicle into a house in the southeast part of the city last weekend. The Police Department reports officers and emergency crews responded to the incident in the 1500-block of Ben Aire Circle on Sunday around 5:45 p.m.. Upon arrival, police said they observed a blue Chevrolet Cruze in a front yard with the front end of the vehicle inside the wall of a house. They identified the driver as 56-year-old Deana Lynn Calver and said she displayed strong signs of impairment. According to the report, Calver had an odor of alcohol coming from her breath and bloodshot, watery eyes. She had trouble standing and answering questions, and she refused to participate in field sobriety tests or provide a breath sample. A search warrant was obtained and Calver was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that fully documented her impairment. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. Her vehicle was impounded.

Posted on 8/19/25 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Nabbed Motorist for Impaired Driving after Grants Pass Traffic Stop

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving following a weekend traffic stop in the south part of the city. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a Ford Fusion driven by 33-year-old Brian Kenneth Van Dusen in the 300-block of Union Avenue on Sunday at 1:18 a.m.. Deputies said they stopped Van Dusen for traffic violations and he displayed signs of impairment. They said he performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw. Based on the evidence, Van Dusen was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His vehicle and two passengers were released to a family member.

Posted on 8/19/25 6:15AM by Sam Marsh

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