Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to a domestic violence call early Sunday morning.

Around 3:40 a.m., a woman called stating she and her boyfriend had gotten into an argument. He then pinned her down, covered her mouth, and bit her fingers. Officers learned suspect had also been violent with her two weeks prior.

The woman was able to leave the area with three friends. She was treated at Three Rivers Medical Center for her injuries. Officers then tracked the suspect down at 6231 Neil Road.

He said he had no recollection of the event, and was subsequently taken into custody. Officers lodged him in the Josephine County Jail for Second Degree Kidnapping, Strangulation, and Fourth Degree Assault.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended two suspects trespassing yesterday.

Officers noticed a woman with kids squatting in a vacant house unfit for living at 2640 Demaray Drive. When they contacted the owner of the property, officers learned no one should be there.

As deputies entered the property, more people located inside scattered and hid. One man was detained and found to have a Grants Pass Police Department warrant out for his arrest.

Officers also detained the woman and charged her with First Degree Criminal Trespass. The kids were picked up by her brother per request. The suspects and the other squatters were all trespassed from the property.

The man and woman were both lodged at the Josephine County Jail, but the woman was later released per a Release Assistance Officer pending trial.

 

Legal Counsel Wally Hicks released an updated library lease Friday afternoon to be considered by the Board of Commissioners and Library District. In a release regarding the lease draft, Hicks reports the payment that the library agreed to make to the county towards replacement of the roof would now be classified as rent. The total payment amount for five years would be $27,687. Pre-payment on the total rent is $20,424. Annual payments due will be $1,453. The county will continue to be responsible for replacement of the roof. The termination clause remains, saying if the lease isn't carried out, the defaulting party would be notified 30 days in advance if there was intent to terminate.

 

Oregon State Police Officers were alerted to a man along I-5 damaging a power box yesterday.

Officers located the suspect near milepost 65 Thursday afternoon. Upon contacting Kristian Melms, they found he was wanted on a Jackson County warrant for Failure to Appear in Court for a Fourth Degree Assault charge.

Melms was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on the warrant.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man after a brief chase yesterday.

Officers were notified of the suspect breaking through a fence and entering a neighbor's property at 1708 NE Fairview Avenue, before running west bound Thursday afternoon.

The man gave up running shortly thereafter, and was stopped by authorities. They contacted the suspect, Erik Jenkins, and found him to be wanted on a warrant for Parole Violation. During a consent search, officers found a white crystalline substance which tested positive for methamphetamine.

Jenkins was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and for Meth Possession.

 

In two cases early this morning, Grants Pass Police officers apprehended suspects on warrants out for their arrest.

Officers contacted Steven Juergensen at Resting Site 6 on 704 NW 6th Street. He was found to have three separate warrants.

Juergensen was lodged in the Josephine County Jail on the warrants: two for Possession of a Controlled Substance, and one for Second Degree Criminal Trespass.

While en-route to the jail with Juergensen, officers spotted another suspect who was known to have a warrant on the corner of NE E Street and NE 8th Street.

Upon contact, Christian Gardner was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on his warrant for Possession of Methamphetamine.

 

The Grants Pass Grocery Outlet is hosting their Stuff the Truck event supporting the Josephine County Food Bank this weekend. On Saturday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at 350 NE Agness Avenue, everyone is encouraged to stop by and pick up some extra, non-perishable items while grocery shopping to support the Food Bank. You can also purchase a pre-priced "grab and go" bag of food at the front of the store. Stop by the Food Bank booth to see how your support helps fight hunger here in our community. Learn about their mission, volunteer opportunities, and their other programs that help make a difference for those struggling with food insecurity.

 

Thanks to increased containment on the Kelsey Peak Fire, Bureau of Land Management closures will be opened. The BLM Grants Pass Field Office will lift the closure order on BLM Road 32-9-14.2 and the BLM-administered section of the Rogue River Trail from Horseshoe Bend to Marial today. Official assessments determined the road and trail closures are no longer needed. Firefighters continue operations on the Kelsey Peak Fire and are still using portions of BLM Road 32-9-14.2. Additionally, they are using the Grave Creek to Marial Backcountry Byway and the Cow Creek Scenic Byway. People using those routes are cautioned to drive slowly, watch out for firefighting equipment, and drive with headlights on. The BLM Medford District remains in high fire danger.

 

A nationwide pharmaceutical company settlement will pay Josephine County in the coming years. During the Commissioners weekly meeting today, Legal Counsel Wally Hicks presented to the board that a proposed settlement had been reached nationwide with Purdue Pharma. Over the next 15 years, around $1.08 million will go to Josephine County in 16 payments starting next year. These are in addition to amounts available from the Purdue Estate. Overtime these settlements have already accumulated in Josephine County receipt accounts to about $2.3 million. Of that, $484k has been allocated. A projected $3.4 million is still to be paid out overtime. A motion to opt into the proposed settlement with Purdue Pharma and approve the proposed Purdue bankruptcy plan was made. It carried 3-0. During the meeting, Commissioner Blech brought up the Library lease saying there are drafts that need further review. He said to look to next week for further discussion of the Lease on the agenda.