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Traffic Stop Results in Arrest of Suspect Possessing Drugs and a Restricted Weapon

Grants Pass Police conducted a traffic stop Thursday, which led to the arrest of a man possessing drugs and a restricted weapon.

Officers stopped Shelby Acosta after he was observed operating his vehicle with expired tags. His parole officer requested he be placed on a detainer.

During a consent search of Acosta's person and vehicle, officers found a spring-assisted knife, a white powdery substance, and a white crystal-like substance.

Acosta was taken into custody and charged with Meth Possession, Fentanyl Possession, Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon, and the detainer.

Officers transported and lodged Acosta in the Josephine County Jail.

Posted on 11/14/25 11:49AM by Alex Bauer

Trespassing Suspect under the Influence Arrested by GP Police

Grants Pass Police arrested a trespassing suspect that was under the influence Thursday morning.

The suspect, Mark Mislon, was reported to be in the parking lot of Foundry Village at 1020 SW Foundry Street. He had drug items with him and staff requested he be trespassed.

Officers contacted Mislon's parole officer, who stated a detainer would be placed on him. Mislon was later located on the corner of SW Isham Street and SW Dimmick Street.

Officers took Mislon into custody and transported him to the Josephine County Jail, where he was lodged on the parole violation detainer. He was also trespassed from Foundry Village.

Posted on 11/14/25 11:38AM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Alerted to Suspects Selling and Using Drugs in Vehicle, Arrested Two

Dispatch was notified at 1:14 p.m. of three people inside a vehicle selling drugs Thursday afternoon.

The vehicle was parked at 114 NE A Street, and people from the nearby homeless camp were approaching to purchase drugs. The caller said the vehicle had been there for about 30 minutes.

Officers arrived and contacted the three women inside the vehicle. A water bong coated in a white residue was found partially concealed by clothing inside. During a consent search, more drug paraphernalia was found, including oxycodone pills, and a baggie containing a white crystal-like substance.

Both the substance and bong residue tested positive for amphetamines. One of the suspects, Heather Dixon, took ownership of the substance, and the owner of the vehicle, Tammy Whetzel, admitted to owning the oxycodone.

Officers arrested both Dixon and Whetzel and transported them to the Josephine County Jail. Dixon was lodged for Meth Possession, and Whetzel was charged with Possession of both Meth and a Schedule Two Controlled Substance.

Posted on 11/14/25 11:14AM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Arrested Previously Trespassed Man for Meth Possession

Grants Pass Police officers were notified of a man trespassing at Fred Meyer Thursday night.

The suspect, Donn Fincher, was reported to be in the parking lot of the 1101 Grants Pass Parkway store. He had been previously warned for trespassing, and Fred Meyer wanted to pursue charges.

Officers later located and contacted Fincher across the street in the WinCo parking lot. During a consent search, a glass pipe with white residue was located in his pocket.

After a presumptive positive test for methamphetamine on the pipe, officers took Fincher into custody and transported him to the Josephine County Jail. He was lodged for Second Degree Trespass, and Meth Possession.

Posted on 11/14/25 10:56AM by Alex Bauer

GP City Council to Cover Procedures and Conduct during Workshop

The Grants Pass City Council will cover procedures and business conduct during Monday's workshop.

The council will begin the meeting with a presentation on Standard Operating Procedures regarding legislative policy and priorities, followed then by a presentation on Council Procedures for conduct of business.

Next will be a Structure and Process presentation for non-city proclamations and public notices, then an agenda review.

The City Council Workshop will begin at 11:45 a.m. in the City Council Chambers, 101 NW A Street, and will be streamed at www.grantspassoregon.gov.

Posted on 11/14/25 7:25AM by Alex Bauer

JoCo Sheriff's Deputies Conducted Traffic Stop, Arrested Suspended Driver

Deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office stopped a driver in the 4800 block of Azalea Drive early Thursday morning.

Around 12:11 a.m., the suspect, Michael Augustine, was pulled over while driving his friend home. Neither of them had drivers licenses, and Augustine was found to be wanted on two warrants for Driving While Suspended.

Augustin was taken into custody on his Douglas County and Winston Municipal warrants as well as a charge of Driving While Suspended. He was lodged in the Josephine County Jail, and is vehicle was impounded.

Posted on 11/14/25 5:41AM by Alex Bauer

Suspect with Multiple Warrants and Mess Surrounding vehicle Apprehended by GP Police

Dispatch was notified of car parts and vomit surrounding a vehicle Wednesday morning.

The mess was found at the corner of Sun Glo Drive and Mendi Way at 7:10 a.m. The caller was concerned for children waiting at the bus stop nearby who could see the mess.

Officers contacted two suspects, and found one of them, Darius Hunt, to be wanted on a Jackson County Sheriff's Office warrant for Larceny and Third Degree Theft, and a GPPD warrant for Meth Possession.

Hunt was taken into custody for his warrants and lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

Posted on 11/13/25 2:22PM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Searching for Missing Person, Asking for Public's Assistance

Grants Pass Police are seeking the public's help in finding a missing person. Hanna Nicole Fierro McGarry Johnson is a 25-year-old female who is approximately 5'2" tall, weighs about 110 lbs, has medium-length brown hair, brown eyes, and sometimes wears prescription glasses. She last spoke with her family on October 14. She has a very identifiable Lion Fish Tattoo on her right shoulder, a large Crab Tattoo on her right forearm, and a Bird Tattoo on her left forearm. Hanna is known to have stayed in one of the rest areas in Grants Pass and has also frequented Roseburg. If you know the location of Hanna, please contact your local law enforcement agency or the Grants Pass Police Department at 541-450-6260. Reference Grants Pass case #25-38400.

Posted on 11/13/25 1:55PM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Arrested Woman Parked in the Road on an Out-of-County Warrant

A vehicle parked in the middle of the road warranted a response from Grants Pass Police Wednesday morning.

Officers were notified of a traffic complaint around 8:12 a.m. regarding a suspect that was presumed to be under the influence. The suspect vehicle was later pulled over on NE Beacon Drive.

Upon arrival, officers contacted the driver, Jostyn Pendleton, and determined she had insufficient indicators to demonstrate any impairment. Officers did find paraphernalia inside her vehicle, but tests came back negative for controlled substances.

Pendleton was found to have a Jackson County Sheriff's Office warrant for Larceny, so she was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

Posted on 11/13/25 1:42PM by Alex Bauer

Suspect Wanted on Three Warrants Apprehended by GP Police at Resting Site 5

Officers with Grants Pass Police located a man wanted on three warrants at Resting Site 5 this morning.

The suspect, Bobby Swearingen, was contacted at 3:47 a.m. at the 711 NW 5th Street site. Officers used cameras to locate him.

Swearingen was found to have warrants charging him with two counts of Third Degree Escape, Theft in the Second Degree, and a Parole Violation involving usage of a weapon.

Officers took Swearingen into custody and transported him to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged on his warrants.

Posted on 11/13/25 9:48AM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Apprehended Suspect with Warrant on Meth Possession Charge

Grants Pass Police apprehended a suspect wanted for a meth possession warrant at the Motel 6 early this morning.

At 12:48 a.m., officers contacted Joshua Lininger at the 1800 NE 7th Street motel. He was known to have a valid and serviceable warrant out for his arrest.

During a consent search of his person, officers found a container with a crystal-like substance in Lininger's pocket. The substance tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine.

Lininger was taken into custody on a charge of Meth Possession and his warrant. He was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

Posted on 11/13/25 9:42AM by Alex Bauer

Jackson County Salvation Army to Begin Red Kettle Campaign with Celebration

The Salvation Army is launching its annual Red Kettle Campaign Friday with a community Kick-Off Celebration at Fred Meyer South in Medford.

The event starts at 10 a.m. at the 1301 Center Drive store and goes until 6 p.m. The public can expect appearances from Santa and Disney Princesses, musical and dance performances, plus free Harry and David Truffles for every visitor.

Last year, The Salvation Army experienced a 50 percent increase in the number of people seeking assistance. With rising costs of food, housing, and basic needs, the organization anticipates serving over 1,700 children this Christmas through its Angel Tree Program.

With that in mind, every dollar donated into the kettle during the celebration will be matched up to $20 by generous community sponsors.

Those interested in getting involved or learning more can visit www.registertoring.com.

Posted on 11/13/25 7:47AM by Alex Bauer

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