Local News

Two teens were reported to be missing since October 20th at 12:50 p.m. Bradley Schreiber, 14, and Michael Clark, 15, reportedly may be on foot or on bikes, one that's purple and one that's blue. Schreiber has blonde hair, and Clark has brown hair. If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of these two, call the Grants Pass Police Department Non-Emergency line at 541-450-6260. Reference Case #'s 26-37202 for Schreiber, and #1020-1827-083. Other numbers to call for Schreiber include 503-806-2507, and 413-329-6521. For Clark, call 541-497-3957.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man wanted on four warrants after receiving a trespass report from the Lithia Dealership.

An employee with the 1421 NE 6th Street business called 911 to report the suspect kept coming back to the store despite being asked to leave. He was caught messing with the vehicles around 5:54 p.m., and it was requested he be trespassed and removed from the lot.

Officers located and detained the suspect, identified as John Scott, after he left the business heading southbound on 7th Street. He was found to be wanted on warrants out of the Oregon Parole Board, and sheriff's offices in Multnomah County, San Francisco County, and Washington County.

Scott was taken into custody for his warrants charging him with Burglary, and two counts each of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Unlawful Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance, and First Degree Criminal Trespass. He was lodged in jail.

 

Police observed a wanted man at Ross, and arrested him for an additional charge of Methamphetamine Possession Thursday morning.

Justice Cory was at the 322 NE Beacon Drive store before being contacted by Grants Pass Police at 9:37 a.m. His parole officer wanted a detainer to be placed on him, so law enforcement detained him.

After consenting to a consent search, Cory was found to be in possession of a small zip bag containing a white crystalline substance. It field tested positive for meth, and Cory was taken into custody to be lodged for the detainer and Possession of Meth. His bike and backpack were logged into evidence.

 

Concierge Security reported a hostile man to dispatch Thursday, after which police arrived to arrest the suspect at the Grants Pass Shopping Center.

The man, later identified as Robert Kostenko, was being hostile and charged at the security guard, who was able to get inside his vehicle near the alley between Magic Donuts and TJ Maxx. Kostenko continued acting in an aggressive and tumultuous manner, hitting his small dog with a backpack around 7:18 p.m.

Responding officers located him at the Dutch Bros. He was arrested for Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree, and a consent search was conducted. Police located a pipe with meth residue, and further charged Kostenko with Possession of Meth, as well as a Parole Violation detainer.

His dog was transported to the Animal Shelter, and his property was logged for safekeeping.

 

A woman was arrested after a welfare check was requested for her and other individuals reportedly under the influence in a parked vehicle Thursday.

The reporting party told dispatch the suspects were inside a vehicle parked near the Williams Highway Abby's Pizza around 3:18 p.m. A woman in the passenger seat was rocking back and forth, and everyone else inside appeared to be under the influence.

Officers responded to the scene for a welfare check. One of the vehicle's occupants, Aria Echavarria, was found to be wanted for a Josephine County Sheriff's for Third Degree Robbery.

She was lodged in the Adult Jail Facility for her warrant. Two suspects were transported to the Sobering Center, and another was released. A BMX bike was logged as found property.

 

Medford Police reopened Roberts Road between Melody Lane and Crater Lake Avenue following this morning’s fatal vehicle-versus-pedestrian crash. According to the Department's 10 a.m. Facebook update, the Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) Team responded to the fatal crash between the vehicle and adult victim. The investigation remains ongoing.

 

The Rural/Urban Town Hall in Grants Pass is set to be held in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium Tuesday, October 27th, from 6 to 8 p.m.

According to an email from the Oregon Rural Urban Project, the Town Hall is a concerted effort to engage with community members and leaders in the county, and to hear the public's thoughts and ideas. The meeting is part of the project's statewide effort to bridge the divide between rural and urban Oregonians.

The free meeting will be a hybrid format, so community members can attend online as well as in person. Those wishing to attend online via Zoom must register in advance to receive the Zoom details.

Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/oregon-ruralurban-project-town-hall-grants-pass-oregon-registration-2000459678750?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true&discount=BRAVER

 

An attempt to steal gas cans and an air compressor was thwarted by Grants Pass Police, who lodged a suspect for theft and methamphetamine charges.

Dispatch was alerted to the incident viewed on ring camera footage by the caller Thursday around 12:17 p.m. Two suspects were observed stealing two gas cans, with one of them also taking an air compressor valued at $139 from the property in the 100 block of NW Midland Avenue. They didn't gain access to the home, and were seen walking towards a nearby inn.

Arriving officers located one of the suspects, Jeffrey Madden, who was in possession of the air compressor. He claimed to know the son of the homeowner, but was unable to provide any information about either of them.

Officers could see a meth pipe inside his partially unzipped backpack. Field testing confirmed the presence of meth, and Madden's parole officer was notified. A detainer was requested, and Madden was transported to the Adult Jail Facility before medical clearance was requested by jail staff.

Following clearance at Three Rivers Medical Center, officers lodged Madden for Second Degree Theft, Possession of Meth, and the detainer. Officers were unable to locate the second suspect following searches at both Ogle Park and Gilbert Creek Park.

 

Emergency crews were dispatched to a vegetation fire in the 900 block of Garner Road in Cave Junction this morning.

The Illinois Valley Fire District and the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District initiated a response around 7:26 a.m. following reports of smoke in the vicinity.

Units confirmed a 0.01-acre fire, which has since been extinguished. ODF is currently conducting an investigation in coordination with the Bureau of Land Management.