Local News

Grants Pass Police officers arrested a man for trespassing at Timber Products Company.

On Tuesday around 2:38 p.m., one of many witnesses reported Jackson Mattock, a former employee of the 1090 SE M Street business, had returned. He had been trespassed the day before, and was leaving in a white Honda Civic at the time of the report.

It was unclear which direction Mattock left. Officers responded to the scene and subsequently detained Mattock at his father's home in the 1400 block of Florence Lane. Mattock was taken into custody, transported, and then lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Second Degree Criminal Trespass.

 

The Temporary Board of Other Elective Administrative Officers will meet for a special meeting Thursday. At 1:30 p.m. in the BCC Conference Room, the board will convene the meeting. According to the agenda, they will begin with a look at the eligibility and background checks of the applicants for the vacant Board of County Commissioner positions. The board will then discuss interview protocols and questions, the scoring of applicants and the interview process, the protocol for tie breakers, plus Human Resources Authority. The selection of applicants to be interviewed will follow, and pending other matters pertaining to the application and interview process for Commissioner Positions 1 and 2, the meeting will adjourn. Those wishing to attend the meeting in person must abide by the clear bag policy. The meeting will be streamed at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream.

 

A Jackson County Grand Jury indicted a 19-year-old White City man Tuesday on sex abuse charges. The suspect, Eli Mulugeta Young, of White City was lodged in the Jackson County Jail for unlawful sexual penetration in the second degree and sexual abuse in the third degree. On Friday, February 6th, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies responded to a report of 19-year-old man sexually abusing a girl under the age of 14. Deputies arrested the man in the 7000 block of Houston Loop in White City. JCSO Special Victims Unit (SVU) detectives believe Young may have other victims. Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call Detective Jill Wenzel at 541-770-8928. Detectives are currently investigating this case. Further information will come from the Jackson County District Attorney’s office.

 

Josephine County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a report of a man trespassing inside his parent's home Monday.

A call to dispatch around 4:35 p.m. reported the suspect's parents were out of town, and the caller went to check on the property in the 3700 block of Foothill Boulevard because the alarm was going off.

Deputies responded to the scene and created a perimeter. After the caller confirmed no one was supposed to be inside the home, law enforcement began to clear the residence.

The door was kicked in, but the home and garage were clear. Deputies soon located the suspect, identified as Jack Doak. He was taken into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail.

Prison logs show Doak was lodged for First and Second Degree Burglary, two counts of Third Degree Theft, and Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree.

 

The body of a Eugene man missing since December has been located near Mill Creek Drive and Highway 66 outside of Ashland.

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Medical Examiner detectives have scientifically identified the body as Damon Lee Petrie, 60, of Eugene. Deputies, detectives, and Search and Rescue personnel conducted extensive searches for Petrie after he was reported missing on December 18th, 2025. Petrie’s body was found by a hiker on Saturday, February 7th.

The cause and manner of death are pending an autopsy and toxicology report. No further information is available at this time.

 

Emergency crews were alerted to a traffic accident that occurred at 12:10 p.m. today.

The Illinois Valley Fire District and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to the incident at the intersection of Schumacher Street and S Hussey Avenue in Cave Junction. Upon arrival, it was determined there were no injuries.

The vehicle was removed from the scene, and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation.

 

A man called 911 to report a man sleeping on his property Monday morning.

Dispatch was alerted to the trespassing at 4:16 p.m. at a property in the 300 block of SE H Street. The suspect was reportedly on the grass to the side of the house, and the caller wasn't sure if it was the same suspect from a previous trespassing complaint, Thomas Ehens.

Grants Pass Police arrived and confirmed it was Ehens. The property owner wished to pursue charges, and Ehens was taken into custody. He was lodged in the Josephine County Jail for a charge of Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree.

 

The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) is warning consumers to be wary of romance scams and so-called “relationship investment scams,” a fast-growing form of fraud that blends emotional manipulation with fake investment opportunities.

DFR says in a release that relationship investment scams are a recent and damaging type of fraud, causing reported losses in the billions. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported $12.5 billion in investment-related scam losses in 2024, a figure that has tripled in just three years.

Relationship scams often begin on dating apps, social media platforms, messaging apps, or through unexpected “wrong number” text messages. Criminals use fake profiles, photos, videos, and even artificial intelligence-generated voices to appear attractive, credible, and successful.

Once contact is made, scammers send frequent messages to build trust and emotional attachment before asking for money. What often starts as a small request can quickly escalate into devastating financial losses. In other cases, they often claim to have made significant profits trading cryptocurrency, precious metals, or foreign currency thanks to special knowledge or insider help.

These scams do not discriminate. People of all ages and backgrounds have been victimized, though people who live alone or spend significant time on social media or online discussion groups may be more vulnerable.

State regulators are increasingly seeing complaints involving digital assets and artificial intelligence. If you believe that you have been a victim, or have any questions, call DFR at 1-888-877-4894.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department were alerted to a trespassing complaint at a property in the 100 block of SW I Street.

On Monday around 9:49 a.m., following a quickly disconnected call, dispatch was notified by the owner of the Air B&B property that someone had broken into the detached garage. The suspect wasn't being violent and was gathering her items to leave.

Law enforcement arrived at the scene and met with the owner, then contacted the suspect, Brooke Mack. She admitted, after being read her rights, to entering the garage and having no right to the property. She told the officer that she had entered the garage Sunday evening and stayed overnight due to being cold and tired.

Mack also reportedly wanted to retrieve her items from a previous burglary case at the same location. She admitted to using a portable electric heater to stay warm, which reportedly cost the Air B&B owner $10 in power.

Mack was trespassed from the property. Her Parole Officer was contacted and a detainer was requested. The officer subsequently transported and lodged Mack in the Josephine County Jail for Second Degree Burglary, Theft of Services, and the detainer.