KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

IVFD had Busy Start to Weekend with 3 Injury Crashes on Friday & Saturday

The Illinois Valley Fire District had a very busy start to the weekend with three motor vehicle accidents that resulted in injury between Friday afternoon and early Saturday morning. The first incident occurred on Friday at 2:51 p.m. when IVFD, American Medical Response and the Oregon State Police were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash into the water in the Kerby area. One person was transported to the hospital with injuries and their vehicle was towed. The second incident happened on Friday at 9:03 p.m. when IVFD, AMR and OSP were dispatched to a two-vehicle collision in the 100-block of North Redwood Highway in Cave Junction. One vehicle hit a parked vehicle, sending one person to the hospital. Jerry's Towing removed the damaged vehicles. The third incident took place on Saturday at 1:20 a.m. when IVFD, AMR and OSP responded to a single-vehicle rollover wreck in the 24,800-block of US Highway 199 in Kerby. Arriving units found the vehicle on its side and in a ditch. One person was transported to the hospital. Jerry's Towing removed the vehicle. OSP was investigating the cause of all three motor vehicle accidents.

Posted on 1/29/24 10:50AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Incarcerated Klamath Falls Man for Causing Chain-Reaction Crash on I-5

The Oregon State Police arrested a Klamath Falls man for causing a chain-reaction crash involving four vehicles on Interstate 5 in northern Josephine County. OSP reports troopers initially responded to a single-vehicle wreck in the south lanes of I-5 near milepost 79 on Saturday shortly after 7 p.m.. While troopers were responding, three other vehicles collided with the original vehicle since it was blocking the fast lane. Troopers said witnesses stated a BMW 330 driven by 44-year-old David Ray Hoy was speed-racing another vehicle in the heavy rain just before the crash. They said Hoy was found to have a suspended license. He was also arrested for two counts of Reckless Driving and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. The other involved motorists were identified as a 48-year-old Grants Pass man, a 64-year-old Grants Pass man and a 50-year-old Medford man. The incident was witnessed by a 34-year-old North Bend man. No one was injured, but all four vehicles were towed to Grants Pass.

Posted on 1/29/24 10:49AM by Sam Marsh

Troopers Netted 4 Motorists for DUII Over the Weekend in Josephine County

The Oregon State Police arrested four motorists for impaired driving over the weekend in Josephine County. According to OSP, the first incident occurred on Friday at 9:18 p.m. when state troopers and emergency crews responded to a two-vehicle crash at milepost 28.4 of Redwood Highway. A 61-year-old Kerby man was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center due to complaints of pain. The other driver -- 52-year-old Russell Eric Scott of Cave Junction -- was arrested for two counts each of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. The second incident happened on Friday at 10:51 p.m. when troopers pulled over a BMW driven by 26-year-old Benjamin Joseph Brickey of Grants Pass near the corner of Merlin Avenue and Pleasant Valley Road. Brickey was stopped for a traffic violation and showed signs of impairment. He performed poorly in field sobriety tests and provided a breath sample that was nearly twice the legal limit. The third incident took place on Friday at 11:05 p.m. when troopers pulled over a Chevrolet Malibu driven by 55-year-old David James Navarro of Myrtle Creek near milepost 66 of northbound Interstate 5. Navarro was stopped for multiple violations, he displayed signs of impairment, performed poorly in sobriety tests and provided a breath sample that exceeded the legal limit. The fourth incident occurred on Saturday at 1:21 a.m. when troopers responded to a single-vehicle rollover crash with an injury near milepost 27.5 of US Highway 199. An investigation determined that 43-year-old Gregory James Roland of Cave Junction was impaired when he lost control of his Jeep Cherokee.

Posted on 1/29/24 10:47AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Nabbed Motorist for DUII after She Wrecked Van on Redwood Avenue

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving after she crashed her vehicle into a ditch just west of Grants Pass. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies and emergency crews responded to reports of a minivan in a ditch in the 4400-block of Redwood Avenue on Friday at about 8:45 p.m.. Deputies said 67-year-old Amy Lamachia wrecked her van into a ditch on the south side of the roadway and was not hurt. They said she displayed multiple signs of impairment and performed poorly in field sobriety tests. She then provided a breath sample that exceeded the legal driving limit. Lamachia was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. Friends retrieved her belongings from the van, which was flagged for towing to the impound yard.

Posted on 1/29/24 10:44AM by Sam Marsh

Medford Police Investigating Weekend Homicide at Crater Lake Ave. Laundromat

The Medford Police Department is seeking public assistance in locating a teenage suspect who is believed to be responsible for a weekend shooting death at an eastside laundromat. On Saturday at about 5:50 p.m., MPD officers responded to a report of shots fired at the laundromat in the 600-block of Crater Lake Avenue. Patrol officers were on scene within two minutes and discovered a male subject with multiple gunshot wounds inside the business. The victim -- identified by police as 51-year-old Justin William Keaton -- was pronounced deceased. MPD detectives were called in and they worked the case overnight. On Sunday, the investigation continued with three search warrants served at different locations as detectives attempted to locate the suspect who has been identified as 18-year-old Jesus Armando Pena, Jr.. Pena recently escaped from Oregon Youth Authority custody and has only been in the Medford area a short time. He has warrants for his arrest and his whereabouts is unknown. Jesus Pena is described as a Hispanic male, 5-feet-7-inches tall, with black hair, brown eyes and a light moustache/goatee. In attempts to locate the suspect in this case, MPD has released a photograph of the suspect in hopes that someone with information will call them at (541)-770-4783. Reference Case #24-1584.

Posted on 1/29/24 6:43AM by Sam Marsh

Jackson County SO Investigating White City Shooting that Left Victim "Critical"

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting in White City that occurred last night and left the victim critically injured. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the shooting in the area of 29th Street and Avenue G on Sunday at 6:51 p.m.. Deputies said someone called for help and indicated that shots had been fired. They responded and found the victim who was transported to a local hospital where they were listed in critical condition. No one was identified in the report. The suspect fled the scene and is currently on the run. Investigators believe the suspect and victim knew each other, and there is no known danger to the general public. The case remains under investigation with detectives following additional leads. If you have information about the shooting, please call (541)-776-7206.

Posted on 1/29/24 6:42AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Man for Crimes after He Tried to Sell Stolen Metal to Recycler

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for multiple crimes after he attempted to sell multiple sheets of aluminum that he had stolen from another business to a local recycler. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a theft complaint at Cascade Metal Recyclers on NE Industry Drive on Friday afternoon. Police said an investigation determined that 38-year-old Kurt Kent Krause, II, brought sheets of aluminum with specific cut patterns to Cascade and workers recognized the sheets as belonging to Met One. They contacted Met One and confirmed the aluminum had been stolen recently from their recycling bin. Officers arrived on scene and placed Krause into custody. A subsequent search of his Toyota Sequoia located a 9-millimeter pistol with a loaded magazine and more than two grams of methamphetamine. The gun and drugs were seized as evidence. Kurt Krause was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felon in Possession of a Firearm, 1st-Degree Theft, Possession of Methamphetamine and Probation Violation related to some past arrests. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 1/29/24 6:40AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Felon for Parole Violation after Drunken Altercation with Mother

Grants Pass Police jailed a felon for violating his post-prison supervision after he got into a weekend altercation with his mother. The Police Department reports officers arrested 44-year-old Christian Anthony Bartell for the incident at a home in the 1,000-block of SE Park Plaza Drive on Saturday at 2:11 a.m.. Police said the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center received a call from that address, dispatchers heard a woman yelling and the line disconnected. Officers rushed to the scene to find that Bartell had been engaged in a violent argument with his mother, but no one was hurt. Officers said Bartell displayed multiple indicators of impairment by alcohol, which is a direct violation of the terms of his parole stemming from previous convictions for Felony 4th-Degree Assault, Strangulation, Menacing and Felony Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. Christian Bartell was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 1/29/24 6:39AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Woman for Intentionally Breaking Vehicle Windows at Park

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for felony vandalism after she intentionally broke windows on a vehicle at Morrison Centennial Park over the weekend. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the vandalism incident at the city park on Rogue River Highway on Saturday around 3:30 a.m.. Police arrived on scene and contacted the victims who advised that 46-year-old Melaine Delaine Gilmore drove to Morrison Park and intentionally broke three windows on a vehicle belonging to them. Multiple calls came into the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center, but no one at the park wanted to answer any questions. After confirming Gilmore was the suspect, officers went to her residence and she admitted to breaking the windows. She gave no reason why she used a crowbar to break the vehicle windows nor did she disclose her relationship with the victims. Melaine Gilmore was booked into the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief and she was being held without bail.

Posted on 1/29/24 6:31AM by Sam Marsh

GP School District 7 Offers Free "Ready for Kindergarten Classes" This Week

Are you a Grants Pass resident who has a four- or five-year-old child entering kindergarten this fall? If so, the Grants Pass School District is inviting you to "Ready for Kindergarten" with three classes scheduled this week. This free class teaches parents and guardians about the important skills a 5-year-old should be familiar with by the time they start school in September. A free dinner and childcare are provided by District 7. The "Ready for Kindergarten" classes are scheduled for today, Tuesday and Wednesday from 5:15 to 7:30 p.m.. Choose one night to attend. The classes are being held at the Grants Pass School District 7 Early Learning Center, which is located at 1845 NW Highland Avenue.

Posted on 1/29/24 6:28AM by Sam Marsh

GP Residents Unable to Attend or View Public Safety Funding Session Can Do So Online

Grants Pass residents who were unable to attend or view the city's Public Safety Listening and Learning session last week can still watch what happened. Last Thursday night, the Grants Pass City Council held the forum to better inform residents about the public safety funding crisis and the options that could be used to close the gap between costs and revenue for police and fire services. City staff explained why more General Fund support is necessary to fund the rising costs of public safety services each year as well as the limitations of the current budget. Funding options were discussed, outlining the pros and cons of each option. Questions from the public were answered by the staff and Council. While nothing has been finalized, the majority of the City Council has expressed its support for a 1.5% general sales tax combined with a $12 hike to the monthly utility fee. No other city in Oregon is using a sales tax in this manner and some people in the audience said a citizen referendum could be mounted to defeat it. The City Council is hoping to come to a final decision on a plan in the near future. The Public Safety Funding session was streamed on the City of Grants Pass YouTube channel at "youtube.com@cityofgrantspass5880/streams" and it still can be viewed there.

Posted on 1/29/24 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police & Firefighters Donned Rain Gear in Wet Week of Citizen & Structure Protection

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters donned their rain gear while protecting the city last week when measurable precipitation was recorded every single day. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 692 calls for service along with 279 officer-initiated calls that resulted in 52 arrests, 19 citations, 36 warnings and three highly intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 70 traffic stops and made 28 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services. The Community Response Team (CRT) contacted a total of 141 potential trouble-makers while citing 14 individuals and warning 86 others. The CRT unit also trespassed 12 people, posted 102 transient camps and removed trash from 12 campsites, primarily in city parks. No information was available on the activities of Grants Pass Fire & Rescue last week. The 9-1-1 Dispatch Center fielded a total of 1,076 emergency calls in addition to 800 calls for non-emergency service.

Posted on 1/29/24 6:16AM by Sam Marsh

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