KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

Josephine County Sheriff's Office Book Suspect on Multiple Counts of Theft at 7-11

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office detained a suspect with multiple warrants out for their arrest at the local 7-11.

On Saturday, it was reported Anthony Mooney was at the Dollar Store located at 1200 NW 6th. The deputy then discovered Mooney drove to 7-11 in a yellow Mini Cooper.

The deputy followed Mooney inside the store, contacting and intercepting him at taser point. Mooney then fled into a closet while the deputy ordered all customers to exit the store.

Mooney again attempted to flee, but complied when ordered to the ground at taser point. He was placed into custody on 40 counts including theft, burglary, and criminal mischief.

Posted on 9/1/25 6:44AM by Alex Bauer

Suspected Thief Lodged Following Short Foot Pursuit

Suspected thief arrested Saturday afternoon after a Grants Pass Police Officer observed a vehicle involved in a theft Friday. The officer saw a man exit the vehicle who was identified as Andrew John Miller, 34, who was the registered owner of the vehicle. The Officer advised Miller there was probable cause for his arrest and not to leave. Miller elected to flee on foot toward a field near WinCo where he was taken into custody and lodged in the county jail. Miller is facing charges of theft III and escape III. Miller remained in custody this morning. Miller was also arrested in July for criminal mischief, theft I and possession of burglary tools.

Posted on 9/1/25 6:42AM by Chuck Benson

Recent MADGE Task Force Cases Seize Nearly 40 Pounds of Methamphetamine

The Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement (MADGE) team has been working diligently to get drugs and firearms off streets and out of the hands of criminals. Recently, MADGE has seized nearly 40 pounds of methamphetamine along with firearms and other controlled substances. They highlight two of the larger cases. After a 5-month investigation, MADGE arrested 44-year-old Christopher Boyd Stevenson at a home in the 400-block of B Street in Ashland. The investigation resulted in a search warrant being served on the suspect's residence where over five pounds of meth was seized along with five firearms and three ounces of cocaine. Stevenson is a convicted felon and he was lodged at the Jackson County Jail. On August 12th, MADGE conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by 45-year-old Juan Flores-Gutierrez. The traffic stop resulted in the seizure of two pounds of meth. Investigators then located 32 additional pounds of meth at the suspect's home in the 1200-block of West 8th Street in Medford. This arrest was the result of a multi-year investigation into drug trafficking being conducted by Flores-Gutierrez from Southern California to the Rogue Valley.

Posted on 9/1/25 6:41AM by Alex Bauer

GP Officers Arrest Young Woman on Out of County Warrant after Trespass Call

GP Police Officers arrested and lodged a 29-year-old female early Sunday morning after responding to a trespassing call at 2030 Redwood Avenue. Arriving officers found Sarah Ann Yeatts in the back seat of a taxi putting on sunglasses and looking away shortly after 1 a.m. The officer knew Yeatts and was aware of an outstanding misdemeanor warrant out of Curry County for her arrest and that local authorities had probable cause for an active theft III case. The young woman was advised she was under arrest and refuse commands, then continued to writhe and twist to prevent being removed from the taxi. Once removed she continued to resist but was secured in the rear of the patrol vehicle, where she slipped out of handcuffs. She was then removed from the vehicle, the cuffs repositioned and leg restraints were added.

Posted on 9/1/25 6:23AM by Chuck Benson

Oregon Hospitals Grapple with Minimum Staffing Law and Possible Penalties

Oregon hospitals can now be fined for not meeting minimum nurse-to-patient ratios -- but nurses said some hospitals are not following the spirit of the law. Fred Katz, a registered nurse at Rogue Regional Medical Center and a board member of the Oregon Nurses Association, which backed the new law, said at Rogue and other hospitals, administrators sometimes meet the new staffing standards for nurses by removing Certified Nursing Assistants and other support staff from staffing plans, It means hospitals may end up with the required number of nurses on paper but in reality, the care team has shrunk. "It just feels like the hospital wants to work around the law," Katz contended. "They want to interpret it in a way that works for them and that potentially they avoid fines and then they can do what they want budget-wise." It is the first time the state's staffing requirements have included fines for noncompliance, which can be up to $5,000 a day. Critics said the law, which sets nurse-to-patient ratios at one-to-four or higher for more acute care, will limit the number of patients who can be served.

Posted on 9/1/25 6:16AM by Alex Bauer

City of GP Cancels Addressing Homelessness Grant after Geodomestic Drops Out

It's back to the drawing board for the Grants Pass City Council for awarding a grant addressing homelessness. In a press release this morning, the City of Grants Pass announced it received a notice from Geodomestic withdrawing its application from consideration for the Addressing Homelessness Grant Program. Geodomestic had been recommended as the recipient of the $1.2 million grant after the applications had been reviewed by a panel that included members of the City Council. Geodomestic's Executive Director Shawn Petche has apologized, explaining that he believed someone had spoken with identified partners when the application was submitted as well as when advising City staff that the signed memorandums of understanding with Pathways to Stability and U-Turn for Christ could be provided. Petche now acknowledges there were no such partnership agreements. The agenda item to approve issuing a notice of intent to award the contract has been removed from the September 3rd business meeting. A discussion of the cancellation of the current Request for Proposal and issuance of a revised grant program will take place at the Council workshop on September 2nd.

Posted on 8/29/25 11:49AM by Sam Marsh

Rogue River Closures This Weekend for Whitewater Practice & Labor Day Race

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office has announced that the Rogue River will be closed in designated areas and during designated times this weekend for the Cal-Ore Whitewater Association's Labor Day practice and race. On Saturday, the Rogue will be closed from Matson Park to Griffin Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to accommodate the practice schedule. On Sunday, the Rogue will be closed from Baker Park to Griffin Park from noon to 3 p.m. for the annual Labor Day race. The race starts at 1 p.m.. All spectators must remain off the water until the practice and race are over. During the race, spectators must remain 50 feet from the waterway at all times. Movement on the water is restricted to Law Enforcement, Rescue Personnel and Authorized Race Officials during the closures. Private boats are not allowed to assist with crash or rescue operations for safety reasons. Any unauthorized boat on the water during the closures may be cited for Reckless or Unsafe Operations, with a fine of up to $440. Law enforcement will be patrolling the river during the practice and race events.

Posted on 8/29/25 11:47AM by Sam Marsh

GP Man Incarcerated Motorist for Driving Dangerously and Hit & Run Collision

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for driving recklessly around town, striking another vehicle and leaving the scene while putting other motorists in danger. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to the incident involving 58-year-old Eric Allen Beardslee on Thursday at 10:51 a.m.. Police said they received three calls for service regarding a white Dodge truck driving at fast speeds, running red lights and crashing into at least one vehicle. Officers contacted the suspect driver at the Super 8 motel and he claimed to be driving fast in an attempt to go to the hospital. He was nowhere near a hospital. The investigation determined Beardslee fled the scene of a crash that caused about $4,000 in damage before fleeing and he endangered the safety of other drivers with his erratic behavior. Beardslee was placed into custody and several firearms were located in his truck after a consent search. They were logged into evidence for safekeeping. Beardslee was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage, Criminal Mischief and Reckless Driving. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 8/29/25 11:46AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Snared Man for Stealing Vehicle & Possessing Drugs at Boat Landing

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for stealing a vehicle and possessing narcotics at Robertson Bridge Boat Landing late yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the incident involving 40-year-old Joseph Lee Bishop, Jr., on Thursday around 4:30 p.m.. Deputies said an investigation determined that Bishop stole a Dodge flatbed single-cab truck with toolboxes on the bed and a trailer that was parked on Rogue Riffle Drive off Lower River Road. The registered owner reported seeing his vehicle parked under the bridge at the boat landing. Upon arrival, deputies immediately placed Bishop into custody and found him to be in possession of methamphetamine. Bishop was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and Meth Possession. He was being held without bail. According to the report, the registered owner recovered his truck but not the trailer.

Posted on 8/29/25 11:44AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Trio for Drug Possession after Lawnridge Park Complaint

Grants Pass Police arrested three people for narcotics possession yesterday while investigating a reported disturbance at a northwest neighborhood park. The Police Department reports officers responded to the call at Lawnridge Park on Thursday during the noon hour. Police said a neighbor called 9-1-1 to report two men and a woman who were inside the men's restroom at the city park. The caller said one of the men was yelling while going through the woman's belongings. Officers arrived on scene and contacted three subjects identified as 42-year-old William Lee Asbury, 41-year-old Leladawn Smith and 26-year-old Robert Michael Tiefenback. All three were found to be in possession of controlled substances and all three were placed into custody. Asbury was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Methamphetamine Possession. He was being held without bail. Smith was lodged in jail for Fentanyl Possession and Supplying Contraband. Tiefenback was jailed for Meth Possession. Asbury, Smith and Tiefenback were also trespassed from the park for 30 days.

Posted on 8/29/25 11:43AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Collared Woman on Statewide Warrant at Downtown Resting Site

Grants Pass Police apprehended a woman on a statewide felony warrant yesterday during a patrol check at a downtown resting site. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 40-year-old Jennifer Susan Condon at the 6th & A Street homeless encampment on Thursday at 12:36 p.m.. Police said they initially cited Condon for Improper Use of Space at the resting site before discovering that she was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. Condon was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. She was also found to be in possession of prescription medications belonging to another person. They were seized and destroyed.

Posted on 8/29/25 11:41AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Man Who Tried to Break into Car on Rogue River Highway

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for trying to break into a parked rental car in the southeast part of the city early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the car clouting call in the 1700-block of Rogue River Highway on Thursday shortly before 9 a.m.. Police said they received a call about a "homeless" man who was trying to enter a rented vehicle at that location. They said the man was seen on video surveillance and identified as 41-year-old Jesse Army Ambrose. The caller told the suspect to leave the property and he initially refused before walking away. Officers caught up to Ambrose a short time later and detained him. They said he was making nonsensical statements about what happened and they placed him into custody. Ambrose was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 8/29/25 11:40AM by Sam Marsh

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