Local News

Aberrant behavior described in the police report as violent and tumultuous, landed a man in the Josephine County Jail Wednesday afternoon. City Police began receiving calls at 3:09 that a man on Terry Lane near the Walmart, Taco Bell entrance was throwing things around, yelling, stopping traffic and bullying occupants. Responding Officers contacted Justin Harley, 34, who became very cooperative and was taken into custody without incident. He was lodged in the county jail on a charge of disorderly conduct II and the resulting probation violation.

 

A trespassing complaint Wednesday afternoon resulted in the arrest of one man for the third time since September. The incident began with a trespassing complaint at 12:47 from the Gospel Rescue Mission concerning two transients smoking and drinking in the middle of the property in the area of Booth and Foundry Streets near Booth Mini Storage. The responding Officer contacted the individuals and in the process of entering trespass notices identified Beau Thomas Beard, 46, also known as Fish and Cat. Beard had an active warrant for failure to appear on criminal mischief II charges stemming from a September 30th incident for which he was arrested. Beard was also arrested October 13th on the same charges. The Failure to appear warrant stems from those arrests. Beard remained in custody this morning.

 

Security Patrols spotted intruders early Wednesday morning in the vacant Jack-in-the-Box at Hillcrest and 7th Avenue. Grants Pass Police responded to assist resulting in the arrest of a man and woman.
The incident began with City Police being notified by Concierge Security at 11:13 p.m. Tuesday that they suspected people may be in that building. The caller stated the door was open and blocked by a metal umbrella and assistance was requested to confirm if people were inside. The door has been checked earlier in the day and found to be locked at that time. The security guard, while standing by at AllCare Health, called again stating he had eyes on the intruder in the hot water room facing 7th Street. Responding officers challenged two individuals, who were both compliant, and found no evidence of forced entry. The man was identified as Steven Elijah Robison, 38, and the woman as Rubyrose Satyaloha Markey, 30. Both were found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia that tested positive for methamphetamine.

 

Jumping in front of moving traffic on the Grants Pass Parkway is not wise, particularly if you jump in front of a Josephine County Deputy A local man was jailed Tuesday night after creating a traffic hazard by jumping in front of vehicles on the Grants Pass Parkway, including a Sheriff’s Deputy. At approximately 9:44 Tuesday night a Josephine County Deputy was outbound on the Parkway near ‘M’ Street and observed a man on the side of the road, As the Deputy drove closer, traveling at about 45 miles per hour, the man jumped in front of the Deputy’s vehicle. The Deputy was able to slow enough to miss the man, identified as 43-year-old Robert Michael Musella, As the Deputy was stopping Musella proceeded to jump in front of another vehicle on the opposite side of the Parkway. The Deputy arrested Musella and lodged him in the Josephine County Jail on disorderly conduct charges.

 

The Rogue River City Council will convene a regular meeting tonight at 6:00 p.m. facing a lengthy agenda. The meeting will begin with the approval of minutes for seven meetings dating from July through November followed by ten committee reports. The new business portion of the agenda includes a resolution declaring support for an application for a grant to review parking management, followed by a canvass of November general election votes. The council will then decide on two local government recommendations to the OLCC regarding liquor licenses.

 

Total payroll employment in Josephine County fell by 130 jobs in November according to the Oregon Employment Department. Private-sector industries with estimated losses included leisure and hospitality down 110 jobs, construction and professional and business services were each down 30. On the other hand, industries posting jobs gains over the month were private education and health services (+40), retail trade (+20), and transportation, warehousing, and utilities up a total of 80 jobs. Government employment was little changed with a gain of 40 jobs in local government offset by losses in state and federal government for a net loss of 10 jobs. Over the past year, payroll employment in the Grants Pass Metropolitan Service Area rose by 440 jobs, an increase of 1.6%. Industries adding jobs since November 2022 included private education and health services

 

The Oregon State Troopers have been busy with speeders, DUII drivers and warrants since the Christmas holiday. Tuesday morning just after ten a Trooper stopped a red Honda Civic for going 109 miles per hour in a 65 zone on Interstate-5 near milepost 64 southbound. The driver, 43-year-old Jeramiah Scott Ballard, was cited for speed, driving uninsured and failure to register the vehicle. The Civic was towed. At 2:43 that afternoon Troopers were dispatched to investigate a crash at milepost 78 on I-5 but the vehicle was found to be disabled. The driver later identified as 28-year-old Colton Jerome Shults fled into the woods when the Trooper arrived. His female passenger provided his name and it returned with a wanted warrant. The vehicle was towed as a hazard. At 8:42 Tuesday night a Trooper stopped a Dodge R-15 at the intersection of Front Street and Tavis Road in Merlin because of warrants for the registered owner. The owner, 45-year-old Mark Lonnie Eaves Jr. was taken to the County Jail and lodged on the warrants, then released after being cited for driving while suspended misdemeanor. Just after nine that night a Trooper investigating a single vehicle crash at milepost 4 of state route 46, Cave Junction observed the driver showing signs of impairment. The driver, Damon Trey Brooks, 46, was arrested, taken to the Cave Junction Substation where he submitted a breath sample confirming .16 blood alcohol content. He was issued a criminal citation and released.

 

An Argentinian National is in the Josephine County Jail facing theft II charges following an incident at Wal-Mart. At 3:53 Tuesday afternoon City Police were notified that Wal-Mart loss prevention personnel had detained a cooperative suspect for shoplifting. Investigating officers were informed that Andres Carcar, 31, of Argentina, was observed skip scanning and price tag switching in the store and at self-checkout, in an effort to deprive the store of merchandise worth $332.78.

 

A man and woman were jailed early Wednesday morning after being found in the vacant Jack in the Box location at Hillcrest and 7th Street. The incident began with City Police being notified by Concierge Security at 11:13 p.m. Tuesday that they suspected people may be in that building. The caller stated the door was open and blocked by a metal umbrella and assistance was requested to confirm if people were inside. The door has been checked earlier in the day and found to be locked at that time. The security guard, while standing by at AllCare Health, called again stating he had eyes on the intruder in the hot water room facing 7th Street. Responding officers chall