KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

Grants Pass PD Asks Citizens to Observe Moment of Silence for Fallen Officers

The Grants Pass Police Department is asking residents to observe a moment of silence this week to honor the police officers and their families who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their communities and nation. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as "National Peace Officers Memorial Day" and the calendar week in which May 15th falls as "National Police Week." Established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. National Police Week is a collaborative effort of many organizations dedicated to honoring America's law enforcement community. On Tuesday morning, the Grants Pass Police Department, Josephine County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State Police paid tribute to six fallen local officers in a special ceremony on the steps of the Josephine County Courthouse.

Posted on 5/15/24 5:55AM by Sam Marsh

BCC Holding Four Public Hearings on Adoptions of Ordinances Changing Code

The Board of Commissioners is holding four public hearings tomorrow morning on the second readings and adoptions of ordinances that will change the Josephine County Code. Three of the ordinances are repealing chapters concerning the Southern Oregon Library Information System, Law Enforcement Data System and Public Works Revolving Fund because the County no longer participates in those programs. The fourth ordinance will amend the chapter regarding the County's Law Library to make it more accessible to legal staff and the public. There are no other action items on the agenda for tomorrow's meeting except for the Consent Calendar. As always, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens when participants are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Wednesday's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 5/14/24 12:24PM by Sam Marsh

Two Monday Afternoon Vehicle Fires Kept Rural Metro Fire Department Busy

Two vehicle fires within one hour yesterday kept Rural Metro Fire Department busy. On Monday at 12:23 p.m., Rural Metro crews responded to a truck pulling a fifth-wheel trailer that caught fire while descending from Sexton Pass on Interstate 5. Pulling over near milepost 67, the driver was able to exit without injury. An attempt to use a fire extinguisher came up short due to rapidly advancing flames. Firefighters responded as quickly as possible over the pass to Sunny Valley and then back to the scene where they found the pickup fully involved. The blaze damaged the front exterior of the RV, but suppression efforts saved the contents. The cause of the fire was deemed to be a mechanical failure. On Monday at 1:23 p.m., Rural Metro responded to a fully-involved vehicle about four miles up Shan Creek Road beyond the National Forest boundary. Rural Metro officials said there was no driver located and the vehicle appeared to have been burning for a while. Due to the location in a wide gravel turnout, there was no spread to adjacent wildland which allowed crews to focus on cooling the car. The US Forest Service and Josephine County Sheriff's Office are investigating suspicious circumstances surrounding the vehicle's recent history and destruction. Anyone with information is urged to call the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123.

Posted on 5/14/24 11:09AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Woman for Causing Disturbance at SE City Apartments

Grants Pass Police arrested a "frequent flyer" last night for a disturbance on the southeast side of the city. The Police Department reports officers responded to a report of a female subject attempting to follow a woman into her apartment in the 1600-block of SE N Street on Monday around 8 p.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report the subject tried to follow her into her apartment, but the subject did not get physical with her. The caller said the woman was wearing what appeared to be a jail bracelet and was mumbling to herself about having "a clean bill of health." The subject followed other residents around as well. Upon arrival, officers contacted the 64-year-old woman and directed her multiple times to stay out of the road. She responded by sitting down in the bicycle lane, refusing to get up and leave while throwing two cigarettes on the road and refusing to pick them up. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and Offensive Littering. Due to her numerous recent contacts with law enforcement, she was being held without bail.

Posted on 5/14/24 11:08AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared 2 Men on Outstanding Warrants in City Park Patrol Checks

Grants Pass Police arrested two men on outstanding warrants during city park patrol checks on Monday morning. At Tussing Park, officers contacted a 57-year-old man for an observed violation of a city ordinance and discovered that he was wanted on two warrants. The man was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation and a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Driving While Suspended. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. At Morrison Centennial Park, officers contacted another 57-year-old man for an observed violation of a city ordinance and found him to be wanted on a Coos County warrant for failing to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Theft. After the warrant was confirmed, the man was cited to appear in Coos County Circuit Court and then released. He was also trespassed from the park for 30 days.

Posted on 5/14/24 11:05AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Evicted Total of 17 Campers for Ordinance Violations in City Parks

Grants Pass Police evicted a total of 17 campers from city parks due to repeat ordinance violations on Monday. At Fruitdale Park, two women were cited for Illegal Camping after they failed to remove their previously posted campsites. One of them was trespassed for 30 days. At Morrison Centennial Park, two men were cited for Illegal Camping and Scattering Rubbish, a man and two women were cited for Illegal Camping, and a woman was cited for Buffer Zone Violation. All six were issued park exclusions. At Tussing Park, three men and two women were cited for Buffer Zone Violation while two of them were also cited for Staking a Tent. Another woman was cited for Illegal Camping and Misuse of Park Open Space. Five of them were trespassed from the park for 30 days. At Riverside Park, two men and a woman were cited for Possession of Fentanyl. The three campers were issued 30-day park exclusions and the drugs were seized for destruction. Two others were cited for Illegal Camping and Scattering Rubbish. At Lawnridge Park, a man was cited for Possession of Methamphetamine and given a 30-day park exclusion. At Kesterson Park, a man was cited for Misuse of Open Space and trespassed for 30 days.

Posted on 5/14/24 11:04AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Cited GP Man Who Stopped by Office to Ask about Cottage Grove Case

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass man on an outstanding warrant when he stopped by the OSP office yesterday. According to OSP, the 35-year-old man arrived at the office on NE 7th Street on Monday at 11:51 a.m. to inquire if he was needed for questioning for an unknown reason. Upon further investigation, it was discovered the man was wanted on a Cottage Grove misdemeanor warrant for an unspecified offense. He was detained. The suspect was cited to appear in court and released. It was later determined that the incident he was inquiring about had occurred in Cottage Grove.

Posted on 5/14/24 11:03AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Arrested Motorist for Impaired Driving after Weekend Stop in CJ

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving last weekend during a traffic stop in Cave Junction. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies pulled over a vehicle driven by the 52-year-old man in the 27,900-block of Redwood Highway late Saturday night. Deputies said they stopped the motorist for observed traffic violations and he displayed signs of impairment. They said he performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to the Cave Junction Substation for processing. The suspect was cited to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. He was given a courtesy ride to his residence, but his vehicle was impounded.

Posted on 5/14/24 11:01AM by Sam Marsh

Vehicle Passenger Died in Friday Afternoon Rollover Accident on Winona Road

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office has released information about a fatal motor vehicle accident that occurred in a mountainous area north of Grants Pass late last week. The Oregon State Police first reported the incident that occurred on Friday at 3:52 p.m. near milepost 2.5 of Winona Road. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies, state troopers and American Medical Response were dispatched to a report of a single-vehicle crash with an occupant trapped inside the vehicle. Arriving units determined the female passenger -- 39-year-old Justine Nord -- was deceased inside the overturned vehicle. Sheriff's Lieutenant Jim Geiger said the driver told deputies they stopped to help a disabled vehicle and were outside their own vehicle when it began rolling north on Winona Road down the hill. The vehicle subsequently left the roadway, rolled over and trapped Nord inside where she later succumbed to her injuries. Lieutenant Geiger said next of kin has been notified.

Posted on 5/14/24 6:14AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed Man for Violating Court Order by Going to Mother's Residence

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for violating a court order by going to his mother's residence and yelling at her. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested a 41-year-old male subject for the domestic disturbance at a home in the 12,400-block of Redwood Highway on Saturday afternoon. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that she has a valid restraining order protecting her from her son who lives in another dwelling on the same property. The caller said her son came into her house and yelled at her before returning to his own home. There were no injuries reported. Upon arrival, deputies interviewed both parties, confirmed the court order and then placed the son into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 5/14/24 6:13AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Stealing Cell Phone Out of Backpack at Skate Park

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing another man's cell phone out his backpack at the Skate Park last weekend. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to the phone theft at the Grants Pass Skate Park on Sunday around 4:45 p.m.. Police said an investigation determined that a 47-year-old man intentionally stole the victim's Samsung phone valued at $1,200 from the victim's backpack. Using a cell phone tracking system, officers were able to locate the suspect at Southern Oregon Goodwill at the Grants Pass Shopping Center. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for suspicion of Felony 1st-Degree Theft. The cell phone was recovered and returned to the victim. At an employee's request, the suspect was trespassed from the Goodwill store.

Posted on 5/14/24 6:12AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Two for Unruly Behavior in Downtown Area Last Weekend

Grants Pass Police arrested two people for their unruly behavior in two separate incidents on the same day in the downtown area last weekend. According to the Police Department, the first incident occurred on Saturday at 3:38 p.m. when officers were alerted to a male transient sleeping in the doorway of a downtown business in the 300-block of SW 6th Street. Police said they awakened the 38-year-old man who immediately jumped to his feet and squared up to fight an officer. He had threatened officers with violence on a previous call earlier in the day, so he was taken to the ground before any punches were thrown. He was lodged in jail for Disorderly Conduct and Attempted Assault on a Public Safety Officer. The second incident happened on Saturday at 5:05 p.m. when officers responded to reports of a female subject throwing objects, crawling on the sidewalk and yelling at people in the 100-block of SW G Street. Responding officers observed the 64-year-old woman's bad behavior, which was causing public alarm. She was lodged in jail for Disorderly Conduct.

Posted on 5/14/24 6:10AM by Sam Marsh

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