Local News

Grants Pass Police apprehended an out-of-county fugitive who attempted to steal items from Walmart this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 27-year-old Brittany Ann McGrath at the store on NE Terry Lane around midday Thursday. Police said McGrath bypassed all points of sale at Walmart with $29.99 worth of unpaid-for merchandise. They said she provided a false name while being detained by loss prevention and again when placed into custody by responding officers. Turns out McGrath had reason to provide a false identity. She was wanted on two Klamath County Corrections warrants for Parole Violations related to convictions for Assault and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. She also physically resisted being placed into custody.

 

A Grants Pass man was jailed for illegally entering the home of a former girlfriend and releasing her dog this week. The Grants Pass Police Department reports officers arrested 33-year-old Brandon Russell Kobrzycki for the incident at a home in the 400-block of NE Anderson Street late Thursday night. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 around 2 p.m. Thursday and stated that she left her home because she was afraid Kobrzycki was inside the residence. They said that she and the suspect were in an on-and-off relationship for about a year, and it ended when she became concerned about his drug and alcohol addictions. The woman called back in the evening and gave more information that Kobrzycki had previously been trespassed from her home, but he returned and damaged the front door a few days ago. She said she did not want to press charges at that time, but she had changed her mind and would not return home until he was gone.

 

Grants Pass Fire & Rescue had the honor of hosting the annual Rogue Valley Fire Chiefs Association Luncheon this week. The luncheon provides chief fire officers from throughout the Rogue Valley the rare chance to come together to network, share best practices, and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing fire departments in the region. The presidency of the Association was transferred from Rural Metro Fire Department Deputy Chief Austin Prince to Medford Fire Chief Eric Thompson. Fire District #3 Deputy Chief Justin Bates was recognized for over 25 years of service to the citizens of Jackson and Josephine counties.

 

Holiday decorations throughout the Pacific Northwest shine a little brighter when they save energy and reduce their environmental impact during this festive time of year, thanks to Pacific Power's Blue Sky program participants. With support from Blue Sky participants, Pacific Power communities are helping celebrate the season while illuminating the benefits of renewable energy by matching the electricity they use for lighting with emissions-free energy resources. Local holiday celebrations in 17 Pacific Power communities -- from Ashland's Festival of Lights to the 60,000 lights adorning the Winter Lights Festival in Medford -- will have the power used by their local lighting celebrations matched with renewable energy. Communities who are "greening" their holiday lighting displays this year include Ashland, Medford, Grants Pass and Klamath Falls. Pacific Power customers can also celebrate the season by signing up to "green" their own homes and businesses year-round.

 

A 36-year-old Eagle Point woman was arrested for felony assault, misdemeanor assault and impaired driving after she crashed a vehicle and injured two of her young children this week. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office reports deputies and emergency personnel were dispatched to the single-vehicle crash near the intersection of Rogue River Drive and Buckingham Circle late Tuesday night. Deputies said Amanda Lynn Padilla was arrested after two of her children were injured and she showed signs of impairment at the scene. She was lodged at the Jackson County Jail for 2nd-Degree Assault, 4th-Degree Assault, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangering. A Mercy Flights helicopter flew the 5-year-old child to a local hospital in serious condition. A ground ambulance transported the 2-year-old child with lesser injuries to a local hospital. Padilla was not hurt. The Jackson County Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) team responded to the scene along with the Jackson County District Attorney's Office to investigate the incident. An initial investigation revealed lack of proper child restraints was a major factor to the injuries suffered by the children. The case remains under investigation.

 

Grants Pass Police captured an out-of-county fugitive last night after he wrecked his vehicle into another vehicle and fled the scene. The Police Department reports officers tracked down and arrested 41-year-old Stephen Nathaniel Lockett, IV, near the corner of NE 7th and Steiger streets with the help of an Uber driver on Wednesday at 8:09 p.m.. Police said a motorist was in the right turn lane at the F Street and Grants Pass Parkway intersection when both vehicles tried to turn right at the same time and Lockett crashed into the driver-side of the other vehicle. They said Lockett stopped momentarily and then fled, but he was followed by an Uber driver who witnessed the incident. The bystander called 9-1-1 and led police to the suspect. Upon contact with Lockett, police discovered that he was wanted on a Clackamas County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for three counts of 3rd-Degree Robbery and one count of 2nd-Degree Theft. Stephen Lockett was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and for Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage. Fortunately, no one was hurt -- but the victim's vehicle had a broken steering wheel and had to be towed.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested an uncooperative woman for two crimes late last night during an encounter on Interstate 5 just north of Grants Pass. OSP reports troopers responded to a call for service regarding a disabled vehicle blocking a travel lane on southbound I-5 near milepost 61 on Wednesday shortly before midnight. Troopers said they located 55-year-old Rhonda Bentley-Lewis and her 14-year-old son in the disabled Honda Odyssey. They said the woman became agitated and refused to obey commands to get off I-5 to a safe location. She had to be physically moved off the freeway. Bentley-Lewis resisted arrest and troopers were forced to use custody techniques in order to subdue her. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct. Her minivan was towed into Grants Pass. According to OSP, the male juvenile was placed into protective custody and taken to the Hearts With A Mission Youth Shelter in Medford.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for returning to a park and breaking into his trailer after being evicted from the premises in October. The Police Department reports officers responded to the trespassing complaint involving 71-year-old Russell Dewitt Coe at the Royal Trailer Park on Lewis Avenue on Wednesday shortly after 9 a.m.. Police said the park maintenance manager called 9-1-1 to report that Coe was intoxicated and had broken a window to get into his trailer. The manager had been told to call police if Coe returned after he had been previously served by the courts and legally evicted. Upon arrival, officers arrested Russell Coe and lodged him at the Josephine County Jail for Criminal Trespass. His trailer and vehicle have been filed as abandoned and they will be removed by the property owner.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for stealing a beer from a Rogue River Highway convenience store and then harassing the manager when he attempted to stop her late yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a theft complaint at the Market & Deli in the 1,000-block of Highway 99 on Wednesday around 4:45 p.m.. Police said 41-year-old Gayle Lee Hooper proceeded past all points of sale with a beer valued at $3.89 and proceeded to drink it just outside the store. They said the store manager took the beer from the suspect and ordered her to leave. That's when she stepped on the manager's foot and punched him. Hooper was located a short time later at Morrison Centennial Park where she was placed into custody. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Physical Harassment and 3rd-Degree Theft.