Local News

The Oregon State Police arrested two motorists for impaired driving in separate traffic stops in the Grants Pass area yesterday. OSP reports the first incident occurred at 8:49 a.m. Tuesday when state troopers pulled over a blue Toyota driven by 25-year-old Alejandro Gaona-Valdovinos of Farmersville, California, near milepost 62 of northbound Interstate 5. Troopers said they stopped Gaona-Valdovinos for speeding and he displayed strong signs of impairment. After performing poorly in field sobriety tests, he refused to provide a breath sample. He was cited to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His car was impounded. The second incident happened at 10:34 p.m. Tuesday when troopers pulled over a silver Chevrolet Tahoe driven by 62-year-old James Alexander Simms of Grants Pass near the corner of 6th and L streets. Troopers said they stopped Simms for multiple traffic violations and he displayed strong signs of impairment. After performing poorly in field sobriety tests, a search warrant was obtained and he was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented a high level of intoxication. Simms was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony DUII, Felony Driving While Suspended, Felony Methamphetamine Possession, Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangering. He was being held without bail and his SUV was towed.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving after he crashed into a parked vehicle near the downtown area last night. The Police Department reports officers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision in the 500-block of NW A Street on Tuesday at 8:15 p.m.. Police were alerted to an incident in which the male driver of a Jeep Wrangler collided with a parked vehicle and was trying to take off. Witnesses reported the driver seemed to be impaired. He was lone occupant and no one was hurt. Upon arrival, officers contacted 26-year-old Brendan Scott Hobgood who admitted to consuming alcohol and smoking marijuana before driving and crashing. They said he consented to field sobriety tests, but was unable to complete them due to his high level of impairment. Hobgood was placed into custody and transported to the Sobering Center where he provided breath and urine samples. He was cited to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and released to his mother.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a petty theft suspect at a downtown resting site early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 24-year-old Alycsander Truel Morgan at the 6th & A Street homeless encampment on Tuesday shortly before 7 a.m.. Police said they were performing a patrol check at the site when they spotted Morgan and knew that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for 3rd-Degree Theft. He was placed into custody without incident. Morgan was lodged in jail on the warrant and his bail was set at $5,000.

 

The Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) arrested an Illinois Valley man while raiding an illegal cannabis growing operation near Cave Junction last week. Last Wednesday, JMET -- with assistance from the US Marshals Service, US Homeland Security Investigations, US Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service and Rogue Area Drug Enforcement -- served search warrants on separate properties in the 4,000- and 5,000-blocks of Holland Loop Road. During execution of the warrants, approximately 5,000 marijuana plants were seized and destroyed. Four firearms were also seized on one of the properties. Both sites had multiple electrical, water and solid waste code violations that could result in civil forfeiture of the properties. JMET detectives said 34-year-old Joseph Aaron Barany was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Manufacture and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana. According to JMET, the investigation is ongoing and no further details about the incident are being released at this time.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was investigating a motor vehicle accident that occurred in Merlin early yesterday. On Tuesday at 1:27 a.m., the Sheriff's Office, Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response were dispatched to the two-vehicle crash on Merlin Road at Ort Lane. Rural Metro officials reported the collision occurred between a motorcycle and an automobile. They said the driver of the vehicle was not hurt, but the condition of the motorcyclist was unknown because they fled before the arrival of emergency services. Deputies said the motorcycle had been reported stolen and they were investigating in order to identify and locate the suspect. Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to call (541)-474-5123.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant while investigating a drug-fueled disturbance at a south-city eatery early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to the incident at Casablanca Coffee & Grill on Union Avenue on Tuesday at 5:14 a.m.. Police said a Casablanca employee called 9-1-1 to report a male transient who was obviously under the influence of intoxicants while yelling and putting himself in contortionist positions. Despite the early hour, the man was not wearing a shirt or shoes. Officers arrived on scene and contacted 31-year-old Mark Jeffrey Mislon who displayed numerous indicators of impairment by a narcotic stimulant. He was found to be wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Methamphetamine Possession and was placed into custody. Mislon banged his head against the walls of the patrol vehicle and spat on his way to the Josephine County Jail. He was lodged on the warrant.

 

The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is seeking public assistance in identifying the person or persons responsible for the illegal take and waste of a buck deer in Grants Pass last week. On the morning of July 23rd, a dead buck deer was found on private property on NW Vine Street near Highland Avenue in the northwest part of the city. The property owner recalled hearing a single gunshot on the evening of July 21st, but had not noticed the deceased animal until later. Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the Turn in Poachers Tip Line at 1-(800)-452-7888, dial *OSP from a mobile phone or send an email to "TIP@osp.oregon.gov." Please reference Case #SP25347008. The Turn in Poachers program is a collaboration between the Oregon State Police, Oregon Hunters Association, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Wildlife Coalition, Oregon Outfitters and Guides Association and Oregon State Marine Board. The TIP program offers cash rewards or preference point awards to individuals who provide information leading to the arrest or citation of those responsible for the unlawful killing of wildlife and/or waste of big game animals.

 

The Natural Resources Department of the Rogue Valley Council of Governments (RVCOG) has issued a Safety Watch for the Bear Creek Watershed in Jackson County. Routine, monthly water quality testing results indicate that four creeks in the local watershed have exceeded state bacteria standards for contact recreation. Those creeks include Neil Creek at Dead Indian Memorial Road in Ashland, Ashland Creek below the Ashland Dog Park, Bear Creek at Blue Heron Park to Fern Valley Road in Phoenix and Bear Creek at Upton Road in Central Point. Possible causes of high levels of bacteria in the creeks include livestock waste, pet waste, wild animals, leaking septic systems, illegal dumping from portable toilets or recreational vehicles, or any other activity that results in the discharge of fecal matter into creeks or through storm drains. Residents are encouraged to use caution when in contact with any waterways and especially to avoid ingestion which may cause illness and contact with open wounds which may cause infection. Very young children should be fully supervised when playing in the water to avoid swallowing it. It is important to note that contact with any water body -- creeks, rivers, lakes or swimming pools -- carries some level of risk.

 

The National Weather Service has upgraded a Fire Weather Watch to a Red Flag Warning for parts of southwest Oregon and northwest California today. The Red Flag Warning for the Rogue Valley including the Illinois Valley and the Siskiyou Mountains is in effect from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.. Weather experts say abundant lightning on dry fuels may result in the potential for numerous fire starts. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are likely to be wet, but lightning strikes outside of precipitation are possible, raising concern for new fire starts. Winds gusts of 35 to 50 miles per hour could travel outward up to 25 miles from thunderstorm cores. Follow all current fire restrictions. One less spark means one less wildfire. A Red Flag Warning is issued when the Weather Service identifies conditions that promote rapid spread of fire which may become property- or life-threatening. It is important to have multiple ways to receive information from authorities.