Local News

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office recently hosted a training for local law enforcement agencies to become eligible to work federally-funded overtime during DUII High Visibility Enforcement patrols. Extra patrols are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). The training is the Oregon-Specific 4-Hour Standardized Field Sobriety Test Refresher curriculum from NHTSA and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The class is required for any officer working under ODOT DUII grants. The local training event included officers from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Oregon State Police, Ashland Police Department, Jacksonville Police Department, Rogue River Police Department and Talent Police Department. The training location was provided by Jackson County Fire District #1 in Rogue River. The next grant-funded DUII training event is scheduled for Labor Day.

 

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley hosted the highly-anticipated Youth of the Year Competition at its Grants Pass location last weekend. This signature celebration and competition highlighted the achievements of local youth, showcasing the future leaders of our community. Three outstanding teens from the local Boys & Girls Clubs -- Gabriel C. from Grants Pass High School, Maximilian F. from Grants Pass High School and Hannah V. from South Middle School -- competed for the esteemed Youth of the Year title. This year's event featured speeches from all three contestants, with each sharing how their time at the Club shaped them and the life experiences that contributed to their personal growth. A panel of community leaders interviewed the contestants, reviewed their essays and judged their speeches before selecting Maximilian as the 2025 Youth of the Year. He advances to state and possibly regional and national competitions.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for forcing his way into his ex-girlfriend's house and attacking her roommate earlier this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested a 55-year-old male subject for the alleged incident in the 7200-block of Monument Drive on Monday afternoon. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report her roommate's ex-boyfriend came to the door and when she told him she wasn't there, he forced his way inside the home, grabbed her by the neck and choked her. The caller said the man also tore off one of her fingernails, pushed past her and began searching the home for his ex. According to the report, the man identified himself as a hospital employee and demanded money from the victim who was shaken but not seriously injured. He refused to leave the home despite being asked to do so several times. Upon arrival, deputies interviewed both parties and placed the man into custody. The suspect was booked into the Josephine County Jail for felony crimes of 1st-Degree Burglary and two counts of 4th-Degree Assault plus misdemeanor crimes of Attempted Strangulation, two counts of Menacing and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was being held in lieu of posting $100,000 bail. During his court arraignment on Tuesday, the District Attorney's Office dismissed four of the seven charges, but filed for prosecution of the Burglary, Simple Assault and Attempted Strangulation allegations.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man wanted on a local felony warrant at Family Court late yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies tracked down 32-year-old Kyle James Diffie at the court facility on NW F Street on Tuesday around 4:15 p.m.. Deputies said they spotted Diffie's 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan in the family court parking lot. They knew he was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant containing a secret indictment for Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Strangulation, 4th-Degree Assault and Menacing. According to the report, Diffie was placed into custody with some difficulty due to his uncooperative behavior. Diffie was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant, but he was released this morning due to unspecified medical reasons.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for seven fraud-related crimes late yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 27-year-old Lacey Marie Cullison and booked her into the Josephine County Jail on Tuesday at 6:06 p.m.. No details about the investigation that led to Cullison's arrest were available due to system updates on the Grants Pass Police Log this morning. Cullison was charged with seven felony crimes including three counts of Identity Theft, three counts of 2nd-Degree Forgery and one count of 1st-Degree Theft. She was being held without bail pending her court arraignment this afternoon.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested an Illinois Valley man on a local warrant early yesterday following a traffic stop in Cave Junction. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a vehicle driven by 39-year-old Anthony David Pope near the corner of North Kerby Avenue and West Palmer Street on Tuesday around 9:33 a.m.. Deputies said they stopped Pope for a traffic violation and discovered that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for Probation Violation related to a past arrest for Felony Identity Theft. Pope was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged in jail on the warrant. His vehicle was secured and left on the side of the road.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving this week following a traffic stop on Redwood Highway near Wilderville. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies pulled over a 2005 Toyota Matrix driven by a 35-year-old female subject on US Highway 199 at Little Cheyenne Trail on Monday afternoon. Deputies said they stopped the vehicle for traffic violations and the driver showed signs of impairment. They moved to the Wilderville Scales for safety reasons and the driver performed poorly in field sobriety tests. She was also found to be driving with a suspended license. The female suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Driving While Suspended. Her car was impounded while a dog in the vehicle was taken and secured at the Animal Shelter.

 

A drug trafficker from the Eagle Point area was sentenced in federal court last week to more than five years in prison. According to the US District Court in Medford, 59-year-old Joel Daniel Dixon was also placed on four years of post-prison supervision for his guilty plea to dealing drugs. Federal prosecutors said four pounds of methamphetamine was found in a safe at Dixon's home on Agate Road during a raid in July 2021. Another 279 grams of meth was found on his nightstand. Court records show Dixon has a lengthy criminal record -- he was arrested twice for drug relapses while awaiting trial and he has an active assault case in Jackson County Circuit Court. Dixon's roommate -- 58-year-old Timothy Hugh Thornton -- also faced charges for his role in the case, which was judged to be a lesser one. Police seized two pounds of meth in his room plus 13.5 pounds of marijuana. He was sentenced to time-served in the Jackson County Jail.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant this week during a patrol check at the Bottle Drop Center. The Police Department reports officers arrested 51-year-old Gabriel Gene Suiter at the recycling depot on Rogue River Highway on Monday morning. Police said Suiter was trespassing at the Bottle Drop Center behind their roped-off area while actively gathering a broken glass mirror that did not belong to him. He initially gave officers a false name and birth date. Further investigation revealed his true identity as well as the reason why he lied. Suiter was wanted on a 2018 Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation. He told officers that he had the warrant for over a year and admitted to not checking in with his corrections officer. His corrections officer was notified about the contact. Suiter was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and he was being held on a no-bail detainer.