Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for allegedly stealing a vehicle from his father. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a vehicle driven by 29-year-old Dakota David Buckelew near the corner of SE 6th and I streets on Monday at about 1:50 p.m.. Police said Buckelew's father reported the vehicle was unlawfully taken by his son and officers spotted the vehicle before making the traffic stop. They said the driver was cooperative with lawful commands and he stated he knew his father was going to report the vehicle as stolen. According to the report, Buckelew had a recent "falling out" with his father and decided to keep the vehicle anyway. He also recently had his driving privileges suspended. Buckelew was lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and Driving While Suspended. The vehicle was secured at the scene of the traffic stop and the keys were taken to the Police Department for his father to pick up.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for stealing merchandise from Bi-Mart after jumping a fence into a secured area of the store early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 27-year-old Ivana Lynn Balcom during a patrol check at the store on Redwood Highway on Monday at about 3:35 a.m.. Police said they noticed several pieces of firewood scattered about along with three bags of wood chips. One bag had been ripped open by Balcom and the woodchips were in a pile. The suspect advised she took the items out of the fenced area so she could build a warming fire. Officers advised Balcom she was not allowed to be accessing secured areas and opening property that belonged to Bi-Mart. She reportedly told them she did it because she was cold. The suspect had destroyed the bag of woodchips and the store could not resell the item valued at about $10. Ivana Balcom was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. Officers said they were unable to contact anyone from Bi-Mart, but they left a business card with the case number.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant after a traffic stop on Redwood Highway west of Grants Pass early yesterday. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Toyota Sienna driven by 35-year-old Benjamin Earl Buerstetta near milepost 4 of US Highway 199 on Monday at 9:51 a.m.. Troopers said they stopped Buerstetta for a traffic violation and discovered that he had a valid warrant for his arrest. They also learned that he was driving with a suspended license and no insurance. Buerstetta was cited to appear in court for the warrant, Driving While Suspended and No Insurance before being released. His minivan was impounded and towed to Grants Pass.

 

A Grants Pass woman was injured late yesterday when her vehicle left Redwood Highway in the Jerome Prairie area. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle crash on US Highway 199 near Midway Avenue on Monday around 5:45 p.m.. Troopers said 67-year-old Vera Santa was driving a Kia Sedona in the dark without using her headlights when the wreck occurred. They said multiple complaints from fellow motorists had been received just prior to the crash. According to OSP, Santa said she lost control of the minivan, crossed all four lanes of the highway and through a wooded area before coming to rest on a parallel street. She was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center with what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries. Her damaged minivan was towed. Following an investigation, Santa was either cited or warned for a traffic violation. OSP was assisted by Rural Metro Fire Department and American Medical Response.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving after a traffic stop on Redwood Highway in Selma last night. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Ford F-150 driven by 63-year-old Susan Wanda Bryant-Grissom of Selma near milepost 20 of US Highway 199 on Monday shortly before 7 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped Bryant-Grissom for traffic violations and she showed signs of impairment. After performing poorly in field sobriety tests, she was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where she provided a breath sample that was nearly twice the legal driving limit. Susan Bryant-Grissom was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and lodged at the Sobering Center. A family member arrived to take possession of her pickup.

 

The Oregon State Police has made another arrest in connection with the shooting death of a Grants Pass man that occurred more than three months ago. Josephine County Jail records show 19-year-old Alex Jaden Mersino was arrested and lodged last Friday night. One week earlier, 24-year-old Julian Cendejas and 23-year-old Isaac Simonian were jailed for the death of 35-year-old Dustin Allen Carstensen on August 4th. Cendejas, Simonian and Mersino are all being held on charges of Murder in the 2nd-Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Criminal Conspiracy. OSP has not provided any additional details of its investigation, which is ongoing. The Josephine County District Attorney's Office has taken the unusual step of having probable cause affidavits sealed until the investigation is completed. Carstensen's death notice in the local newspaper announced it occurred on August 4th in Grants Pass, with no other information available. Court records indicate the homicide is the ninth to occur in Josephine County in 2023.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a woman for a weekend rampage in which she used the handle to a hydraulic jack to threaten motorists and break a restaurant window in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers arrested 33-year-old Morgan Delin Weber for the incident that started at Debo Park on Sunday at 1:03 p.m.. Police said Weber was identified by multiple callers as a disorderly female near the park on SW G Street who was in and out of traffic and striking vehicles with the jack handle. No damage to any vehicles was reported, but the suspect's behavior caused public alarm as she broke out a large window at Climate City Brewing. Weber actively resisted being placed into custody by pulling away from officers and attempting to slip out of handcuffs while spitting and blowing mucous out of her nose. A spit hood was applied to prevent exposure to officers and the public. During transport to the Josephine County Jail, Weber struck her head against the divider in the patrol vehicle multiple times while using what was described as "colorful language." Her corrections officer requested she be placed on a detainer. Morgan Weber was booked into jail on charges including Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief, Resisting Arrest, Disorderly Conduct and the resulting Parole Violation related to convictions for Harassment, Disorderly Conduct and Escape.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for physically harassing staff members at Three Rivers Medical Center who were treating him for injuries sustained in a weekend motor vehicle accident. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 20-year-old Ulric Hill for the incident at the hospital on SW Ramsey Avenue on Monday around 1:30 a.m.. Police said Hill was transported to Three Rivers by ambulance as a result of a crash that occurred in Josephine County. While at the hospital, they said he became very agitated, hostile and aggressive with staff members. The suspect reportedly showed signs of impairment and blood-alcohol results were sent to the Sheriff's Office. Officers located Hill in imaging where he leaped from the examination table and slapped a security guard. He was escorted back to his room where staff assisted officers with securing him in restraints due to his hostility and violent behavior. He also reportedly struck a charge nurse, causing a small cut with limited bleeding. Ulric Hill was charged with two counts of Physical Harassment and one count of Minor in Possession of Alcohol by Consumption. He was cited to appear in court and left in the care of medical staff.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested two people for theft, weapon and drug charges after a shoplifting incident at Home Depot last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a theft complaint at the store on NE Mill Street on Saturday night. Police said 33-year-old Samantha Jean Brown was identified as a suspect who passed all points of sale with over $100 worth of merchandise and failed to pay for the items. They said she admitted to the theft and other stolen goods were found in her vehicle along with drug paraphernalia. Officers said 29-year-old Eric Bryan Weldon was associated with a theft at Home Depot. During a consent search, he was found to be in possession of two stolen packs of batteries concealed in his shirt. He admitted to stealing the batteries as well as some lights hidden in the wheel well of a vehicle. He was also found to be in possession of a dagger and he was confirmed to be a convicted felon. Brown was lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Theft and the narcotics violation. Weldon was lodged in jail for Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon and 3rd-Degree Theft. All the stolen merchandise was recovered and returned to Home Depot. The dagger was seized as evidence and the drug paraphernalia was destroyed.