Local News

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners made an appointment to the Mining Advisory Committee during a brief weekly business session today -- the meeting lasted only 11 minutes. The Board appointed Anthony Chamberlain to a four-year at-large position on the panel, which advises the Commissioners regarding mineral resources on all lands within Josephine County including exploration, zoning, permitting and leases. The Board last month placed a temporary moratorium on mining exploration and leases in order to update the Josephine County Code on those actions. The mining committee is expected to contribute to the amendments. The Commissioners opened the meeting with Requests and Comments from Citizens. Comments ranged from increased trash around the community to people not standing for the Pledge of Allegiance to an upcoming Veterans Day event.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man on an outstanding felony warrant and added another felony-level charge to his criminal bill after he fled on foot yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 41-year-old Felix Melvin Stiglbauer on NW Conklin Avenue on Tuesday shortly before 1 p.m.. Police said an anonymous caller informed them that Stiglbauer was at a home in the 1300-block of NW Washington Boulevard and that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for Felony Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. Officers noted that the house was vacant and deemed unsafe to occupy due to plumbing issues. Officers were met at the door by a woman identified as "Valerie Swanson" who delayed them while Stiglbauer fled out of a bedroom. He was detained a short time later and admitted to driving his vehicle from Reinhart Volunteer Park to the home even though his license was suspended. Felix Stiglbauer was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Felony Driving While Suspended. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a local felon wanted for violating his post-prison supervision at a city park early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 35-year-old Jonathan Michael Bull at Baker Park on Tuesday at 10:12 a.m.. Police said they were on patrol in the park when they spotted Bull and knew that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation related to a past conviction for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. During a consent search, he was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia. Jonathan Bull was lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. He was also cited to appear in court for the narcotics violation and trespassed from the park for 30 days. Jail records show it was the fourth time this year Bull has been jailed for violating his post-prison supervision.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a felon for violating terms of his probation after he started a fight in the camping area of Riverside Park yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a disturbance in the city park just west of Caveman Bridge on Tuesday during the noon hour. Police said 43-year-old Elijah Samuel Greene caused public alarm by fighting with and yelling at other campers. They said he had confronted several people regarding allegations that they had stolen items from him. There were no injuries reported. Elijah Greene was placed into custody and booked into the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct plus the resulting Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. He was trespassed from the park for 30 days and his property was logged into evidence for safekeeping.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a man for breaking into an abandoned vehicle on Interstate 5 in the Grants Pass area late last night. According to OSP, troopers contacted 33-year-old Brad Lee Middleton near an abandoned Hyundai Elantra parked along the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 58 on Tuesday shortly after 11 p.m.. The car had already been tagged for towing. State troopers said Middleton initially told them he knew the owner of the vehicle and had been requested to check on it. They said he later admitted to lying and did not know the vehicle owner. Troopers noticed the front passenger-side window was smashed and the suspect had several tools on him and in his vehicle capable of breaking the glass. They said it appeared the incident had just happened. Brad Middleton was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle and 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief.

 

Several people -- including two young children -- escaped injury when two vehicles collided on Williams Highway in the northern Applegate Valley last night. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle crash on Highway 238 at Water Gap Road on Tuesday at 7:35 p.m.. Police said a Subaru sedan driven by 31-year-old Ashley Elizabeth Thabit of Ashland pulled out in front of a Toyota 4-Runner driven by 23-year-old Hannah McLaughlin of Grants Pass. McLaughlin had at least three passengers in her vehicle including a two-year-old girl and a one-year-old boy, but no one was hurt. Her Toyota was towed by a family member and the Subaru was hauled into Grants Pass by Goodfellas Towing. Following an investigation, Thabit was warned for Failure to Yield the Right of Way.

 

A Grants Pass man was jailed for roughing up his girlfriend and destroying items at her southeast city residence last weekend. Grants Pass Police responded to the domestic disturbance in the 1800-block of SE Portola Drive early Sunday morning. Police said 33-year-old Ethan James Carter was determined to be the aggressor in a physical altercation with his girlfriend. They said the woman sustained physical injuries and there was property damage to her residence as a result of the fracas. The female victim had called 9-1-1 to report that Carter had a gun, he had "choked her out" and she was bleeding. She requested medical attention and stated that her boyfriend had been drinking. The suspect fled the home before the arrival of law enforcement, but he was located a short time later and placed into custody. Ethan Carter was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault and 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a local fugitive during a patrol check at a downtown supermarket this week. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 58-year-old Jack Lee Osborne at the Safeway on SE 7th Street late Monday night. Police said they observed Osborne in the passenger seat of a vehicle in the Safeway parking lot. They said he was known to be wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Theft, 3rd-Degree Theft and 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass. Jack Osborne was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman who caused a disturbance at a fast food eatery from which she had been trespassed before. The Police Department reports officers responded Monday night to a trespassing complaint at Wendy's in the 1800-block of NE 6th Street. Police said 45-year-old Amy Fellows Merrill returned to Wendy's and was yelling on the property. They said she was warned several times for her loud disruptive behavior and she had been previously trespassed from the business. Amy Merrill was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. It was at least the third time this year she had been arrested for being disorderly.