Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to three separate shooting incidents in the latter part of October, with one of the shootings resulting in the death of an adult male. On October 21st in the Illinois Valley, an adult male was shot in the foot by a landowner after a report of a restraining order violation in progress. The suspect survived. On October 22nd in the North Valley area, an adult male was shot in the neck by a homeowner who had just pulled into their driveway. The suspect -- who attempted to enter the vehicle occupied by the homeowner and his spouse -- survived. On October 27th in Cave Junction, an adult male was shot and killed by a citizen during a reported trespassing incident on private property. The Oregon State Police is the lead agency in this case. OSP has not provided any information on the most recent incident, but trusted sources have identified the shooter as 57-year-old Michael Orentlicher and the deceased as 35-year-old Theadore Crowly. Orentlicher has been arraigned on felony charges of 2nd-Degree Murder and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Lieutenant Jim Geiger said each incident has been referred to the Josephine County District Attorney's Office and no further information is available from the Sheriff's Office.

 

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 this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 41-year-old Felix Melvin Stiglbauer on NW Conklin Avenue on Tuesday afternoon. 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 arrested a felon for violating terms of his probation after he started a fight in the camping area of Riverside Park this week. 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.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a local felon wanted for violating his post-prison supervision at a city park this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 35-year-old Jonathan Michael Bull at Baker Park on Tuesday morning. 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.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a man for breaking into an abandoned vehicle on Interstate 5 in the Grants Pass area this week. 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 late Tuesday night. 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.

 

The Grants Pass City Council tackled a few agenda items at its regular meeting on Wednesday night. The City Council first passed a resolution awarding Home Bridging GP, Inc., an American Rescue Plan Act Public Infrastructure Affordable Housing Grant for up to $800,000. The project site that will be upgraded with city sewer and water service is located at 235 NW Scenic Drive. Two acres out of the 10-acre lot will eventually have 22 one- and two-bedroom homes built for seniors over 60. The concept for this planned community is unique and it will help with more than just the 22 seniors. They can use their equity in their old, hard-to-maintain homes to trade for one of the new homes. The builder will then upgrade their home to sell to a new buyer, creating more much-needed affordable housing in Grants Pass. Dwayne Brown and Doug Walker were reappointed to the Housing Advisory Committee and it was suggested that a survey be sent out to get the community's opinion on permanent funding options for police and fire services. Also part of the one-hour meeting was discussion on coordinating with the United Community Action Network (UCAN) and other non-profits for a warming shelter. There were also statements from current police officers and citizens concerned with open drug use in the parks.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners made an appointment to the Mining Advisory Committee during a brief business session on Wednesday -- 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 School Resource Officer Ken Frownfelter challenged the South Middle School football team at the beginning of the season and the Trojans answered the challenge. Officer Frownfelter told the team that if they went undefeated this year, he would let them shave his head. He admitted that he didn't think he would have to pay up, but he was wrong. The football team went undefeated and at a South Middle School assembly this week, Frownfelter kept his promise by letting team members shave his head in front of the entire student body. With winter approaching, it's not exactly the warmest hairstyle for Frownfelter. However, he said it's important to live up to your word and everyone had fun.

 

KAJO Radio will be broadcasting a special edition talk show tomorrow morning on the Josephine County Law Enforcement District that will be decided in next week's election. Listeners are invited to join us from 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Thursday for a talk show that will feature people both for and against the proposed law enforcement district. Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel and a citizen group proposed the permanent district, which -- if passed by voters -- would be funded by 99 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value. The City of Cave Junction is included in the district, but the City of Grants Pass is not. Grants Pass voters will be deciding whether to renew the current $1.79 local option levy that provides funding for police and fire services. Ballots for the November 7th Election should be mailed or delivered to designated drop-boxes by 8 p.m. that day.