Local News

The Oregon State Police arrested an out-of-state motorist on an outstanding warrant yesterday following a Redwood Highway traffic stop near Grants Pass. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Ford Ranger pickup driven by a 61-year-old Crescent City, California, man near milepost 4 of US Highway 199 on Wednesday at 11:12 a.m.. Troopers said they stopped the driver for a traffic violation and discovered that he was wanted on a 2021 Lane County felony warrant for 1st-Degree Burglary. After the warrant was confirmed, the man was lodged at the Josephine County Jail. He was being held locally pending transfer to the Lane County Jail in Eugene. The pickup was turned over to the man's 65-year-old female passenger.

 

The Grants Pass Police Department apprehended five campers on outstanding warrants while sweeping through city parks on Wednesday. At Lawnridge Park, officers observed a 31-year-old man who was known to be wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation and a Grants Pass warrant for Criminal Mischief and Criminal Trespass. At Riverside Park, officers detained a 38-year-old woman who was wanted on a Jackson County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and a Medford felony warrant for failing to appear in court for 1st-Degree Theft. At Tussing Park, officers arrested a 34-year-old man who was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for Identity Theft, 2nd-Degree Theft and Interfering with a Police Officer, along with a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct. Back at Riverside Park, officers detained a 31-year-old man who was wanted on a Jackson County warrant for failing to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering and Driving While Suspended. At Morrison Centennial Park, officers arrested a 42-year-old man who was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Theft and Criminal Trespass. He was lodged in jail without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known "frequent flyer" last night for causing yet another disturbance, this time at a downtown area convenience store. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at A-1 Market & Deli on SW G Street on Wednesday around 10 p.m.. Upon arrival of police, store employees pointed out a 33-year-old woman as the subject causing problems. The suspect began running away from officers across the street before she eventually stopped and was placed into custody. Police said the woman had previously been trespassed from the store for causing problems as she has at numerous businesses around the city. The suspect was charged with 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and she was lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for causing problems at a downtown restaurant last night. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the incident at Thai BBQ on SW 6th Street around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police said a restaurant employee reported that a 31-year-old man was standing in the doorway and refusing to let customers come inside. The worker gave the man some food in order to get him to leave. He instead took the food inside, sat down at a table and refused to exit the business when asked to do so by the manager. The suspect also refused to leave when asked to do so by police. He was placed into custody and lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was also trespassed from Thai BBQ.

 

Grants Pass Police evicted two campers from a city park yesterday after they violated the ordinance regarding narcotics in public places. Around midday Wednesday at Riverside Park, officers observed a man and woman with drugs and drug paraphernalia clearly visible at their campsite. The pair was cited for Possession of a Schedule 2 Controlled Substance and both were trespassed from the park for 30 days. A total of 19 campsites were posted for Illegal Camping at Riverside Park yesterday and an e-mail was sent to the United Community Action Network.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office has arrested a motorist who caused a crash that injured him and one other person in the Selma area early yesterday. On Wednesday at 12:07 a.m., deputies and emergency personnel were dispatched to a two-vehicle head-on collision on Warren Road near Hogue Drive. Deputies said the incident involved a Toyota 4-Runner that was being towed that crashed into a Toyota Tundra, resulting in significant damage and severe injuries. They said arriving units found the 4-Runner lodged in the brush and a Ford truck with a tow strap attached to its bumper. According to the driver of the Ford, the 4-Runner had broken down and was being towed when -- for unknown reasons -- it veered into the oncoming lane and struck the Toyota. However, an investigation revealed much different circumstances. Upon impact, the female driver of the 4-Runner was ejected and found in the roadway. She and the driver of the Tundra -- 42-year-old Jared Robbins -- were transported by ambulance to local hospitals for treatment of serious injuries. Robbins has since been released from the hospital and he was lodged in the jail for Felony 3rd-Degree Assault, Reckless Driving and Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. The Josephine County District Attorney's Office said it will prosecute the case.

 

The Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) jailed a local felon for multiple crimes this week after raiding an illegal cannabis growing site in Selma. JMET -- with assistance from Josephine County Public Health & Building Safety -- served a search warrant in the 6,000-block of Deer Creek Road on Tuesday. During execution of the warrant, approximately 25 pounds of processed marijuana concentrate and 1,200 marijuana starter plants were seized and destroyed. A large amount of cash was also seized as evidence. Detectives said 30-year-old Maximilian Robert Lixl was arrested and charged with Felony Unlawful Manufacture, Possession and Delivery of Marijuana, Unlawful Appropriation of Water and Felony Parole Violation. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail and was being held on a no-bail detainer. According to JMET, the property also had multiple electrical, water and solid waste code violations that could result in the criminal forfeiture of the property. JMET officials said the investigation is ongoing and no further details are being released at this time.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a motorist who threatened another man with a gun near Rogue Community College during a road rage incident that occurred this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 64-year-old male suspect in the 900-block of Campus View Drive on Tuesday evening. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that the suspect cornered her husband at the end of a cul-de-sac, yelled at him and pointed a firearm at him, but did not fire a shot. Both she and the couple's four-year-old son were in her husband's BMW. Officers said an investigation determined that the suspect was cut off in traffic by the husband and the suspect elected to chase him multiple blocks in residential areas while driving a GMC Acadia. The husband attempted to evade the suspect and turned down a street he was unfamiliar with that turned out to be a dead end. When the victim got out to confront the suspect, the suspect pulled out a pistol, pointed it at the victim and threatened to shoot him. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Responding officers placed the suspect into custody and transported him to the Josephine County Jail where he was booked for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing and Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a former employee of a local masonry company for fraudulently charging hundreds of dollars' worth of building materials to his former employer's account. The Police Department reports officers were alerted Tuesday afternoon to the theft incident that had occurred at Diamond Home Improvement on March 11th. Police said the 47-year-old man verbally identified himself as his former boss who has an account at Diamond. The man then charged 100 8-foot T-posts valued at $822 to the account, loaded them onto his truck and drove away. The incident was recorded on video surveillance and the owner of the company was able to identify his former worker. Officers used that information to track down the man and place him into custody in the 200-block of Lewis Avenue. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges of Felony Identity Theft and 2nd-Degree Theft. He was being held without bail.