Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for causing a disturbance in the north part of the city last night. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident near the corner of NW Morgan Lane and Hawthorne Avenue on Monday around 8:20 p.m.. Police said a truck driver called in the disturbance after his wife dropped him off at his parked semi. The caller said the 41-year-old male subject walked into the street and started yelling profanities at his wife as she drove away. Responding officers observed the suspect in the roadway yelling and causing public alarm. They said he had difficulty following their orders and continued to yell until he was placed into custody. The man admitted that he was planning to fight the owner of a car who shined their headlights into his face as they drove by. The suspect was placed under arrest for his loud and tumultuous behavior. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for allegedly attempting to steal a cart from a Redwood area laundromat yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a theft complaint at Cleanlife Laundry in the 1700-block of Redwood Avenue on Monday at 3:55 p.m.. Police said the manager of the laundromat called 9-1-1 to report the male subject took the cart to transport his laundry home. The caller followed the man's white motorhome to the corner of Union Avenue and Williams Highway where officers made contact with the suspect in the Walgreen's parking lot. Officers said the 47-year-old man admitted taking the cart, but stated that he intended to bring it back to the laundromat a short time later. However, the business owner wished to pursue charges and the man was detained. The suspect was cited to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Theft and released after the cart was returned to its owner. He was told to report to his corrections officer this morning.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested two people on outstanding warrants during separate traffic stops in Josephine County yesterday. According to OSP, the first incident occurred on Monday at 9:10 a.m. when state troopers pulled over a Subaru Impreza driven by a 37-year-old Grants Pass man in the 3600-block of Merlin Road. Troopers said they stopped the motorist for traffic violations at the Dollar General store and discovered that he was wanted on a local bench warrant for failing to appear in court. The man was cited, ordered to appear in court and then released. The second incident happened on Monday at 8:31 p.m. when troopers pulled over a Volvo sedan driven by a 36-year-old Grants Pass man near the corner of Chinook Park Lane and Gordon Way. Troopers said they stopped the motorist for a traffic violation, discovered that his driving privileges had been suspended and that he was wanted on a local warrant. The man was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and his mother picked up the Volvo.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving last night after he refused to leave the drive-thru at a north-city fast food restaurant. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a traffic complaint at the McDonalds on NE 6th Street on Monday at 9:05 p.m.. Police said a restaurant employee called 9-1-1 to report an intoxicated driver in the drive-thru. The caller said the man was slurring and stuttering while arguing about a one-way street. The suspect paid for his food, but refused to move his vehicle. Upon arrival, officers contacted the 64-year-old man who displayed strong signs of impairment. They said he performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was placed into custody. The suspect was transported to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he was cited and released for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants.

 

The first day of Spring 2024 is today, March 19th -- well, kind of. The Spring Equinox happens at 8:06 p.m. PDT this evening, so the first full day of Spring is actually tomorrow, March 20th. Tonight is the astronomical beginning of the Spring season in the Northern Hemisphere and the Autumn season in the Southern Hemisphere. Normally, Spring begins on or about March 21st, but 2024 is a leap year and that extra day on the calendar in February moved up the season by one day.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man last weekend for his boorish and possibly drug-fueled behavior -- particularly against children -- in a downtown neighborhood. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 50-year-old man in the 700-block of SW 5th Street on Sunday at 6:45 p.m.. Police said the man was engaged in fighting by swinging around a stick, chasing children and making unreasonable noise by screaming. The 9-1-1 Dispatch Center received three separate calls regarding his violent and tumultuous behavior. According to the report, the man was yelling and making threats against a woman and her dog. He followed that up by chasing the woman's 12-year-old brother and chasing other children at the 7-Eleven store. Responding officers detained the suspect and said he showed numerous signs of impairment by a narcotic stimulant. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct as well as Probation Violation related to previous arrests for Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Bias Crime, Menacing, Criminal Mischief, Disorderly Conduct and Public Indecency. He was being held this morning on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a woman for multiple drug violations last weekend. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies arrested a 53-year-old woman in an unspecified location on Sunday around 2:45 p.m.. The Sheriff's Office released no details about the drug bust, but the woman was charged with Felony Manufacture of Marijuana, two counts of Felony Possession of a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance and Unlawful Appropriation of Ground Water. She was booked into jail, but released from custody after posting bail. It was unclear in the Jail Log, but the Schedule 1 Controlled Substance Violation either involved less than 12 grams of psilocybin mushrooms or less than 40 user units of LSD.

 

The Oregon State Police was seeking public assistance in locating a motorist who fled from an attempted traffic stop on Redwood Highway near Grants Pass. OSP reports troopers tried to make a traffic stop on a Nissan Murano near milepost 6 of US Highway 199 on Sunday at 2:11 a.m.. Troopers said instead of pulling over, the unidentified motorist started driving at a higher rate of speed and partially in the opposite travel lane. For the safety of the public, troopers did not pursue the vehicle. The Nissan Murano was described as black with license plate CL54500. Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to dial *OSP.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District battled separate structure, recreational vehicle and boat fires on Monday. At 8:32 a.m. yesterday, IVFD, American Medical Response and Rural Metro Fire Department were dispatched to a structure fire in the 37,000-block of Redwood Highway near O'Brien. The fire was extinguished with heavy damage to the residence, but there were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire was under investigation. At 4:39 p.m., IVFD crews responded to a reported vehicle fire near the corner of Takilma and Dick George roads. Arriving units found a trailer on fire and quickly extinguished the blaze. There were no injuries. The fire was under investigation. At 5:54 p.m., IVFD crews responded to reports of smoke on a Forest Service Road in the Tarter Gulch area. Arriving units found a boat on fire and quickly doused the flames. Once again, there were no injuries reported and the incident was under investigation.