Local News

A man called 911 to report a man sleeping on his property Monday morning.

Dispatch was alerted to the trespassing at 4:16 p.m. at a property in the 300 block of SE H Street. The suspect was reportedly on the grass to the side of the house, and the caller wasn't sure if it was the same suspect from a previous trespassing complaint, Thomas Ehens.

Grants Pass Police arrived and confirmed it was Ehens. The property owner wished to pursue charges, and Ehens was taken into custody. He was lodged in the Josephine County Jail for a charge of Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree.

 

The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) is warning consumers to be wary of romance scams and so-called “relationship investment scams,” a fast-growing form of fraud that blends emotional manipulation with fake investment opportunities.

DFR says in a release that relationship investment scams are a recent and damaging type of fraud, causing reported losses in the billions. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported $12.5 billion in investment-related scam losses in 2024, a figure that has tripled in just three years.

Relationship scams often begin on dating apps, social media platforms, messaging apps, or through unexpected “wrong number” text messages. Criminals use fake profiles, photos, videos, and even artificial intelligence-generated voices to appear attractive, credible, and successful.

Once contact is made, scammers send frequent messages to build trust and emotional attachment before asking for money. What often starts as a small request can quickly escalate into devastating financial losses. In other cases, they often claim to have made significant profits trading cryptocurrency, precious metals, or foreign currency thanks to special knowledge or insider help.

These scams do not discriminate. People of all ages and backgrounds have been victimized, though people who live alone or spend significant time on social media or online discussion groups may be more vulnerable.

State regulators are increasingly seeing complaints involving digital assets and artificial intelligence. If you believe that you have been a victim, or have any questions, call DFR at 1-888-877-4894.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department were alerted to a trespassing complaint at a property in the 100 block of SW I Street.

On Monday around 9:49 a.m., following a quickly disconnected call, dispatch was notified by the owner of the Air B&B property that someone had broken into the detached garage. The suspect wasn't being violent and was gathering her items to leave.

Law enforcement arrived at the scene and met with the owner, then contacted the suspect, Brooke Mack. She admitted, after being read her rights, to entering the garage and having no right to the property. She told the officer that she had entered the garage Sunday evening and stayed overnight due to being cold and tired.

Mack also reportedly wanted to retrieve her items from a previous burglary case at the same location. She admitted to using a portable electric heater to stay warm, which reportedly cost the Air B&B owner $10 in power.

Mack was trespassed from the property. Her Parole Officer was contacted and a detainer was requested. The officer subsequently transported and lodged Mack in the Josephine County Jail for Second Degree Burglary, Theft of Services, and the detainer.