Local News

The Oregon State Police arrested a Coos Bay man for multiple crimes after he caused a weekend collision on Interstate 5 in Sunny Valley and fled the scene. OSP reports troopers responded to a hit-and-run crash and driving complaint on a GMC Sierra driven by 62-year-old Melvin Edward Lesher on I-5 near Sunny Valley Loop on Sunday at 10:44 a.m.. The complainant was identified as a 38-year-old Grants Pass man. He was not hurt. Troopers said they located the suspect vehicle and Lesher was driving recklessly for more than 15 miles. He attempted to elude troopers and they pursued until he wrecked. He bailed out of the pickup and tried to run away, but was Tased and placed into custody. According to OSP, Lesher displayed signs of impairment and he was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center where a blood warrant was granted and executed. A search of the pickup resulted in the seizure of about three grams of fentanyl. Lesher was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony and Misdemeanor Attempt to Elude Police, Driving Under the Influence of Controlled Substances, Reckless Driving, Resisting Arrest, Fentanyl Possession and the resulting Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer and his pickup was impounded.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested three motorists for impaired driving over the weekend in Josephine County. OSP reports the first incident occurred on Saturday at 3:08 p.m. when troopers pulled over a Chevrolet Silverado driven by 35-year-old Christopher Brousseau of Grants Pass near the intersection of NE Scenic Drive and Scoville Road. Brousseau was stopped for multiple traffic violations and he displayed signs of impairment. After performing poorly, he was transported to the Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that exceeded the legal driving limit. The second incident happened on Saturday at 4:41 p.m. when troopers responded to an individual who called himself in for drinking and driving near milepost 80 of Interstate 5. Troopers contacted 47-year-old Joseph Godwin of Grants Pass who showed multiple signs of impairment. Godwin refused to participate in field sobriety tests, so he was taken to the Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was nearly four times the legal driving limit. The third incident took place on Sunday at 4:23 p.m. when troopers responded to five complaints about a Ford Fusion driven by 44-year-old Rebecca Maitz of Bakersfield, California, on southbound I-5 near milepost 62. Troopers said Maitz exhibited signs of impairment by narcotics and she performed poorly in sobriety tests.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender for violating terms of his probation after he was caught shoplifting at a supermarket late last week. The Police Department reports officers responded to a theft complaint at WinCo Foods on NE Terry Lane on Friday shortly after 5 a.m.. Police said 32-year-old Kody Tyler Halverson deprived WinCo of about $23 in items by bypassing all points of sale and exiting the business without paying. His corrections officer was contacted and he was placed into custody. In addition to the stolen items, Halverson was found to be in possession of a small baggie containing a crystal substance that tested positive as methamphetamine. It was seized for destruction. Halverson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft, Meth Possession and he resulting Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested an argumentative man for removing dangerous debris from a dumpster at a downtown resting site over the weekend. The Police Department reports officers were performing a patrol check at the NE 7th Street resting site on Saturday at 9:12 p.m. when they contacted 36-year-old Jonathan Michael Bull. Police said Bull was observed removing biohazard trash that had been placed in a dumpster. He was advised that he was under arrest if he did not put the trash back in the dumpster. He appeared to be under the influence and became argumentative. Bull was placed into custody and found to be in possession of a "dirty pipe" that he admitted he used to smoke methamphetamine. He was also in possession of less than two grams of the narcotic stimulant. The pipe and meth were seized. Bull was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Offensive Littering and Meth Possession. He was also trespassed from the 7th Street resting site for 30 days.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed four people who unlawfully entered an unoccupied property near Cave Junction over the weekend. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the incident at a property in the 3800-block of Holland Loop Road on Saturday around 8:45 a.m.. Deputies said a caretaker called 9-1-1 after he went to check on livestock on the property and saw three vehicles in the yard that were not supposed to be there. The caller told dispatchers that there were multiple people there and that at least one of the vehicles was filled with property stolen from the house and barn. According to the report, the caretaker took photos of the suspects and their vehicles while awaiting the arrival of law enforcement. When deputies arrived on scene, four suspects took off in two of the vehicles and a fifth suspect ran into the woods. Within 90 minutes, deputies had located and arrested four suspects identified as 49-year-old Marc Robert Edwards, 49-year-old Joshua Ian Downing, 45-year-old Julie Reanne Love and 26-year-old Sage Elizabeth Williams. Edwards, Downing and Love were lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges of Burglary, Theft and Criminal Trespass. Williams was jailed for Theft and Criminal Trespass. All four suspects were being held without bail. Further investigation identified the fifth suspect as "Israel Hopper" and he is being sought for his role in the crime.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving after she crashed her vehicle into a ditch in the Colonial Valley area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle wreck near the intersection of Highland Avenue and Lloyd Drive shortly after 9 p.m. on Saturday. Deputies said an investigation determined that 29-year-old Ashley Marie Faulkner was driving a sport utility vehicle when she lost control and went into the ditch. At least two passersby asked if they could help, but the female driver said she did not need any assistance. The callers told dispatchers the woman appeared intoxicated. Upon arrival, deputies said Faulkner displayed signs of impairment and performed poorly in field sobriety tests. A search warrant was obtained and she was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented a high level of impairment. Faulkner was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. It was unclear if the SUV was impounded.

 

For the second time in three days last week, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving -- this time in the North Valley area. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies pulled over a Dodge Avenger driven by 26-year-old Griffin Ferrara in the 5,000-block of Monument Drive at 11:34 p.m. on Friday. Deputies said they stopped Ferrara for a traffic violation and he showed obvious signs of impairment. They said he performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was placed into custody. Ferrara was cited to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving before being lodged at the Grants Pass Sobering Center. News archives show Ferrara was arrested last Tuesday night for DUII and Reckless Driving following a traffic stop on Redwood Highway near Midway Avenue. The pickup he was driving was impounded.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District had their hands full in the final days before the start of the 2025 fire season, responding to at least four incidents. On Friday around 6:45 p.m., IVFD crews responded to a vegetation fire in the 4,000-block of Lakeshore Drive near Selma. Crews discovered two 10-by-10-foot burn piles exhibiting uncontrolled spread. The fire was extinguished and fully contained without incident. The property owner actively assisted with suppression. On Saturday at 2:33 a.m., IVFD was dispatched to a grass fire at the Six Mile Campground at the end of Illinois River Road. Upon arrival, crews observed a very small fire with civilians attempting suppression. Oregon Department of Forestry personnel assisted with putting out the fire, which originated from fireworks. On Saturday shortly after 11 a.m., IVFD responded to an escaped open burn in the 100-block of Patton Bar Road near Cave Junction. Crews quickly extinguished the fire at 1/10th of an acre. They were forced to return to the scene at 6:11 p.m. when the blaze reignited. Crews once again extinguished the rekindled fire.

 

Firefighters responded to at least two weekend fires that started when old burn piles thought to be out reignited in the North Valley area. On Saturday at 2:17 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department was dispatched to a vegetation fire on Soldier Creek Road in the Colonial Valley area. Crews were able to contain the fire at about 1/4-acre before it could reach nearby structures. Rural Metro officials said an occupant of the property who was valiantly trying to fight the fire experienced heat exhaustion and was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for an evaluation. They said the old burn pile sprung to life when afternoon temperatures rose and the wind picked up. On Saturday at 3:48 p.m., Rural Metro, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and the Oregon Department of Forestry responded to a field fire in the 4400-block of Jumpoff Joe Creek Road. Officials said an aggressive initial attack stopped forward progression of the fire, which was contained at 3.2 acres. They said afternoon winds played a factor in the spread of the fire through light, flashy fuels. The cause of the fire was a burn pile that was believed to have been out three or four days before the incident.