Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for multiple crimes after he allegedly attacked his sister and a pet in Cave Junction early Thanksgiving Day.

The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested Joseph Stephen Christopher for the incident in the 100-block of North Caves Avenue on Thursday at 7:40 a.m..

Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her brother grabbed her and squeezed her neck so she had trouble breathing. The caller said her brother becomes violent when he gets "stressed out." She did not want to press charges and requested he be taken to the hospital for mental health evaluation instead.

According to the report, Christopher also threatened his sister and an elderly male roommate who removed knives from the kitchen, hid them and tried to de-escalate the situation. Information was also disclosed that the suspect might become violent with responding deputies who were able to take him into custody without incident.

Joseph Christopher was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Domestic Strangulation, Domestic 4th-Degree Assault, Menacing and 2nd-Degree Animal Abuse. He was being held without bail.