Local News

The Oregon State Police jailed a Grants Pass man for violating his post-prison supervision and several other crimes after he led troopers on a short pursuit while driving impaired late last night.

OSP reports troopers attempted to stop a GMC Sierra driven by 39-year-old Mark Alan Grater on Jerome Prairie Road near Stringer Gap Road on Tuesday shortly after 11 p.m..

Troopers said they tried to stop Grater for traffic violation, but he refused to yield for about half-a-mile before parking at a residence in the 2600-block of Demaray Drive. They said he was initially hostile and failed to obey commands. He was placed into custody after displaying several signs of impairment.

According to OSP, Grater had a long-barreled hunting rifle in plain sight in the back of the pickup. A records check revealed that he was a convicted felon who had absconded on his parole and had a felony warrant for his arrest. Ammunition and restricted weapons were found on his person and in his truck.

Grater was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented his impairment. He was then lodged at the Josephine County Jail for two counts each of Felon in Possession of a Weapon and Reckless Driving plus single counts of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Felony Attempt to Elude Police and Felony Parole Violation.

Mark Grater was being held on a no-bail detainer. His pickup and a dog were left in the custody of a family member at the Demaray Drive residence.