Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for multiple crimes after he allegedly beat up another man at a city park and stole some of the victim's belongings yesterday.

The Police Department reports officers responded to a reported assault at Baker Park on Thursday shortly before 9 a.m..

Police said a man they identified as "Daniel Wise" contacted them and reported that 48-year-old Demetrius Elward Hughes had attacked him and stole his bike as well as his puppy, a cell phone, backpack and prescription medication.

Officers tracked down Hughes on the nearby Texas property and he admitted to punching Wise during a property dispute as well as stealing the victim's property, which he said were comic books of unknown value. He denied stealing any of the other items reported by the victim and there was no evidence of additional thefts.

According to the report, the theft of the GT Slipstream bike with Harley handle bars and yellow accents along with the Pitbull-mix puppy and other items was entered into a police report. However, there was no suspect information.

Demetrius Hughes was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Assault, 3rd-Degree Theft and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was also trespassed from Baker Park for 30 days.