Grants Pass Police jailed a young man this week for targeting homeless people living in two city parks.
On Wednesday at 11:24 p.m., police officers responded to a report of a physical assault on a female who had been sleeping in a tent at Tussing Park.
Police found a 50-year-old female who had been struck across the face with a large tree branch, causing a severe laceration to her lip and bruising across her face. The victim was provided with medical attention as she told officers how two male subjects had walked through the park yelling and hitting tents. When the victim looked out of her tent to see what was happening, one of the suspects hit her. The two suspects fled the scene in a vehicle following the assault.
A short time later, GPPD received reports that two males matching the description were attempting to assault people at Morrison Centennial Park. Officers arrived on scene and the suspects had already fled, but the suspects and their vehicle were captured on surveillance video at both parks.
An investigation by police officers and detectives identified the primary suspect as 18-year-old Petersen Pearce Amotai of Grants Pass. He was arrested on Thursday at 2:55 a.m. and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on felony charges of 2nd-Degree Assault, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Parole Violation. His accomplice is believed to be a juvenile male who has not yet been arrested.
Anyone with further information related to these incidents or the whereabouts of the involved juvenile is urged to contact the Grants Pass Police Department at (541)-450-6260 and reference Case #24-11329.
