Local News

Grants Pass Police jailed a Jackson County man for engaging in violent behavior while wielding a machete in a city park this week.

The Police Department reports officers arrested a 36-year-old White City man for the incident at Tussing Park on Monday night.

Police said they were alerted to a male subject waving a machete in the park and causing public alarm. The suspect struck one man in the arm, causing a 3-4 inch laceration. The victim was uncooperative and refused medical attention.

The suspect initially complied with emergency lights of the patrol vehicle for a moment before he chose to flee the scene. He did not comply with lawful orders to stop and led officers down West Park Street to the parking lot at Duo Gym where he refused to exit the Chevrolet Tahoe he was driving. It took the deployment of multiple bean bag rounds and a pepper ball to force him to surrender to police.

Grants Pass Fire & Rescue was called in to wash the non-lethal pepper off the suspect who was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for an evaluation. He was then lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges of Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Attempt to Elude Police and Disorderly Conduct.

The suspect's mother called to see if she could pick up the Tahoe, but said it would take her about 45 minutes to get to Grants Pass. The vehicle was impounded.