Local News

The Grants Pass Police Department is welcoming the newest member of its law enforcement team, Officer Devin Pine who was officially sworn in by the City Clerk last week. Officer Pine's husband -- who is a Medford police officer -- looked on with their two children as she took her oath as a peace officer. Officer Pine moved to Southern Oregon in 2011 where she finished high school at South Medford. After serving in the United States Navy, Pine was employed with Southern Oregon Orthopedics. Devin chose to switch to law enforcement because she wanted an ever-changing career where she could engage with the community and help protect it. She added that she is a compassionate and empathetic person who wants to use those strengths every day of her career. Officer Pine chose GPPD because the agency's core values align with hers and she loves the community of Grants Pass. She began the Basic Police Academy in Salem this week. GPPD Chief Warren Hensman asks the community to join him in welcoming Officer Devin Pine. He said he looks forward to her long and successful career.

 

The Grants Pass City Council swore in its newest member, prepared for budget season, heard two presentations and considered an advisory committee motion during its Monday workshop session. The workshop started with new Ward 3 Councilor Seth Benham being sworn into office by City Recorder Karen Frerk. City Manager Aaron Cubic and Finance Director JC Rowley then led a Budget Committee Orientation for the new Council members and appointed citizens. U-Turn for Christ presented the Built for Zero program to the Council, which included a video of the program's success in cities such as Denver, Colorado; Bakersfield, California; Rockford, Illinois; and Chattanooga, Tennessee. More than 140 communities across the nation are participating in Built for Zero, a national initiative with the goal of ending homelessness. A second presentation by Associate Planner Laure Middleton unveiled potential for increasing maximum building heights to help increase affordable housing. A motion was passed to send a proposed text amendment to the Urban Area Planning Commission for consideration. The Council also unanimously approved a motion made by the Urban Tree Advisory Committee to consider creation of an Urban Forest Management Plan.

 

The Grants Pass Police Department has expanded its partnership with Options for Southern Oregon for mental health and addiction program services. Based on the success of Option's outreach and -- specifically -- case manager Krystal, who has been working closely with officers to provide services to those in need, GPPD has provided additional space for the organization to add a worker. Options case managers Krystal and Lisa will manage resources for the housed and unhoused individuals who have been identified through law enforcement referral or community outreach. They connect individuals to mental health treatment including -- but not limited to -- psychiatric care for medication purposes, therapy, case management, skills training, employment and support and primary care. As a collaborative effort, Krystal and Lisa help connect clients with services through multiple providers for substance abuse treatment and work with people until they are established with the program. They also help clients access resources and connect with various agencies and community partners to effectively meet their needs.

 

The Illinois Valley Soil and Water Conservation District is nearing completion of the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board-funded Upper Illinois River Watershed Restoration Project. This initiative encompasses 74 acres of site preparation and replanting on private lands affected by the 2020 Slater Fire. The project also features volunteer-led riparian replanting efforts and willow giveaways organized by the local district. In June 2023, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) awarded just over $330,000 to the IV Soil and Water Conservation District for the project. Grayback Forestry finished site preparation for the project in late 2024 and implemented a replanting strategy spanning 74 acres across three properties. The OWEB post-fire recovery funds were primarily sourced from general funds allocated by the Oregon Legislature. To celebrate the project's achievements, the Illinois Valley Fire Resiliency Oversight Group (IVFROG) will host a special event.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested an Illinois Valley felon for violating his post-prison supervision during a weekend traffic stop on Redwood Highway. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Cadillac Escalade driven by 31-year-old Kennedy Sennett and containing 34-year-old Jonathan Javier Montes -- both of O'Brien -- on US Highway 199 near Rockydale Road on Sunday at 11:56 a.m.. Troopers said they stopped the Cadillac for traffic violations and the passenger intentionally provided a false name and birth date. However, Montes' true identity was revealed and he was found to be on parole related to a hit-and-run conviction. Montes' corrections officer was contacted and a detainer was issued due to him not complying with conditions of his supervised release. He was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man wanted on two local warrants during a weekend patrol check near the 7th Street homeless campground. The Police Department reports officers spotted 30-year-old Kraig Dean Toothman near the corner of NE 7th and A streets on Saturday around 9:15 p.m.. Police said they knew Toothman from previous law enforcement contacts and they were aware that he was wanted on two Grants Pass warrants -- both for failing to appear in court for Methamphetamine Possession. Toothman was placed into custody at lodged at the Josephine County Jail.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Willamette Valley motorist for impaired driving late yesterday following a traffic stop on Interstate 5 in Grants Pass. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Nissan Altima driven by a 48-year-old male subject from Wilsonville in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 56 on Sunday at 6:34 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped the Nissan for traffic violations and the driver showed signs of impairment. He performed poorly in field sobriety tests, so he was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was nearly three times the legal driving limit. The suspect was lodged at the Sobering Center for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His vehicle was impounded.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed an Illinois Valley woman late last week for a bizarre incident that culminated with her ramming a deputy's patrol vehicle. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to perform a welfare check on 33-year-old Kathryn Jennifer Jafarzadeh in the 9600-block of Takilma Road on Friday around 2:45 p.m.. Deputies said a female subject later identified as Jarfarzadeh called 9-1-1 to report that she broke into a house, wounded a dog with a shotgun and stole two other dogs before fleeing in a light-colored hatchback vehicle. The woman stated that she loves her dogs, needed to drink some water and wanted to go home. She also said she lived in the backyard of the residence. Jafarzadeh reportedly repeated this to responding deputies before she accelerated her car at a high rate of speed toward a patrol vehicle and crashed head-on with it, causing well over $1,000 in damage. She had also crashed through a gate on her way into the property. No one was hurt and she was taken into custody at gunpoint. Jafarzadeh was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Attempted 2nd-Degree Assault, Attempted Assault on a Peace Officer, two counts of 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief and 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass. She was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a woman late last week for multiple crimes involving a controlled substance, a victim and multiple children. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 26-year-old Brianna Irene Dickie at a home on Camp Joy Road last Thursday afternoon. Deputies said Dickie allegedly spiked someone's coffee with methamphetamine. They said another woman reported Dickie made a cup of coffee for her and she experienced dizziness, numbness and chest pains shortly after taking a drink. Dickie denied spiking the coffee, but forensic testing by the Oregon State Police crime lab in Ashland showed the contents of the cup contained meth. Deputies said there were six juveniles in the home at the time of the incident. Dickie was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a total of eight charges including one felony count of Causing a Person to Ingest a Controlled Substance and seven misdemeanor counts of Reckless Endangering a Minor. She remained in custody on Friday following her Circuit Court arraignment.