Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed an Illinois Valley man for punching his ex-girlfriend in the face over the weekend. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a domestic disturbance in the 300-block of South Kerby Avenue on Saturday shortly after midnight. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her ex-boyfriend came to her house, knocked on the door and when she opened the door, he punched her in the face. She declined medical attention even though she had a bad cut near her eye. Upon arrival, deputies said the victim was standing outside the home with blood on her face. She advised the 33-year-old suspect fled the scene in a Honda sedan. The suspect was spotted a short time later at the end of East Watkins Street, he bailed out of the car and started running. The non-compliant man was placed into custody at Taser point. The suspect -- identified by deputies as "Eric Doss Warren" was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault, 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief and Driving While Suspended. He was being held without bail.

 

The Grants Pass Office of the Oregon State Police assisted the Medford Police Department and Jackson County Sheriff's Office by arresting a fleeing motorist on Interstate 5. OSP reports troopers pursued a Jeep Comanche driven by the 24-year-old male subject at speeds of up to 115 miles per hour before he crashed into a tree after attempting to turn down a side street on Saturday at about 1:30 a.m.. According to the report, the man -- identified by OSP as 24-year-old Justin Ryan Trompeter -- was wanted for Kidnapping, Robbery and other domestic violence-related charges. After the crash, Trompeter was placed into custody without further incident. He was transported to Providence Medford Medical Center where he was cited for Felony Attempt to Elude Police and Reckless Driving. After Trompeter was medically cleared at the hospital, custody was transferred to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office. He was lodged at the Medford jail facility for the crimes he committed in Jackson County. His wrecked vehicle was impounded.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for stealing a motorcycle in the Murphy area over the weekend. The bike had been stolen three years ago. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a 2004 Yamaha motorcycle ridden by a 41-year-old male subject near the intersection of Williams Highway and Grays Creek Road on Saturday at 7:11 p.m.. Deputies said they stopped the rider because there were no license plates on the motorcycle. A routine records check revealed that the bike had been reported stolen in 2021. The rider was placed into custody, the stolen motorcycle was recovered and its surprised registered owner was contacted. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violent behavior at a local convenience store late last week. The Police Department reports officers responded to a reported theft at Speedway Express on NE E Street on Friday around 1 p.m.. Police said a 38-year-old male subject was acting in a violent and tumultuous manner, causing several calls for service. They said he threatened to kill a female worker at Speedway Express and then walked out of the store with two large energy drinks valued at $12. Officers arrived on scene and due to the subject's erratic behavior, he was placed into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and 3rd-Degree Theft. He was being held without bail. According to the report, the motorcycle the suspect rode to the store was left at the scene and employees contacted a tow company to have it hauled away. The keys to the bike were placed with his property at the jail.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested two motorists for impaired driving over the weekend in Josephine County. According to OSP, the first incident occurred on Friday at 4:51 p.m. when state troopers responded to a single-vehicle crash in the southbound lanes of Interstate near milepost 69 on Mount Sexton. Troopers said a 30-year-old Grants Pass man was driving a Kia Frontier when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed. No one was hurt, but the driver displayed extreme signs of impairment. He performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was nearly four times the legal driving limit. He was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Reckless Driving before being lodged at the Sobering Center. His wrecked vehicle was impounded and towed to Grants Pass. The second incident occurred on Friday at 8:07 p.m. when troopers pulled over a Honda Accord driven by a 33-year-old Grants Pass man on Redwood Highway near Reeves Creek Road. Troopers said they stopped the car for a traffic violation and the driver showed signs of impairment. He performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to the Cave Junction Substation where he provided a breath sample that was well over twice the legal drlving limit. He was cited and released for DUII-Alcohol, Reckless Driving and Driving While Suspended. His car was parked and secured.

 

Due to the ongoing heatwave, the Mobile Integrative Navigation (MINT) is reopening its Grants Pass Cooling Center for at least two more days. Forecasted temperatures of 100 degrees and higher today and Tuesday have triggered a Grants Pass Severe Weather Event Declaration. MINT plans to provide cooling services from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. today and tomorrow at its Parker Place location at 218 Redwood Highway next to Bi-Mart. The City of Grants Pass does not operate severe weather event shelters, but assists groups like MINT that can operate such shelters.

 

Firefighters from multiple agencies responded to and extinguished a large weekend structure fire in Cave Junction. The Illinois Valley Fire District, Oregon Department of Forestry and American Medical Response were dispatched to the reported house on fire in the 400-block of Laurel Road on Saturday at 8:38 p.m.. IVFD Chief John Holmes said arriving units found a three-story home with fire and smoke showing. Due to the extent of the fire, Rural Metro Fire Department and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue assisted in the operations. ODF assisted crews by cutting a pathway through the shrubbery for suppression crews to deploy hose lines. Chief Holmes said the fire was extinguished and was checked on overnight. He said the American Red Cross was activated for one adult and one dog who were not harmed in the fire. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District and Oregon Department of Forestry knocked down a small grass fire in the O'Brien area. On Saturday at 5:45 p.m., IVFD and ODF crews were dispatched to a reported grass fire in the 300-block of O'Brien Road. IVFD officials said arriving units found flames in flashy fuels and trees, with a moderate rate of spread. Crews quickly stopped the progress of the fire and estimated it was caught at approximately 1.25 acres. Numerous engines continued to respond as well as a Type 2 helicopter, which assisted in looking for potential spot fires. None were found. Rural Metro Fire Department was moved up to cover the local fire district. ODF officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office cited a teen motorist for causing a crash that sent at least one person to the hospital late last week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies and emergency personnel responded to the two-vehicle collision in the 3900-block of Jerome Prairie Road at 5:33 p.m. Friday. Deputies said witnesses reported that a Toyota Tacoma driven by a 17-year-old boy was traveling at a high rate of speed, blew through a stop sign at Midway and plowed into a Ford Mustang with four occupants. At least one of the occupants was taken by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with unspecified injuries. It was unclear in the report whether anyone else involved the crash was hurt. Both vehicles sustained heavy damage and were towed from the scene. Following an investigation, the teenager was determined to be the at-fault driver. He was cited for Careless Driving Contributing to an Accident.