Local News

A Josephine County man was jailed on a nationwide warrant alleging that he committed multiple sex crimes with a juvenile in Texas. On August 12th, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office was contacted by the United States Marshals Service regarding a fugitive wanted for four sex crimes stemming from an Oregon State Police Major Crimes investigation. The fugitive -- 22-year-old Gabriel Isaac Frank Harrison -- was believed to be residing in Josephine County, so detectives from the Sheriff's Office and the US Marshals Service began their collaborative investigation to verify his location. As a result of the joint investigation, detectives conducted surveillance operations on the suspect's address. They moved in and safely apprehended Harrison without incident on August 13th. Harrison was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant which includes charges of Sexual Performance of a Child, Online Solicitation of a Minor and two counts of Injury to a Minor. He will be extradited to Texas where he will face prosecution for the mentioned crimes. The investigation is ongoing.

 

A Josephine County grand jury has indicted a man suspected of committing numerous commercial burglaries. The Grants Pass Police Department is now asking for help finding him. Between September 2024 and January 2025, Grants Pass Police investigated several commercial burglaries in the city. Not only were the businesses broken into, but items valued between $100 and $1,000 were taken and property was intentionally damaged. Businesses identified as victims in the burglary spree included Bi-Mart, Cash Connection, Highland Market, Rogue Fly Shop, Batteries Plus Bulb, M Street Market, Lucky Duck on Redwood Avenue, Farmers Building Supply, Don's Bike Center and Fields Home Improvement. During the months-long investigation, 33-year-old Anthony Boyd Mooney was identified as the suspect. Last week, a grand jury heard testimony and indicted Mooney on 12 counts of 2nd-Degree Burglary, five counts of 1st-Degree Theft, 11 counts of 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief and seven counts of 2nd-Degree Theft. Anthony Mooney has several warrants for his arrest, but his whereabouts is currently unknown. Anyone with information on his location should contact their local law enforcement agency to facilitate his arrest.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man this week for threatening employees of a north-city convenience store with a knife. The Police Department reports 51-year-old Sean William MacDowell was arrested for the incident at the Li'l Pantry Market & Deli on NW Vine Street late Sunday night. Police said MacDowell bypassed all points of sale with $15.49 worth of items without paying and was confronted by store employees. They said he became aggressive and presented a knife, opening it and threatening the workers before he fled across the street. The entire incident was captured on video surveillance. MacDowell was located and placed into custody. While being transported to the Josephine County Jail, he spit inside the patrol vehicle and kicked the cage. The patrol vehicle was stopped and the suspect was placed in a spit hood as well as leg restraints. Upon arrival, MacDowell was booked into jail for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Felony 2nd-Degree Robbery, Disorderly Conduct, 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief and 3rd-Degree Theft. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a young man for stealing an electric bicycle from a store employee this week. The Police Department reports officers responded to a theft complaint at the A-1 Market & Deli on NW 6th Street late Monday night. Police said an employee called 9-1-1 to report a male subject entered the store, grabbed his "Go Life" brand E-Bike valued at $700, exited the store and rode away. The incident was captured on video surveillance. A short time later, officers observed a man identified as 19-year-old Michael Raymond Chezem riding the bike near Cavemen Bridge. They tried to stop him, with lights and siren activated, but he fled in an attempt to escape arrest. He was observed entering Baker Park, a perimeter was established and he was placed into custody without further incident shortly before midnight. After admitting that he stole the bike, Chezem was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft, Criminal Trespass and Attempted Escape. Jail records show that Chezem was charged with additional crimes including Felony 2nd-Degree Robbery, Menacing and 3rd-Degree Theft related to another alleged incident. He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man on a local felony warrant this week following a traffic stop on Redwood Highway in Cave Junction. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a moped ridden by 44-year-old Noah James Reyelts on US Highway 199 near Laurel Road on Monday morning. Deputies said Reyelts was riding a moped with no license plate while pulling a trailer with no taillights.They said he initially gave them multiple false names before providing his real identity. He was found to be wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Probation Violation related to a past arrest for Identity Theft. Reyelts was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Furnishing False Information to Police. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. His moped and trailer were towed away.

 

The US Forest Service reports the Peavine Fire located one mile south of the Winchuck River is now fully contained. Firefighters will continue to grid the area for any remaining heat and complete mop-up efforts. The Scenic Fire located near National Creek east of Highway 230 on the High Cascade Ranger District of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is now 90% contained. Forest officials said mop-up is ongoing as crews work toward full containment. Heavy timber in the interior of the fire continues to smolder and may produce visible smoke. Please use caution when traveling through the area and watch for firefighters. Smoke may impact visibility and air quality. Firefighters are staged in strategic locations around the forest to be ready for any new fire starts. Air and ground reconnaissance is ongoing. Please use caution while recreating to keep the forest and firefighters safe. If you see suspicious or careless behavior while you are out in the woods, please report it to law enforcement.

 

A legislative committee has dismissed allegations of misconduct against a Grants Pass Republican who read a sexually explicit book passage on the House floor. In a split vote, the House Committee on Conduct last week decided District 3 State Representative Dwayne Yunker did not violate legislative rules or create a hostile work environment when he read a passage from young adult novel "The Haters" on the House floor in March. The Oregonian reports Yunker -- who routinely uses the three minutes allotted to each lawmaker each floor session to make comments to rail against Democrats and LGBTQ+ issues -- read the passage to protest the book's accessibility to high schoolers in his district. The Oregon Legislative Equity Office received at least two complaints from legislative staff members alleging Yunker made sexually explicit remarks on the House floor that day. The identities of the staff members were not disclosed during the meeting or in a report investigating the instance. One of the staff members subsequently accused Yunker of retaliation when Yunker publicly disclosed the letter that the Oregon Legislative Equity Office had delivered to his office informing him of the allegations against him. Yunker was not present at the meeting, but shortly after the meeting concluded, he celebrated the committee's decision on social media

 

Rogue Community College has announced the grand opening of the newly renovated E Building at its Redwood Campus in Grants Pass, which will significantly expand allied health training opportunities in Josephine County. The August 26th grand opening begins at 10 a.m. outside the E Building on the west side of the RCC Student Center. Following opening remarks and a ribbon-cutting ceremony, guests are invited to explore the newly remodeled building and meet instructors for RCC's Allied Health programs. Constructed in 1981, the 9,894-square-foot E Building was completely renovated this year to support RCC's growing Allied Health programs. Beginning this fall, the Redwood Campus will offer four healthcare training programs: Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Nursing Assistant and Phlebotomy. For several years, most of the school's healthcare professions programs have been offered exclusively at the Table Rock Campus in White City. The $3.95 million remodel included completely new electrical, plumbing, HVAC and mechanical systems as well as ADA improvements. The celebration kicks off a campus-wide open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. next Tuesday.

 

Grants Pass Friends of the Library will hold a rally outside the Anne G. Basker Auditorium on Thursday at 10 a.m.. The "No Shushing" rally will be held outside while the Josephine County Board of Commissioners meets inside for its weekly business session. Rally organizers say the event is a response to Board Chair Andreas Blech's abrupt adjournment of the August 14th meeting in which he cited audience "disrespect" in applauding a long-awaited vote on the lease for the Grants Pass branch library. Out of concern that Commissioner Blech will take any murmur of either critique or appreciation as a chance to once again shut down the meeting, Grants Pass Friends of the Library encourages supporters to attend the "No Shushing" rally outside. A continuation of the public hearing on the library lease is on the agenda. Jennifer Roberts, co-chair of Grants Pass Friends of the Library, said "it appears Commissioner Blech will take any excuse to shut down a meeting to avoid a vote on the lease and we refused to give him one." She said they would rather be loud outside the meeting than "shushed" inside the meeting.