Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant last night while investigating a trespassing complaint in the Fish Hatchery area. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the complaint at a home in the 2600-block of Fish Hatchery Road on Thursday around 9:30 p.m.. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 and reported a male subject with a bandaged hand walked inside their house and said he was being chased by people with guns. The man stated that he hurt his hand and kept repeating that he needed the "cops." The caller told dispatchers the man was "freaking out" and seemed to think he was seeing people in the dark before he left the residence and walked away. Deputies searched and found him near the day-use area of Turtle Lane County Park. The man was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of his injured hand. That's when he was identified and discovered to be wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a burglary conviction. After the suspect was medically cleared at the hospital, he was transported to the Josephine County Jail and lodged on a no-bail detainer.

 

An Illinois Valley man was arrested last night for becoming violent with residents of a home in Cave Junction. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies were alerted to a complaint in the 400-block of Fir Drive on Thursday at 7:43 p.m.. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that an estranged family member was on her property and refusing to leave after he had already been trespassed. The caller stated that the man was getting violent and threatening to fight people there. The occupants of the home locked themselves inside to stay safe from the intruder. According to the report, the 47-year-old male subject had walked into the residence earlier in the day and left, but he stayed outside the home all day. That's where he was contacted and placed into custody. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a "frequent flyer" for violating terms of her post-prison supervision yesterday while investigating a report of suspicious activity near the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers responded to a report of a homeless person standing at the front door of a home in the 500-block of SE I Street on Thursday at 12:55 p.m.. Police said when the 31-year-old woman saw the resident on the phone, she began walking away. They said the female subject then went onto the front porch of a vacant home nearby and the caller requested the house be checked out by officers. Officers contacted the suspect and recognized her from previous law enforcement contacts. They contacted her corrections officer who requested that she be placed on a no-bail detainer. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail. Jail records show the woman has been arrested for Parole Violation at least five times since January 22nd of this year.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man who was squatting at a northwest-city residence owned by a family member yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to the home in the 1300-block of NW Hawthorne Avenue on Thursday at about 11:45 a.m.. Police said the homeowner requested a civil standby so he could retrieve property from the house where unauthorized squatters have been staying, pending eviction. The man let officers into the house where a 55-year-old man was seen. Officers had prior knowledge that the man was legally restrained from the residence. According to the report, the homeowner is the legal guardian of the male subject who walked away and refused to stop after being told he was under arrest. He gave up after a short foot pursuit and was placed into custody. The suspect was lodged in jail without bail for Contempt of Court and 3rd-Degree Escape.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on two local warrants during a downtown patrol check early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers contacted the 35-year-old man near the corner of NE D and 8th streets on Thursday around 10:50 a.m.. Police said they were on patrol when they spotted the subject and knew that he was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Identity Theft and 2nd-Degree Theft along with a misdemeanor warrant for failing to appear in court for Criminal Trespass. The suspect was lodged in the Josephine County Jail on $35,000 bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office recovered three stolen vehicles while evicting two squatters from a property near Grants Pass this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 500-block of Pinecrest Drive late Wednesday afternoon. Deputies said they spoke to the property owner who advised that he had multiple people living on his land that he did not know, and the property was for sale. A woman in a large fifth-wheel trailer told deputies she was invited to live on the property and help clean it up by a 66-year-old man she identified as "Donald Gregg." Gregg arrived on scene, explained he had been interested in buying the property with a VA loan and that he needed to clean it up so the loan would go through. He had the woman and some friends move in with him so they could help. However, the man did not have a realtor and had not yet applied for any loan. During the investigation, deputies located three stolen vehicles -- including a Harley Davidson motorcycle and a Polaris ATV -- on the property. They were towed away and the registered owners were contacted. Gregg was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Possession of Stolen Vehicles, 1st-Degree Theft, Criminal Mischief and Criminal Trespass as well as Probation Violation. The woman was cited to appear in court for Criminal Trespass. All the squatters were trespassed and had until noon yesterday to remove their belongings.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a Josephine County Community Corrections client this week on a statewide felony warrant for violating their post-prison supervision. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 45-year-old male subject at the Community Corrections Office on NW 4th Street on Wednesday afternoon. Police said the man was at the office to check in with his corrections officer and he was unaware he was about to be arrested. They said he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation from an unspecified criminal conviction. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for playing a dangerous game on Redwood Highway in southwest Grants Pass this week. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies were alerted to a male subject who kept crossing back and forth while dodging traffic on US Highway 199 near Dowell Road on Wednesday afternoon. Arriving deputies witnessed the incident and contacted the man who stated he crossed the highway only so he could cross the highway again to get back to the other side. One deputy commented that it was almost as if the man was playing the video game "Frogger" with real vehicles. Fortunately, no one got hurt. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail.

 

Quick action by a homeowner using two fire extinguishers saved a home in the Merlin area yesterday. On Thursday at 2:49 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department, Grants Pass Fire-Rescue and American Medical Response were dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 1,000-block of Cienaga Lane. Rural Metro officials said the fire that erupted in the attic of the home and quickly spread prompted a response that included three engine companies and two water tenders in addition to a Grants Pass engine and an AMR ambulance. Due to the immediate call to 9-1-1 as well as the quick and safe use of the fire extinguishers by the homeowner, damage was confined to the attic of the home. Crews were able to deal with the remaining embers scattered throughout the blown-in insulation, which can easily conceal fire. All the contents inside the home were saved and there were no injuries reported. The Oregon State Fire Marshal is assisting Rural Metro with the investigation. Officials said an attic ventilation fan was located near the ignition point.