Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a suspect smoking in Baker Park for two warrants Thursday.

The suspect, Michael Chezem, was observed by officers at 760 E Park Street. He initially provided a false name to officers, but was truthful when confronted.

Officers found Chezem was wanted on two Oregon City Police Department warrants for Theft in the Second and Third Degree. He was transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man after he unlawfully entered a secured building at the Josephine County Fairgrounds.

The suspect, Dustin Brooks, had entered a building at 1451 Fairgrounds Road Wednesday evening. While inside, he knocked over trash cans; scattering garbage throughout. He left the premises after being confronted by the renter of the building.

On Thursday at 8:51 a.m., Brooks had returned to the building, which prompted a call to law enforcement. He proceeded to leave and cross the highway towards Asante Three Rivers Medical Center.

Officers contacted Brooks and found him to be wanted on two valid and serviceable warrants out of Myrtle Point. He was further charged with Second Degree Burglary and Third Degree Criminal Mischief.

Brooks was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

Oregon State Police initiated a traffic stop this morning, resulting in the driver's arrest on cocaine possession and an outstanding warrant.

Troopers pulled over a black Dodge Dakota for observed violations around 1:34 a.m. at the corner of 7th and A Streets. After a routine records check, they found the driver, Jade Thomas, had an outstanding warrant.

Thomas was placed under arrest, and a consent search of her person revealed crack cocaine in her pocket. Troopers transported her to the Josephine County Jail where she was lodged on her warrant for Second Degree Theft, and a charge of Cocaine Possession.

 

A traffic accident occurred Thursday around 12:55 p.m. on Redwood Highway at Kerby Mainline Road in Kerby.

The Illinois Valley Fire District and AMR-Josephine County were dispatched to a single-vehicle incident where the vehicle reportedly reversed into a hillside near the waste disposal facility, resulting in injuries to one occupant.

The vehicle then proceeded to the intersection to await the arrival of emergency services.

One individual was transported with minor injuries.

 

The Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team and Medford Police Department served a search warrant Thursday after discovering images of child exploitation were uploaded from an apartment complex in Medford. Just before 8 a.m. in the 200 block of Beatty Street, SOCET began the investigation after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children which led to subpoenas, followed by the search warrant at the residence. During the search, investigators seized digital devices which will be forensically examined by the Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force for further evidence of child exploitation. This investigation is active and ongoing with detectives following additional leads.

 

Dispatch received a call from a victim in the 200 block of West Park Street stating an unknown male had broken a window and was crawling into the residence Thursday.

Around 2:38 a.m., the victim described the male as being naked with tattoos and talking about saving them from Hermes and goddesses. Grants Pass Police officers responded and found the suspect had fled the residence with a stolen blanket, but the adult victim and two children were unharmed.

The male suspect had reportedly been injured by the broken window when he entered the residence.

A police search with K9 partner Maro located the suspect hiding in the hedge of a neighboring yard. The suspect, who initially refused to identify himself, surrendered and was placed under arrest before being transported to the Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of his wound.

Officers subsequently identified the suspect as Patrick Hermes, 39, of Merlin. Following medical clearance, Hermes was transported to the Josephine County Jail, where he was lodged on charges of Burglary in the First Degree, Third Degree Theft, Harassment, and a felony warrant for Parole Violation.

 

The Medford Police Department has arrested a juvenile male suspect following an armed carjacking Thursday.

At 11:33 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 700 block of North Riverside Avenue after receiving a report that a male suspect approached a woman while armed with a handgun and demanded she get out. The female exited the vehicle unharmed. The suspect then fled the area in the vehicle.

At about 11:40 a.m., officers located the vehicle unoccupied near Riverside Avenue and McAndrews Road. MPD immediately issued an initial suspect description and all available units responded, establishing a perimeter throughout the area. Officers also notified Rogue Valley Mall security and conducted searches of the mall and surrounding businesses.

Video surveillance later showed the suspect entering Target, where he discarded evidence. This evidence, along with an image captured on surveillance footage, was distributed to responding units.

Officers recovered the firearm and additional items inside the business. Shortly afterward, MPD officers observed the suspect walking eastbound on McAndrews near Royal Avenue and took him into custody without incident.

The suspect, a juvenile, was interviewed by MPD Detectives with the assistance of the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office. He was lodged at the Jackson County Juvenile Detention Center for First Degree Robbery, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon.

 

The Britt Festival Orchestra has announced its 2026 season, with three weeks of outdoor programming in historic Jacksonville.

From June 18 through July 3, 2026, and under the leadership of Music Director Norman Huynh in his inaugural season at Britt, the Orchestra’s 64th season highlights orchestral favorites that showcase the power, beauty, and thrill of live symphonic music.

The season features four guest artists: Pianist Olga Kern, soprano Janai Brugger, Grammy and Emmy-winning ensemble Time For Three, and violinist William Hagen.

Performances include Dvorak’s New World Symphony, Holst's The Planets, Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony and Time For Three, and Richter’s Four Seasons and Copland 3.

Britt will also be featuring a film live with orchestra for the fourth year in row. The movie selection will be announced in December.

 

The Grants Pass City Council Wednesday night approved a resolution to create a low barrier homeless shelter at 210 Redwood Highway. The resolution authorized a notice of intent to award and execute a grant agreement from the city of Grants Pass to Elk Island Trading group to create a managed shelter with a capacity for up to 150 homeless in renovated Conex containers. The grant is for up to $1.2 million to be dispersed on a reimbursement basis. Elk Island has met all the requirements the city put forth and their provisions for repayment should Elk Island fail to meet all portions of the agreement. The resolution passed on a 5 to 3 vote with Councilors Marshall, Schloegl and Krohn dissenting. Earlier, the Council upheld the appeal of the Urban Area Planning Commission’s decision to deny changes to the approved site plan for Bowman’s Choice Auto at 899 Rogue River Highway. Council felt the changes, although in conflict with city code, were minor and created no adverse situations for the city. Councilors approved an ordinance creating a reimbursement district for the Harbeck Meadows Subdivision.