Local News

Troopers and Deputies Snared Four Suspects for Disturbance at Galice Resort
The Oregon State Police assisted the Josephine County Sheriff's Office with a weekend disturbance involving firearms at the Galice Resort. OSP reports troopers and deputies responded to the incident at the resort in the 11,700-block of Galice Road on Saturday at 9:20 p.m.. Troopers said it was reported that at least three individuals with firearms were pointing them at approximately 15 people who were unable to escape. They said no one was hurt in the altercation and there was no information disclosed about why the incident occurred. According to OSP, four individuals were arrested for the incident. They were identified as 44-year-old Peter Anthony Rivera, 60-year-old Anthony Brent Clymens, 38-year-old Samantha Rae Kenny and 36-year-old Brian P. Stack. Rivera was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felon in Possession of a Weapon, 4th-Degree Assault, Furnishing False Information to Police and Parole Violation. Clymens was lodged in jail for Felon in Possession of a Weapon. Kenny was jailed for Menacing while Stack was jailed for Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Menacing. All four suspects were being held without bail as the investigation continues.
Posted on 7/8/24 11:14AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Investigation Resulted in Arrest of Man for Multiple Counts of Fraud
A Grants Pass Police Department investigation resulted in the weekend arrest of a man for multiple counts of fraud. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 38-year-old male subject at or near Southern Oregon Cannabis Connection on NE 7th Street on Saturday at 1:15 p.m.. Few details about the investigation were disclosed, but the subject was charged with three counts each of Felony Identity Theft and Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card. He was interviewed by detectives before being placed into custody. The suspect was lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail.
Posted on 7/8/24 11:13AM by Sam Marsh
 

Deputies Jailed Man on Local Warrant and Federal Charges after Weekend Call
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man on a local warrant and federal charges after a weekend incident in the Selma area. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies arrested a 35-year-old male subject on Illinois River Road on Saturday shortly before 9 p.m.. Deputies said they responded to a call regarding the man nodding off in a Dodge Dakota at that location. They said the caller believed the man might be drunk or high as he was displaying jerking motions before passing out. Upon arrival, deputies roused the man and discovered that he was wanted on a Jackson County felony warrant for Parole Violation. A search of his vehicle uncovered fireworks and alcohol. Further investigation revealed the man had been at the Swinging Bridge on the Illinois River earlier that evening. The US Forest Service has outlawed alcohol and fireworks possession on the Illinois River corridor during the outdoor recreation season. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. He was also cited federally for Possession of Alcohol and Possession of Fireworks Where Prohibited. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.
Posted on 7/8/24 11:11AM by Sam Marsh
 

OSP Arrested K Falls Man for Drugged Driving after Redwood Highway Wreck
The Oregon State Police arrested a Klamath Falls man for drugged driving after he wrecked his vehicle on Redwood Highway in the Selma area late last week. According to OSP, troopers were informed of a traffic complaint on US Highway 199 near milepost 19 on Friday afternoon. Troopers said the 45-year-old male driver of a Subaru Forester crossed over the center line of the highway, went onto the dirt shoulder hit, an ODOT reflector police and damaged a bunch of mailboxes. The reporting party said they thought the vehicle might flip over, but it did not and the driver continued northbound. A trooper saw the suspect vehicle stop at the Wonder General Store and made contact with the driver who performed poorly in field sobriety tests. The driver was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a negative sample, so a drug recognition evaluation was performed and he was placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Sobering Center for Driving Under the Influence of Controlled Substances, Reckless Driving and Criminal Mischief. His vehicle was impounded.
Posted on 7/8/24 11:10AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Nabbed Motorist for DUII after Receiving Call from Local Restaurant
Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving after receiving a call from a local restaurant. According to the Police Department, officers contacted the 61-year-old male driver of a Chevrolet pickup pulling a small trailer at Gianelli's Italian Restaurant on NE A Street on Friday around 9 p.m.. Police said they contacted the man after he was called in by a restaurant waiter as heavily intoxicated and attempting to leave in his vehicle. They said the man showed multiple signs of impairment included staggering and glossy eyes. A search warrant was obtained and the suspect was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented his impairment. The suspect was lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. His pickup and trailer were impounded.
Posted on 7/8/24 11:09AM by Sam Marsh
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IVFD & ODF Crews Doused Weekend Grass Fire on Rockydale Road near CJ
The Illinois Valley Fire District and Oregon Department of Forestry extinguished a weekend grass fire near Cave Junction. On Saturday at 1:22 p.m ., IVFD and ODF crews responded to reports of outdoor smoke and odor in the 1700-block of Rockydale Road. IVFD officials said arriving units found a half-acre grass fire at that location. They said crews extinguished and mopped up the blaze in short order. Officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation.
Posted on 7/8/24 11:07AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Incarcerated Man for Pulling Gun on Another after Fight over Woman
Grants Pass Police jailed a man for pulling a gun on another man during an altercation over a woman at a local pharmacy late last week. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 31-year-old male subject for the incident outside Walgreens on Friday morning. Police said the subject started a physical fight with the other man after an argument between the two occurred over a relationship with a woman. They said the suspect confronted both the man and woman at the woman's place of employment. He verbally harassed and shoved the other man, they began fighting and -- when the fight was over -- he pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the other man. There were no injuries reported and officers seized the subject weapon -- a Smith & Wesson 9-millimeter handgun -- as evidence before placing the suspect into custody. The suspect identified by police as "Tucker Joshua Bryant Smith" was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon and misdemeanor Menacing. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 7/8/24 6:14AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Jailed Bolivian Man for Pushing and Threatening Wife at Sunset Motel
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for roughing up his wife at a north-city motel at the start of the weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a domestic disturbance at the Sunset Inn on NW 6th Street on Friday shortly before 8 p.m.. Police said the motel owner called 9-1-1 to report the 23-year-old male subject pushed his wife into a wall while threatening to hurt her, which caused her to be placed into imminent fear of serious injury. They said there was a vast history of abuse between the couple who are both from Bolivia. Upon arrival, police interviewed the involved parties and then placed the suspect into custody. The victim told officers she was being abused on a daily basis. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Domestic Menacing. He was being held without bail. He was also trespassed from the motel and a nearby restaurant.
Posted on 7/8/24 6:13AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Arrested Motorcyclist Who Led Them on Weekend Chase in Wolf Creek
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorcyclist who led deputies on a weekend pursuit in the Wolf Creek area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies first attempted to pull over the street bike on Coyote Creek Road on Saturday during the noon hour. Deputies said the operator of the 2007 Suzuki motorcycle refused to yield and reached speeds of 80 miles per hour before he began having problems with the engine and slowed down to around 30 miles per hour. They said the 42-year-old male subject continued to run, leading them past Golden and the 5,000-block of Coyote Creek before taking a graveled Forest Service Road. According to the report, the motorcyclist looked like he was searching for a place to ditch the bike and run before he eventually pulled over. He was immediately placed into custody and the motorcycle was impounded with assistance from the Oregon State Police. The suspect was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempt to Elude Police. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 7/8/24 6:12AM by Sam Marsh
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Firefighters Put Out Jackson Creek Fire after Detection from Mountain Camera
Quick detection from a mountaintop camera and firefighters with good knowledge of the Fish Hatchery area were instrumental in reaching and putting out a weekend wildfire. On Saturday at 2:07 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department and Oregon Department of Forestry were dispatched to a reported fire burning in a remote location on Jackson Creek just below Manzanita Peak. Rural Metro officials said firefighters accessed the location via a road in the 3600-block of Southside Road and arrived to find a one-quarter-acre fire spreading up the hill in brush and timber. A combined attack from Rural Metro and ODF ground crews -- supported by two ODF helicopters -- stopped the forward spread of the blaze not long after arrival. An engine from Grants Pass Fire & Rescue assisted with mop-up. ODF was actively investigating the cause of the fire. Officials said there were no structures in the immediate area, but the scene had evidence of dispersed living and other off-grid activity.
Posted on 7/8/24 6:10AM by Sam Marsh
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Firefighters Extinguished Weekend Structure Fire in NW GP Neighborhood
Local firefighters extinguished a weekend structure fire in a northwest Grants Pass neighborhood. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue, Rural Metro Fire Department and the Grants Pass Police Department were dispatched to a reported house on fire at 214 NW 2nd Street on Saturday at 1:56 a.m.. Grants Pass fire officials said crews were able to knock down the fire within 20 minutes of arrival and they isolated the flames to the attic area of the home. Officials said no injuries were reported and a damage estimate was not available. It was not disclosed whether the blaze displaced the occupants of the dwelling. The cause of the fire was under investigation.
Posted on 7/8/24 6:09AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Finance Customer Service Office Closing for 90 Minutes Every Week Day
Due to a staffing shortage, the Finance Customer Service Office at Grants Pass City Hall will close from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. weekdays beginning today. During this 90-minute in-person closure, payments will still be taken via the drop box at City Hall, Interactive Voice Response (IVR) through the Customer Service line at (541)-450-6035 or online. City officials said they don't anticipate this being a permanent change, though the closure will last until further notice.
Posted on 7/8/24 6:01AM by Sam Marsh
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