Local News

A multi-agency investigation led to the arrest of a Grants Pass man for fentanyl trafficking late last week. Last Thursday morning, Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Team, US Drug Enforcement Administration, US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Grants Pass Police Department, Central Point Police Department and Jackson County Sheriff's Office served a search warrant on a Lower River Road residence just west of the city limits. RADE officials said the operation was the culmination of an ongoing multi-agency effort to impact the sales of fentanyl in Southern Oregon. The search recovered over one-half pound of fentanyl, numerous firearms and a 3-D printer used for making "ghost guns." The Oregon State Police Bomb Squad was also called in to render numerous other suspicious devices safe. Investigators arrested 38-year-old Christopher Michael Smith who was living in a trailer on his parents' property. Smith was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Manufacture and Delivery of Fentanyl plus Possession of Fentanyl. They said he will also be facing federal firearms charges. He is being held without bail pending his Circuit Court arraignment this afternoon. The RADE team is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force that identifies, disrupts and dismantles local, multi-state and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven and prosecutor-supported approach.

 

The Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) arrested a Riddle man on several fentanyl-related charges after an Interstate 5 traffic stop in the Glendale area late last week. Last Thursday at 4:15 p.m., DINT detectives -- with assistance from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office -- initiated a traffic stop on a northbound vehicle on I-5 near milepost 83. According to DINT, a search of the vehicle uncovered approximately 115 grams of suspected fentanyl along with a small amount of methamphetamine. Detectives said 34-year-old Bobby Hogue of Riddle was detained at the scene. A short time later, a search of Hogue's residence on Canyonville-Riddle Road revealed another small amount of suspected methamphetamine as well as a firearm. Hogue is a convicted felon prohibited from possessing any weapons. Hogue was arrested, transported to Roseburg and lodged at the Douglas County Jail for Manufacture, Possession and Delivery of Fentanyl along with Felon in Possession of a Firearm. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man on a total of 26 charges including three outstanding warrants following a shoplifting incident at WinCo Foods late last week. The Police Department reports officers responded to a theft complaint at the store on NE Terry Lane on Friday shortly after 2 p.m.. Police said 32-year-old Joe Randall Thompson was caught stealing and concealing items inside WinCo. They detained him and discovered that he was wanted on three Jackson County warrants for failing to appear in court for Methamphetamine Possession, 2nd-Degree Theft, 3rd-Degree Theft and Criminal Trespass. Further investigation revealed that Thompson was wanted for probable cause of 1st-Degree Burglary, 1st-Degree Theft, 10 counts of Identity Theft and 10 counts of Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card. No details about those crimes were released, but they are associated with an ongoing GPPD investigation. Thompson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants as well as the new criminal allegations. He was being held without bail.

 

A motorcyclist was seriously injured after striking a tree in the Cave Junction area late yesterday. The Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response and Josephine County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the single-vehicle crash on Bear Creek Road on Sunday at 5:17 p.m.. Few details about the incident were disclosed, but IVFD officials said one patient was transported to the Selma Fire Station and then airlifted by Mercy Flights helicopter to a local trauma center with life-threatening injuries. Jerry's Towing responded to remove the heavily damaged motorcycle from the scene. The Sheriff's Office was investigating the cause of the crash.

 

UPDATE: MARTHA WADE HAS BEEN LOCATED SAFELY.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is requesting public assistance in locating a woman who recently was reported missing by her family. Sheriff's officials reported late Friday that the family of 41-year-old Martha Christine Wade has not heard from her since October 2024. That contact was on the phone, but family members did not know where she was at the time. For the past year, Wade was known to be living in transient camps and parks in Grants Pass. She was last contacted by Grants Pass Police on July 25th of last year. Wade does not have a vehicle or any known associates. She is described as a white female adult, 5-feet-7-inches tall and 145 pounds, with blonde hair and hazel eyes. She also has a scar on her neck and a ladybug tattoo on her right foot. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Martha Wade is encouraged to contact the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123. Please reference Case #25-10327.

 

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has lifted the recreational use advisory for Emigrant Lake in Jackson County. OHA had issued the health advisory on May 1st due to the photo and satellite imagery evidence of potentially toxin-producing cyanobacteria near areas of high recreational use at the lake near Ashland. Water monitoring has confirmed that the level of cyanobacteria toxins in Emigrant Lake are now below recreational guideline values. OHA advises recreational visitors to continually be alert to signs of cyanobacteria blooms as they can shift quickly. They can develop and disappear on any water body at any time when bloom conditions are favorable. Wind and water movement can also affect where the blooms appear. Only a fraction of water bodies in Oregon are monitored for blooms and toxins, so it's important for people to become familiar with signs of a bloom, exposures and symptoms by visit OHA's website at "healthoregon.org/hab."

 

The City of Rogue River has lifted a targeted voluntary water conservation request. Rogue River had issued a targeted request to conserve water last week due to some unspecified operational challenges at the City's Water Treatment Plant. Rogue River officials on Saturday issued an update stating the Water Treatment Plant is fully functional again and the City has lifted the water conservation request from last week. The City of Rogue River thanked those who acted to conserve water and noted that normal consumption can resume. If you have any questions regarding water usage, please contact Rogue River City Hall at (541)-582-4401.

 

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters started the new month with another strong community protection effort. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 638 calls for service along with 302 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 50 arrests, 38 citations, 62 warnings and nine highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 92 traffic stops in the city and they made 26 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS). They also responded to four drug overdoses. The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) made 17 contacts with potential troublemakers while arresting four people, citing six more and warning 10 others. The CRT unit also trespassed four individuals from city homes and businesses. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 108 calls last week including 37 for emergency medical service, seven reports of fire or smoke, 13 lift assists, five rescue situations, three assists to other agencies and six false alarms. Firefighters performed 50 business inspections, led four public education/prevention programs and assisted the public seven times. The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded a total of 1,238 emergency calls last week.

 

"National Police Week" -- May 11th-17th -- honors all law enforcement officers throughout the United States who have given their lives to safeguard our rights and freedoms. On behalf of all law enforcement agencies in Josephine County, Sheriff Dave Daniel invites citizens to join them in remembering six fallen local officers and showing appreciation for the sacrifices they and their families have made. The roll call of law enforcement personnel who have paid the ultimate price and lost their lives in the line of duty in Josephine County includes Trooper Burrell Baucom on July 1, 1933; Search and Rescue Captain Emmett Blackmun on September 24, 1968; Deputy Alice Moran and Deputy Glenn Allen on November 17, 1971; Sergeant Marvin Brewster on April 21, 1972; and Deputy Thomas Rice on May 23, 2002. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Grants Pass Police Department and Oregon State Police will salute their memory on Tuesday at 10 a.m. on the front steps of the Courthouse at 500 NW 6th Street in Grants Pass. For those who cannot attend in person, the event will be streamed "live" on local law enforcement Facebook and Instagram pages.