Local News

A repeat offender was arrested by Grants Pass Police Officers Tuesday for the 6th time since June.
Officers contacted and arrested 42-year-old Nicholas Richard Stephey at 9:25 Tuesday morning following and alleged altercation at the Alibi Tavern at 1220 Northwest 6th. 911 received a report of a male inside the Tavern threatening people and pushing the owner. The suspect left the incident location headed south on 6th and was followed by a Tavern employee. He was followed to the A-1 Market and proceeded down 6th continuing to yell at the employee. The suspect turned west on Manzanita and was contacted by officers and arrested. Stephey was lodged in the county jail on charges of disorderly conduct II and criminal trespass II. He remained in custody this morning.

 

Oregon State Troopers made two arrests locally Tuesday on out-of-county warrants. The first arrest came at 9:46 a.m. when the Trooper stopped a black Ford Mustang for a traffic violation on I-5 near milepost 66. Contact was made with the suspect and it was determined that 19-year-old Eduardo Torres-Ramirez was wanted on a valid warrant for attempting to elude. He was lodged in the Josephine County Jail.The Second arrest came in Grants Pass at the corner of 7th and A Street. The Trooper observed a young male walking in between vehicles asking for money. The Trooper contacted Caden Ferman Morris Welch, 19, of Roseburg and discovered he had two warrants out of Douglas County. He was also lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

A 46-year-old inmate in the Josephine County Jail was served with an out-of-county hold warrant yesterday. Timothy Allen Davis was being held on charges of escape III and disorderly conduct II. Tuesday evening a warrant from the Multnomah County Sheriff's office containing two charges of failing to register as a sex offender. Mr. Davis remains in custody.

 

Authorities are reporting little to no growth on local fires. According to the final update, the Lower Wolf Creek Fire has been GPS mapped at 3 acres and is holding within established lines. A quick, coordinated response from firefighters on the ground and aircraft overhead helped stop forward progress despite steep terrain. Resources are continuing mop-up operations, working to locate and extinguish remaining heat and further secure the fire. The Wood Rat fire remains at 288 acres and is reported to be at 60 percent containment. The Forks State Park Fire remains at 11 acres and is also 60 percent contained with no reported growth. The cause of these fires remains under investigation.

 

Authorities capture Anthony Teal Tuesday after a manhunt had been in progress since July 30th. According to a Grants Pass Police Press Release, early Tuesday it was suspected Teal had been in the Cloverlawn area. Later in the afternoon, a resident near Cloverlawn reported someone was likely in his RV. Josephine County Sheriff’s deputies cautiously made contact with the RV and discovered Teal had barricaded himself in the RV’s bathroom. Deputies immediately attempted to negotiate with Teal to surrender. After a prolonged period with no signs Teal would voluntarily exit, chemical agents were introduced into the RV. Negotiations continued. Teal was taken into custody without further incident. The Grants Pass Major Crimes Unit is conducting a further investigation. He is currently being held in the Josephine County Jail facing 12 different charges including Menacing, Robbery I, unauthorized use of a vehicle, unlawful use of a weapon, strangulation, and assault IV. He is being held in lieu of $500,000 bond.

 

The Board of Commissioners approved a Community Corrections position reclassification and Contract Amendment.

Public Health presented a Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) Synergy Contract Amendment to the board, saying a dietician is necessary for the organization to run properly. An additional $30,000 will come from WIC's budget to provide the position. A motion to approve the amendment passed 3-0.

Also approved unanimously was a Transit work order for Electric Vehicle batteries to extend the bus's range. About $3,100 will be spent from the Transit budget. Following an Economic Development Committee discussion, Human Resources presented a position reclassification for a Community Corrections Case Specialist, which was approved without objection.

The board will see how the county can ease back into the Association of O&C Counties, then were presented a proposal for a government efficiency pilot program. This would be an assessment for government departments, with recommendations provided on how the county can save money and improve processes via automation.

Commissioner Smith wanted to see an example of a corporation or county where these methods have been utilized, and the outcome. He was also concerned with the idea of fewer department employees being necessary. Gary expressed it as a way to lighten the load on employees rather than letting any go. Colleen recommended Legal Counsel review the idea. Further discussion will take place.

 

A $.93 5-year local option tax to partially fund the Josephine County Jail is the only action item on the Board of County Commissioners agenda for tonight's Weekly Business Session. Should the resolution pass, County voters will decide basically to renew the current levy. Following the vote, the agenda outlines normal items including citizen’s comments and Commissioner’s response, plus the consent agenda that contains the minutes of several meetings. Other matters may be introduced by the Board.
The Business Session convenes at 5:30 p.m. tonight in the Anne Basker Auditorium on Northwest 6th Street.

 

Grange Co-Op loss prevention detained a subject after he stole $100 worth of merchandise.

A call to 911 reported the man, Daniel Anaya-Alvarez, was cooperative after being taken into custody by loss prevention at the 1710 W Schutzwohl Lane store at 2:16 p.m. He reportedly didn't speak English, and had tried to exchange his used boots for a new pair without paying.

Grants Pass Police officers responded to the scene and took Anaya-Alvarez into custody. He was transported to the Josephine County Jail and lodged for Second Degree Theft. He was later released on his own recognizance.

 

Firefighters knocked down the Yale Creek Road Fire shortly after the grass fire broke out south of Buncom this morning.

According to the Oregon Department of Forestry, crews arrived at the scene of the blaze that was burning at a moderate rate of speed. Multiple ground resources worked alongside agency partners and two Type 2 helicopters to extinguish the fire.

It held within the footprint of about 1.5 acres, and crews are continuing to work the fire and secure the area as of 10:55 a.m.