Local News

Firefighters were able to keep a vehicle fire from spreading into the surrounding wildland off Interstate 5 in the Hugo area early yesterday. Rural Metro Fire Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry responded to the reported blaze near milepost 68 of I-5 on Mount Sexton at 10:23 a.m. Monday. Rural Metro and ODF were both called in due to the high potential for spread into nearby vegetation. An ODF engine arrived first and was able to keep the fire in-check and away from the brush and trees on the side of the freeway. Rural Metro officials said there were no injuries reported, but the vehicle was destroyed by the fire. The cause was believed to be mechanical.

 

The Grants Pass Police Department has released more information about the fatal shooting that happened last weekend at an apartment complex off Rogue River Highway. On Friday at about 9:20 p.m., the Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center received multiple calls about a shooting that had just occurred in the 1400-block of Highway 99. A male victim was down in the parking lot of the apartment complex. GP police officers responded to the scene along with the Oregon State Police and Josephine County Sheriff's Office. Upon arrival, law enforcement personnel found and provided immediate medical care to a male gunshot victim. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and American Medical Response also provided medical care, but the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. GPPD detectives took over the investigation and identified the deceased as 24-year-old Jose Regalado of Grants Pass. The initial investigation was supported by the OSP Major Crimes Team, Josephine County District Attorney's Office and Josephine County Medical Examiner. GPPD Captain Justin DeKruger said this remains an active investigation and they are requesting anyone with information or video to call the agency at (541)-450-6260 and reference Case #2024-26283.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for attacking his long-time girlfriend at a home near Riverside Park. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 53-year-old male subject for the incident that occurred at a residence on SE Vista Drive late Sunday night. He was placed into custody at 2:15 a.m. yesterday. Police said they were alerted to the domestic violence incident by Three Rivers Medical Center when the female victim drove herself to the hospital to be treated for injuries sustained in the altercation. They said the couple has been in a romantic relationship for about 23 years. The victim told officers her boyfriend's physical violence against her had increased since last Thursday. She said the man grabbed a bath towel which he used to choke her and leave visible bruising on her neck. She was in fear for her life and believed he was going to kill her. According to the report, the boyfriend was located and placed into custody at the couple's home. He was forthcoming and admitted to all reported incidents. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 2nd-Degree Domestic Assault, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Domestic Strangulation and Domestic Menacing. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for physically assaulting his girlfriend at a home in the southeast part of the city last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the domestic violence incident at a property on Cloverlawn Drive on Sunday around 11:30 a.m.. Police said a 32-year-old male subject was reported to have physically assaulted his girlfriend at the incident location inside his father's trailer. Units arrived on scene and removed the female victim to a safe location. The subject initially refused to exit the trailer, advised he would not go to jail and stated that officers would have to shoot him. After several minutes speaking with the subject, officers said he complied and exited the trailer. He was detained during the investigation which revealed that he slammed his girlfriend against a couch and the floor while telling her he was going to kill her. The woman sustained injuries and said she was in fear for her life. According to the report, the suspect intentionally destroyed his father's trailer by damaging both doors and a table inside valued at more than $5,000. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for five counts of Domestic Strangulation plus single counts of 4th-Degree Domestic Assault, Domestic Menacing and Felony Criminal Mischief. He was being held without bail.

 

Five occupants of a pickup self-extricated and escaped with only minor injuries after the vehicle rolled over in southeast Grants Pass. Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the single-vehicle crash in the 4,000-block of Cloverlawn Drive on Monday at 4:01 p.m.. Rural Metro officials said the wreck occurred after the driver failed to negotiate a curve near Malone Way and sheared off a power pole. The Sheriff's Office decided to shut down the road until the stability of the pole could be determined and high voltage lines could be turned off by Pacific Power. An off-duty nurse happened to be nearby at the time of the crash and was able to administer first aid to the occupants as well as provide an assessment summary of injuries to rescue crews upon their arrival. Damage to the utility pole resulted in a power outage for many residences on the affected grid. The Sheriff's Office reports the teen driver of the pickup was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, four counts of Reckless Endangering and 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. The wrecked pickup was impounded.

 

A motorcyclist was injured yesterday in a crash near Selma. On Monday at 12:25 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to the single-vehicle wreck in the 3200-block of Lakeshore Drive. IVFD officials provided few details about the crash, but they said the operator was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center in Grants Pass with unspecified injuries. Travel lanes on Lakeshore Drive were reopened after the motorcycle was cleared and towed to Cave Junction.

 

A fuel tanker truck rolled over early yesterday on Interstate 5 near Wolf Creek, prompting a long-term cleanup effort by the Oregon Department of Transportation. Rural Metro Fire Department reports firefighters responded to the incident in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 78.5 early Monday morning. Rural Metro officials said the overturned tanker was leaking fuel and the driver was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. Firefighters worked to contain the fuel runoff and prevent ignition. One lane was shut down and delays were expected throughout the day. ODOT crews arrived on scene and took over cleanup of the spilled fuel. Rural Metro was released, but the Wolf Creek Rural Fire Protection District and Glendale Fire Department remained on scene for fire standby. The cause of the crash was under investigation by the Oregon State Police.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District is now accepting applications to fill one vacancy on its Board of Directors. IVFD is inviting all interested persons to apply by mailing or e-mailing a letter of interest to the local rural fire protection district. Letters may be sent by mail to 681 Caves Highway, Cave Junction, OR 97523 or they can be e-mailed to "jamiepaul@ivfire.com." The deadline for these letters of interest is August 31st. Anyone with questions is invited to call the IVFD Administration Office at (541)-592-2225 or (541)-592-3159.

 

Firefighters are completing the last portions of mop-up operations on two of the 17 lightning-caused fires that were found in Southern Oregon over the last week. The fires followed numerous rounds of thunderstorms that moved through the region. Between July 15th and 22nd, five fires were reported on the Oregon Department of Forestry's Medford Unit and 12 were reported on the Grants Pass ODF Unit. At this time, all but two are 100% contained and they are nearly mopped up. Thunderstorms first materialized on the evening of July 15th, with a total of 66 lightning strikes recorded across the local district. From this storm, firefighters responded to 13 fires. Of these fires, the largest was the Waters Gulch Fire and it was stopped at just two acres. The next storm system arrived late Saturday night, with 18 recorded lightning strikes across Jackson and Josephine counties. Four fires were reported, with two in each unit. Of these fires, the Sugarpine Gulch Fire was caught at just over seven acres. It is now 100% lined and 100% mopped up. Resources and equipment were also strategically used from the Salt Creek Fire, which was caught and lined at just over 4,100 acres. The wildfire burning between Eagle Point and Butte Falls was transitioned from an ODF Incident Management Team to local control last week and it is now 100% contained.