Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist on multiple charges after he crashed his vehicle into a fence in a southeast-city neighborhood last night. The Police Department reports officers responded to a possible "road rage" incident involving a red Chevrolet Camaro in the 700-block of SE Riverside Avenue on Wednesday around 7:30 p.m.. Police said a 30-year-old male subject was in a disturbance at that location after he drove his vehicle in a reckless manner and crashed into a fence, causing about $800 in damage. Video of the wreck was filmed by the residents who wished to pursue criminal charges against the driver. The driver whom police identified as "Anthony Michael Eller" was placed into custody and found to be in possession of a small amount of methamphetamine, which was seized for destruction. Eller was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Reckless Driving, 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief and Meth Possession. A friend took possession of his car.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for petty theft and drug possession after she tried to steal merchandise from Walmart early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at the store on NE Terry Lane on Wednesday shortly before 8 a.m.. Police said Walmart loss prevention officers stopped the 40-year-old female subject after they observed her conceal store goods and pass all points of sale without paying for them. The jewelry and party supplies were valued at $76.70. Upon police contact with the woman, she admitted committing the theft and to having drugs on her person. A consent search uncovered a small amount of a powdery substance that field-tested positive for fentanyl. She was also found to be in possession of another unspecified narcotic substance. The suspect was lodged at the nearby jail facility for 3rd-Degree Theft, Possession of Fentanyl and Possession of a Schedule 4 Controlled Substance. She was being held without bail and she was trespassed from the big box retailer.

 

The Grants Pass City Council last night reaffirmed the right of police to enforce rules for two designated public campsites related to proper spacing. All eight City Council members were in attendance, but Mayor Sara Bristol was absent so Council President Vanessa Ogier led the meeting. The Council voted 8-0 to approve an ordinance amending Grants Pass Municipal Code pertaining to the utilization of open city park space for the sites at SE J Street and the corner of 6th & A streets, and declaring an emergency. The emergency declaration was made to ensure the new ordinance went into effect immediately. City Manager Aaron Cubic stated that the ordinance is a clarification of the Grants Pass Police Department's authority to ensure proper spacing of tents at the new sites now that the unhoused population has been removed from city parks. Tents can occupy a space no larger than 8-by-8-feet and campsites must be at least six feet away from each other. In other business, the City Council approved an appeal of system development charges associated with a new RV park on NE Greenfield Road. The Greenfield RV Resort was facing a one-time SDC payment of more than $242,000 for sewer service, but the panel voted 6-2 to reduce the amount by over $72,000 based on a 50% reduction in the number of fixtures per unit for recreational vehicles.

 

Firefighters have gained the upper hand on a fast-moving grass fire that erupted near Ashland and shut down the southbound lanes of Interstate 5 yesterday. On Wednesday afternoon, the Oregon Department of Forestry, Jackson County Fire District #5 and Ashland Fire & Rescue responded to the fire near milepost 11.5 of I-5. Arriving agencies engaged in an aggressive initial attack that included orders for air tanker and helicopter drops of water and retardant. The initial size of the fire was estimated to be five acres and the Oregon Department of Transportation shut down the southbound lanes of I-5 due to its proximity to the freeway. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office issued a Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation order for one zone and a Level 2 "Be Set" evacuation notice for another. The evacuation notices were left at Level 2 overnight as crews continued to mop-up the blaze. By 3:05 p.m., firefighters had the fire 90% wetlined and were keeping it in check with helicopter water bucket drops. Forward progress of the blaze was stopped and retardant loads were canceled. Resources continued lining the fire and bolstering containment lines. In a final update at 7:20 p.m., ODF reported the fire was GPS-mapped at 13 acres and it was 100% lined. Firefighting resources remained engaged in mopping up the incident through the night. ODOT reopened one travel lane on southbound I-5. ODF officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

 

A house fire in the Merlin area mobilized crews from multiple agencies yesterday. Rural Metro Fire Department, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue, the Oregon Department of Forestry and American Medical Response were dispatched to a structure fire on Tomoe Court on Wednesday at 2:54 p.m.. Rural Metro officials said the first arriving units found the second floor of a house fully-engulfed in flames. After confirming all occupants had safely exited, crews went to work to extinguish the blaze. Despite the heat of the day, containment was achieved quickly, which kept the fire from spreading into nearby vegetation. Firefighters were able to protect most of the contents on the first floor of the dwelling. There were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire was under investigation by the Oregon State Fire Marshal. The occupants received assistance for their loss and displacement by members of the Southern Oregon Public Safety Chaplains and American Red Cross. Officials said the incident came just after Rogue Valley Strike Team #1 from the Grants Pass area was sent to help protect structures threatened by the grass fire south of Ashland. There was also a vehicle fire near the end of Crow Road in Merlin that was extinguished.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for stealing mail and casing homes in the North Valley area this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested a 30-year-old male subject near the corner of Pleasant Valley Road and Monument Drive late Tuesday afternoon. Deputies said multiple residents called 9-1-1 to report a "scruffy" man was getting into mailboxes and trespassing while looking around houses in the area. The callers advised the subject had several items stuffed into his pockets as he walked along Pleasant Valley Road. Upon arrival, deputies located the suspect on the shoulder of the road and advised him to stop walking, which he did. He was ordered to remove his hands from his pockets, which he also did. However, he refused to speak to deputies and ignored them while standing still. Due to his behavior, deputies called for backup from the Oregon State Police and two troopers responded to assist. The man identified as "Michael Jeffrey Richards" was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Mail Theft and Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail.

 

The Oregon State Police was looking for a man who fled from an attempted traffic stop just west of Grants Pass this week. OSP reports troopers tried to pull over a black Chevrolet Suburban driven by a male subject on Pinecrest Drive near Upper River Road on Tuesday afternoon. Troopers said the driver of the vehicle was slow to yield and he almost hit another vehicle head-on in the oncoming travel lane. They did not initiate a pursuit due to public safety, but identified the driver as 38-year-old Braide Preston Shipman who they knew was wanted on an outstanding warrant. According to OSP, Shipman continued to flee northbound on Pinecrest. The SUV was found a short time later and an investigation is pending. Charges of Felony Attempt to Elude Police and Reckless Driving against Shipman were forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for consideration. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Braide Shipman is encouraged to dial *OSP.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a male transient for trespassing on railroad property early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to multiple reports of smoke underneath the 3rd Street railroad bridge on Wednesday at 12:29 a.m.. Police said they arrived on scene to find a 44-year-old male subject next to a trash pile that had been lit on fire. The small fire was quickly extinguished and there was no damage to the bridge. A routine records check showed the man had a previous trespass warning from railroad property in September 2023, so he was placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass. A corrections officer was contacted, but he declined to place a detainer on his client.

 

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has issued an Air Quality Advisory for parts of state due to smoke from wildfires in Oregon, Idaho and California. In Southern Oregon, DEQ officials said Jackson, Klamath and Lake counties will be affected at least until Friday. Intermittent smoke may be found in central and eastern Douglas County as well as parts of Josephine County. Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on weather. Smoke can irritate the eyes and lungs and worsen medical conditions. People most at risk include infants and young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with heart or lung disease. Protect yourself and family when smoke levels are high. Stay inside if possible. Keep windows and doors closed. If it's too hot, run air conditioning on recirculate or consider moving to a cooler location. Avoid strenuous outdoor activities. Use high-efficiency particulate air filters in indoor ventilation systems or portable air purifiers. Be aware of smoke in your area and avoid places with the highest levels.