Local News

GP Police Cited Motorist for Causing 6th Street Crash under Interstate 5 Overpass
Grants Pass Police cited a motorist for causing a crash in the north part of the city and not having any insurance late yesterday. The Police Department reports officers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision under the Interstate 5 overpass on NE 6th Street near Scoville Road on Thursday at 5:47 p.m.. Police said an investigation showed the male driver of a white Mazda sport utility vehicle wrecked into a red Ford Maverick as he exited the northbound I-5 off-ramp onto 6th Street. The driver of the Ford told officers the other driver tried to pay him off and leave. He said the other driver was acting "sketchy." Officers determined that the driver of the Mazda SUV had no insurance. His vehicle sustained heavy damage and was towed away. Following the investigation, the at-fault motorist was charged with Failure to Yield the Right of Way and No Insurance. He was cited to appear in court and released.
Posted on 8/9/24 11:43AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Cited Motorist for Causing Williams Highway Crash without Insurance
Grants Pass Police cited a motorist for causing a crash on Williams Highway and not having any insurance last night. According to the Police Department, officers and emergency crews responded to a two-vehicle collision in the 1600-block of Highway 238 on Thursday at 9:48 p.m.. Police said an investigation showed that the female driver of a silver Cadillac CTV entered the highway from the Williams Highway Plaza and struck a black Honda CRV that was traveling south on the highway. The Honda -- which had been purchased just yesterday -- was towed from the crash scene. No one was hurt. Following the investigation, officers charged the driver of the Cadillac with Failure to Yield the Right of Way and No Insurance. She was cited to appear in court and released.
Posted on 8/9/24 11:41AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Arrested Couple for Stealing Flea Medication for Dogs at Walmart
Grants Pass Police arrested a local couple for trying to steal merchandise from Walmart late yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a shoplifting call at the store on NE Terry Lane on Thursday at 4:50 p.m.. Police said the man and woman entered Walmart with the intent to steal flea medication for their dogs. The pair exited the store while passing all points of sale without paying for the item. They were detained by loss prevention and the flea medication was returned to the store. According to the report, both suspects were cooperative with law enforcement. Both suspects were charged with 3rd-Degree Theft. They were cited to appear in court and then released from custody.
Posted on 8/9/24 11:40AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Evicted 4 Campers from Riverside Park in Thursday Patrol Checks
Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant and cited three other people during patrol checks at a city park yesterday. During a morning check of Riverside Park, officers contacted a 30-year-old male subject and discovered that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for a weapon offense. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail and trespassed from the park for 30 days. Also at Riverside Park, a man and woman were observed smoking out of a glass pipe that contained a white crystal substance determined to be methamphetamine. Both were cited to appear in court and issued 30-day exclusion notices. Meanwhile, a woman was cited for Misuse of Park Open Space and Scattering Rubbish. She was also trespassed from the park for 30 days.
Posted on 8/9/24 11:38AM by Sam Marsh
Read more
 

GP Police Jailed Man for Six Crimes after He Tried to Steal Truck from Business
Grants Pass Police jailed a man for multiple crimes this week after he broke into a vehicle and tried to steal it from a downtown business. The Police Department reports officers tracked down and arrested the 45-year-old male subject identified as "Justin John Morton" on Wednesday morning after he tried to steal a vehicle from Active Home Furnishings at 605 SE 7th Street. Police said the incident was called in at 7:14 a.m. by an employee of People's Bank of Commerce who witnessed the crime from a top-floor window. The caller reported the subject was rummaging through a blue truck, breaking it apart and scattering items all over the roadway. A description of the suspect was given to officers who eventually located him in an alley between J and K streets. Officers told the suspect to stop, but he ran away from them while screaming obscenities. He ran across the street and up onto the hood of a patrol vehicle that was involved in the chase. He then jumped down from the vehicle and walked toward officers with clenched fists. A Taser was deployed to place him into custody, but he continued to scuffle with police after he was handcuffed. Morton was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Attempted Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle, 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief, Resisting Arrest, Disorderly Conduct and Petty Theft. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 8/9/24 6:44AM by Sam Marsh
Read more
 

Deputies Jailed Man for Threatening Ex-Wife while Attempting to See His Kids
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for harassing and threatening his ex-wife in order to see their children this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested the 27-year-old male subject on Wednesday evening in the 1300-block of Caves Highway in Cave Junction. Deputies said the subject was reported to be driving back in forth in front of the female victim's Grants Pass residence while threatening to kill the mother of his children. They said he was driving a silver 2022 Chevrolet pickup and he was reportedly armed with a shotgun and/or an assault rifle. According to the report, the man currently has an open case in Yamhill County. He is allowed to have contact with his ex-wife, but may not have contact with the kids. After speaking with both the suspect and the victim, deputies learned the suspect drove past the victim's house at least a dozen times the night before and threatened to shoot her after a verbal dispute on the phone that she recorded. The suspect was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Domestic Menacing and Contempt of Court. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 8/9/24 6:43AM by Sam Marsh
Read more
 

GP Police Snared Man for Intentionally Starting Small Fire on East Side of City
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for intentionally starting a small fire on the east side of the city this week. According to the Police Department, officers and firefighters responded to the grass fire at the corner of the Grants Pass Parkway and NE Agness Avenue shortly before midnight on Wednesday. Police said a passing motorist called 9-1-1 to report a male subject lighting a bush on fire, breaking a branch off the burning bush and walking toward the Elmer's restaurant. The subject dropped the branch in the middle of the road and began walking toward the caller's vehicle, so the caller drove away. Officers and firefighters were successful in putting out a small fire near the River City BMX track as the 33-year-old man walked away. He attempted to flee the scene on foot, but was captured in the intersection and placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 2nd-Degree Arson, Resisting Arrest and Escape plus Felony Parole Violation related to convictions for Forgery and Theft. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.
Posted on 8/9/24 6:41AM by Sam Marsh
Read more
 

California Truck Driver Escaped Serious Injury in Interstate 5 Rollover Wreck
A California truck driver escaped serious injury when he wrecked a commercial vehicle on Interstate 5 in northern Josephine County. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to a single-vehicle crash in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 73 on Wednesday night. Troopers said a preliminary investigation indicates a 26-year-old man from Tracy, California, was driving a Freightliner and pulling a trailer when the front left tire gave out, he lost control and struck the guardrail. The semi then rolled onto its driver-side and completely blocked both southbound lanes of the freeway. According to OSP, the driver sustained minor injuries, but he refused medical treatment. Both the truck and trailer were towed to Grants Pass. No citations were issued for the wreck, which occurred at a notoriously sharp corner near Smith Hill Summit.
Posted on 8/9/24 6:40AM by Sam Marsh
Read more
 

IVFD Crews Busy with Trash Fire, Traffic Crash & Grass Fire on Thursday
The Illinois Valley Fire District had a busy day yesterday while responding to a trash fire, a traffic accident and a grass fire by late afternoon. On Thursday at 3:35 a.m., IVFD crews responded to a trash fire in a dumpster in the 200-block of South Redwood Highway in Cave Junction. The fire was quickly extinguished and the cause was under investigation. On Thursday at 1:58 p.m., IVFD, American Medical Response, Oregon State Police and the Oregon Department of Transportation were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash on Redwood Highway at Draper Valley Road in Selma. Arriving units found a damaged vehicle off the side of the road. The female driver had self-extricated from the wreck and was not seriously hurt. ODOT conducted traffic control and OSP was conducting an investigation. On Thursday at 4:13 p.m., IVFD and the Oregon Department of Forestry rushed to a grass fire in the 25,600-block of Redwood Highway near Cave Junction. The small fire was quickly put out and the cause was under investigation.
Posted on 8/9/24 6:31AM by Sam Marsh
Read more
 

New Band Featuring Jackson County Deputies Playing Benefit Concert
A new country-rock band featuring two Jackson County sheriff's deputies has been making the rounds at "live" music venues in the Rogue Valley. "Bridge 222" features the deputies on vocals, keyboard and guitar as well as a bass player from another local law enforcement agency, plus a drummer. The band will play during an Almeda Fire benefit this Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the ETHOS Academy in Phoenix. It's located at 4414 South Pacific Highway. The benefit will honor Almeda Fire first responders and their families. The event features "live" music, Mexican food, corn hole, axe-throwing, a raffle and more. "Bridge 222" started playing together last November and they play mostly covers of country, rock and pop music. They are starting to write original music as well. This will be the band's third "live" concert and it's for a great cause.
Posted on 8/9/24 6:19AM by Sam Marsh
Read more
 

ODF: There's Still Time to Comment on Wildfire Hazard Map and Administrative Rules
News Image
The public still has time to provide comments about both the draft statewide wildfire hazard map and proposed administrative rules associated with the map. The Oregon Department of Forestry said these public comment opportunities are among the last steps before the release of the final wildfire hazard map in October. According to ODF, the proposed administrative rules will be used by Oregon State University to address how irrigated lands are considered when assessing hazards for the state map and they will establish the process for appealing a hazard zone or wildland-urban interface designation. Public hearings were held virtually last week, but additional written comments can be sent to "maprules@odf.oregon.gov" until 5 p.m. on August 15th. Input received will be shared with the Board of Forestry prior to their decision on whether to adopt the rules. Please state which rule you're commenting on in your e-mail. Draft versions of the state wildfire hazard and wildland-urban interface maps are available on OSU's Wildfire Risk Explorer website. These drafts reflect revisions based on public and county government input received over the last two years. Comments on the draft map can be sent to "hazardmap@odf.oregon.gov" until 5 p.m. on August 18th.
Posted on 8/9/24 6:18AM by Sam Marsh
Read more
 

Grants Pass Agency Acquires Type 3 Wildland Engine from Oregon State Fire Marshal
News Image
Grants Pass Fire & Rescue has acquired a new Type 3 wildland engine from the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM). Grants Pass Deputy Fire Chief Joe Hyatt said the International cab, Type 3 pumper is designed for rapid wildland fire extinguishment as well as urban response. He said it comes with 1,000 gallon per minute and auxiliary pump capabilities, plus a 750-gallon water tank, making it suitable for both urban and rural calls. OSFM will retain ownership of the engine while Grants Pass will handle housing, staffing, responding, insuring and maintaining the apparatus for three years. Hyatt said they are currently outfitting the engine and undergoing training with it. He said they anticipate having it in service and ready to respond to fires very soon. Acquisition of the new apparatus was made possible through the Oregon State Fire Marshal Engine Program funded by Oregon Senate Bill 762, which was passed by the State Legislature in 2021. Local agencies had the option to request a Type 6 wildland engine, a Type 3 wildland engine or a tactical tender. A total of seven of the OSFM apparatus are coming to the Rogue Valley.
Posted on 8/9/24 6:13AM by Sam Marsh
Read more