Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for drug and probation violations while investigating a report of suspicious activity in the downtown area last night. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at United Community Action Network (UCAN) in the 900-block of SE 8th Street at about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. Callers reported a suspicious man looking into the building. Police said they contacted 32-year-old Dakota Alan Ree in the UCAN parking lot and he did not notice officers were there even when they illuminated him with a flashlight. They said he appeared intoxicated and had difficulty speaking while sitting next to a "tooter" on the steps of the building. The "tooter" subsequently tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine. Ree was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Meth Possession and the resulting Probation Violation related to past arrests for Theft and Criminal Trespass. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for drug and traffic violations early yesterday following a traffic stop in the south part of the city. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a Toyota driven by 39-year-old Alycia Sue Watts near the intersection of Rogue River and Redwood highways on Tuesday around 12:35 a.m.. Police said they stopped Watts after she was observed driving her car on a public roadway with fictitious registration tags. During contact, officers spotted a glass pipe under her dog which was in the passenger seat. The pipe contained residue that tested positive as methamphetamine. During a consent search of the car, approximately seven grams of meth was found along with a scale and baggies. All the items were seized as evidence. Watts was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Meth Possession and she was cited for Altered Plates, No Insurance and Failure to Register Vehicle. Her car was impounded and a charge of Meth Delivery was referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration. Her dog was turned over to a friend.

 

The Oregon State Police cited a truck driver for causing a motor vehicle accident on Interstate 5 near the City of Rogue River early yesterday. According to OSP, troopers and emergency crews responded to the incident in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 48 on Tuesday shortly before 9 a.m.. Troopers said a preliminary investigation indicated that a 54-year-old Vancouver, Washington, man was driving a Kenworth pulling a trailer filled with scrap metal when several pieces of metal fell out of the trailer and struck a Chevrolet Malibu driven by a 43-year-old Eagle Point man. No injuries were reported. Damage to the Malibu was well over $2,500 and it was towed from the scene by the driver. Following the investigation, the truck driver was cited for Operating with a Loose Load.

 

The Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) raided an illegal cannabis growing operation near Cave Junction last week. Last Thursday, JMET -- with assistance from the FBI, DEA, US Marshals Service, US Postal Inspection Service and Rogue Area Drug Enforcement -- served a search warrant in the 3,000-block of Rockydale Road. During execution of the warrant, more than 3,600 marijuana plants were seized and destroyed. Detectives said multiple electrical, water and solid waste code violations were discovered that may result in civil forfeiture of the property. The primary suspects were not on scene during the time of the search. If located, they will face felony charges of Unlawful Manufacture and Unlawful Possession of Marijuana. According to JMET, the investigation is ongoing and no further details are being released at this time.

 

An Eagle Point Police Department drone was used to help apprehend an active shooting suspect on Interstate 5 near Ashland last weekend. Early Saturday morning, the Ashland Police Department and Jackson County Sheriff's Office responded to an I-5 incident involving a male subject shooting a firearm at passing motorists and officers. A request for a drone operator was made to assist in locating the suspect after he fled on foot. The Eagle Point Police Department recently obtained a drone and training through a grant offered by City-County Insurance. EPD Senior Officer Marc Slagle is the department pilot for the new program and he was on duty at the time of the request. Slagle responded, deployed the drone and located the suspect who held his hands up and surrendered once he noticed the drone was overhead. Law enforcement on scene utilized an armored vehicle for protection and were able to take the suspect into custody without further incident. The suspect was identified as 29-year-old Devanta Bell Mader of Ashland. He was lodged at the Jackson County Jail on several felony charges including Attempted Murder, 1st-Degree Attempted Assault with a Firearm and four counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon. The case is being handled by the Oregon State Police.

 

The Oregon State Police apprehended a nationwide fugitive who was also wanted on a local warrant this week during a traffic stop on Redwood Highway in Wonder. OSP reports state troopers pulled over a Dodge Ram pickup driven by 26-year-old Zildjian Alexander Lukei near milepost 14 of Highway 199 on Monday night. Troopers said they stopped Lukei for traffic violations and quickly discovered that he was wanted on a nationwide extraditable warrant out of Virginia. He was also wanted on a local bench warrant for failing to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and he provided a false name to law enforcement. Lukei was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants plus a new charge of Furnishing False Information to Police. He was being held without bail pending possible extradition to Virginia. The pickup was left with Lukei's passenger who was identified as a 33-year-old Cave Junction woman.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man who continues to violate a court order by contacting a woman who is legally protected from him. The Police Department reports deputies arrested 54-year-old Jason Mecham for the incident at a home in the 2500-block of Keagan's Court on Monday evening. Police said Mecham was placed into custody at Grange Co-op after violating a valid restraining order by making phone contact with the protected party and unlawfully entering her residence. He had just been released from jail after a similar incident on Sunday. According to the report, Mecham tried to elude officers by running onto the Grange Co-op property and hiding. He was flushed out with assistance from K-9 Maro and arrested without further incident. Mecham was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for two counts of Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for theft and drug crimes after she was caught stealing merchandise from a local supermarket this week. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing complaint at WinCo Foods on NE Terry Lane on Monday morning. Police said a WinCo employee requested that a female subject identified as 35-year-old Brittany Rae Adams be trespassed from the store. Adams -- who had been previously trespassed from WinCo -- was observed leaving the store with items she had not purchased. Officers detained Adams outside the store and -- during a consent search -- she was found with more stolen items and a glass pipe with methamphetamine residue. She admitted to stealing merchandise and was placed into custody. Adams was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-Degree Criminal Trespass, 3rd-Degree Theft and Methamphetamine Possession. She was held without bail.

 

Applications are being accepted for a position on the Grants Pass Historical Buildings & Sites Commission due to a vacancy. This position expires on December 7, 2026. The HBSC's purpose is to review proposed alterations to any historic district or designated structure in the urban growth boundary, to promote the community's historic preservation, to advise other agencies on matters related to historic preservation, and to identify areas of archeological significance and buildings of historic or archeological significance.This position is for a representative from the local historical society in Grants Pass. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. Applications are available at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, August 8th.