Local News

The Grants Pass Police Department deployed its SWAT team to help end a three-hour standoff with a felony suspect at a residence near the high school.

On Wednesday morning, the Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center received a call regarding a disturbance at a home on NE 8th Street that led to a male suspect threatening to kill a woman with a knife, attempting to stab her and then spraying her with mace as he fled the scene.

The female victim reported that the suspect -- 51-year-old Barney Adam Clem -- left on foot wearing a bright orange shirt. Officers arrived in the area and observed Clem walking on NE B Street. As officers called for him to stop, he quickly entered a B Street residence that is considered by GPPD to be a nuisance.

Calls for Clem to exit the home went unanswered and officers received permission to search the residence. During the initial search, they found 36-year-old Bryan William Suthann hiding in a bedroom. Suthann was wanted for Probation Violation and was in possession of methamphetamine. He was lodged in jail.

Sounds were heard inside the residence indicating someone was moving around, but Clem could not safely be located. Due to potential safety issues, GPPD SWAT was called to the scene. Following a lengthy search with numerous canisters of irritant being deployed in the attic and under the house, Clem finally emerged from the crawlspace and surrendered.

Clem was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Unlawful Use of Pepper Spray and Escape plus a local warrant charging him with two counts of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and 1st-Degree Theft. The District Attorney's Office was asked to consider adding Attempted Assault charges.