Grants Pass Police Jailed Man for Beating Up and Strangling His Wife at Motel
Grants Pass Police jailed a man for beating up and strangling his wife at a north-city motel late yesterday.
The Police Department reports officers responded to a domestic disturbance at Motel 6 on NE 7th Street on Thursday around 4 p.m..
Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her husband -- 38-year-old James Robert Kettles -- subjected her to numerous punches to her face and body, causing physical injury. When she failed to follow his orders to go into the bathroom, he shoved his hand and fingers into her throat, temporarily obstructing her breathing.
Kettles' wife called for help after her husband left the motel in a Ford pickup. He was located by officers at the south Les Schwab Tire Center. A pinch maneuver stopped the suspect vehicle at Ringuette Street and Redwood Highway. He was placed into custody with assistance from K-9 "Kick."
GPPD discovered that Kettles was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation and a Sutherlin Police Department warrant for an unspecified crime. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the two warrants plus new charges of Felony Coercion, 4th-Degree Domestic Assault, Domestic Strangulation and Driving While Suspended.
Kettles was being held on a no-bail detainer and his pickup was impounded.
Posted on 7/4/25 11:09AM by Sam Marsh
