Firefighters Conducting Aggressive Initial Attack on I-5 Grass Fire Near GP

Emergency crews continue their aggressive initial attack on the I-5 MM 57 NB Fire. A Level 3: GO NOW Evacuation Order is in effect for Zones GRA-022, GRA-034, and GRA-036. A Level 2: BE SET Evacuation Order for Zone JCU-422-B is in effect as well. The fire is currently estimated at 75 acres. Firefighters are utilizing an extensive combination of suppression resources, including retardant drops, bucket drops from helicopters, dozers, water tenders, hand crews, and two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System aircraft, all working together to slow the fire's spread and strengthen containment. The fire is 30% lined from a mix of hand line and dozer line. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) remains in place over the fire area. Do not fly drones. Unauthorized drones can force firefighting aircraft to be grounded, delaying suppression efforts and putting firefighters at greater risk. The Oregon Department of Transportation announced I-5 has one lane closed northbound in Grants Pass due to the fire. This is causing delays and traffic to back up. Use caution as smoke may also limit visibility. Please pay attention, slow down and move over for workers in the area. Roads and lanes near fires may open or close with little notice. ...Read more

GP Police Continue Search for Wanted Man Following Disturbance, Car Chase
Grants Pass Police continue searching for a domestic disturbance suspect. Dispatch was notified around 7:22 a.m. of a domestic disturbance in the 1400 block of NE Meier Drive. Police discovered the suspect had fled out the back door. After the investigation, officers established probable cause to arrest Anthony Teal, 36, for Strangulation and Menacing. The search continued for Teal in the area. He was then reported stealing a car at the corner of NE D Street and Beacon Drive. Teal had pulled the male driver out of his car, who attempted to keep control. With the victim driver hanging on, Teal hurriedly accelerated onto NE D. He then struck another motorist who had stopped after seeing the car theft. Teal sped backwards, with the victim driver still being dragged from the car, but who was soon able to free himself. Teal then fled that scene, and American Medical Response aided the victim driver. A Josephine County Sheriff’s deputy located Teal near the railroad bridge on the Grants Pass Parkway. A traffic stop was attempted, but Teal eluded. The pursuit was terminated, and law enforcement lost sight of Teal because it was too dangerous to follow him closely. ...Read more

Medford Man Indicted, Lodged on 12 Child Sex Abuse Charges

A report of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) on a mobile device led to the arrest of a 29-year-old Medford man. A Jackson County Grand Jury returned an indictment Tuesday on all charges. The Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team and Medford Police Department had arrested the suspect Thursday, July 23rd at a residence in the 800 block of Bennett Avenue. The suspect, Jonathan Daniel Marquez, 29, of Medford, is charged with two counts of First Degree Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse, and 10 counts of Second Degree Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse. He is lodged in the Jackson County Jail. SOCET began their investigation after MPD received a report of CSAM on a mobile device which led to subpoenas, followed by a search warrant at the residence. The Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force assisted in the investigation. ...Read more