Local News

Grants Pass Police tased and arrested the suspect in two subsequent trespassing complaints beginning Tuesday night. The first call to 911 reported she heard the sound of her window breaking around 11:47 p.m. When she contacted the suspect as he was walking away from the home in the 400 block of SW H Street, he reportedly approached her, pushed her to the ground, and punched her twice. He continued eastbound towards 4th Street screaming. By 12:38 a.m., another call to 911 reported the same suspect on a property in the 700 block of SW I Street. The caller thought the suspect was under the influence, and she said he thought the residence was his Airbnb. Officers arrived and contacted the suspect, Hunter Hatfield. He was determined to be the same suspect as reported before, and law enforcement advised that he was being detained. He told them he wasn't, and attempted to get away before being taken to the ground. Hatfield resisted by kicking at officers. He was ultimately tased and placed into handcuffs. Following a medical examination, he was transported to the Adult Jail Facility for Assault of a Public Safety Officer, Resisting Arrest, First Degree Criminal Trespass, Second Degree Criminal Mischief, and Assault in the Fourth Degree.

 

Two individuals were lodged in the Josephine County Jail Tuesday for outstanding warrants.

Deputies with the Sheriff's Office located the suspects, Lee McGhee and Andrea Cripps, on W Watkins Street around 2:50 p.m. during a patrol check. The two had warrants out of the Parole Board and Josephine County Sheriff's Office respectively. Cripps was wanted for First Degree Criminal Trespass, and Lee was wanted for a traffic offense.

Law enforcement transported both suspects to the Adult Jail Facility for their warrants.

 

Commissioner Colene Martin read a proclamation starting today's 9 a.m. Weekly Business Session, declaring November 4th through the 11th as Operation Green Light for Veterans, and encouraging citizens to display green lights in honor of our veterans.

The board moved to approve the proclamation 2-0, as Commissioner Ron Smith was absent. An order in the matter of the canceling the November 11th meeting of the board in observance of Veterans Day was approved as well.

The public expressed concerns and for the recent election, encouraged the community to reach out to local veterans, and shared appreciation for the board. A motion approving the consent calendar passed unanimously, and the meeting adjourned.

 

An allegedly intoxicated man was reported to dispatch after he appeared to crash his truck into a ditch.

A call to 911 at 7:13 p.m. said a white truck appeared to have crashed in a ditch on Merlin Road. The driver was actively trying to get his vehicle out, and he appeared to be intoxicated. The caller told dispatch the driver proceeded southbound on Jaime Lane, and had hit a stop sign.

Another caller reported she almost hit the sign that was laying in the roadway. Josephine County Sheriff's deputies responded to the reports and located the suspect at the registered address of his vehicle.

He was identified as Robert Dean, and it was confirmed he was intoxicated. His vehicle had front end damage consistent with hitting the stop sign, despite his denial. Deputies placed Dean under arrest for Hit and Run, and lodged him in the Josephine County Jail.

 

The preliminary results of last night's General Election are in. According to results.oregonvotes.gov, Colene Martin is in the lead for County Commissioner Position 1 with 57.62% of the vote. John West currently has 41.91%. For Position 2, Mark Jones is in the lead with 54.11%, while Chad Hansen is at 45.49%. For City Council Ward 1, Rob Pell is ahead of Michael J O'Coyne with 63.46% of the vote. Rick Riker has 47.39% of the votes against Erin Cook and Candy Rosenberg for Grants Pass City Council Ward 2. Seth Benham leads with 76.68% for Ward 3 against Konnor Kirkpatrick. Dave Daniel is retaining his current position as Sheriff with 80.89% of the vote, while Jonathan Knapp has 18.25%. Dustin Calvo has 54.46% of the vote for Treasurer, while Simon Hare has 45.21%. The Five-Year Local Option Levy for Fire and Emergency Services received 67.26% of the yes votes. Renewal of the Current Five-Year Jail and Juvenile Local Option Tax has 55.34% no votes, with 44.66% saying yes. There are currently 59.62% yes votes for bonds to update the Grants Pass School District 7 facilities, increase safety, and receive an $8,168,000 State grant.

 

The Board of Commissioners met to discuss their Department Review at today's 1:30 p.m. workshop. Commissioner Ron Smith was absent due to a family matter.

Commissioner Gary Richardson presented the review as a first example before other County Departments participate. Key figures highlighted adopted actions, minutes approved, commitments, records requests, and vacant advisory seats.

The board reviewed their budget status, and commitments including reassessing the 4-H/Extension levy, Sheriff's Office radio system, and the County solid waste program. Four of five staff positions have been filled, and Commissioner Gary Richardson discussed what processes were in place should a County function like meeting notices or public records intake stop or degrade if one position were unavailable.

Some departments will participate in the reviews over the next four to five weeks, as well as provide feedback to the board. The board then decided to postpone a decision on the potential repeal of a Mining Ordinance.

Public Information Coordinator Thomas Gray gave a Communications update, remarking on continued promotion for the Agricultural Education Grant Program and Operation Greenlight. A webpage for the grant program is live on the County website, and a video is being put together informing the community on the Election Process.

The board approved position requisitions and personnel actions from Human Resources. Richardson clarified the Facilities Director Performance Improvement Plan was signed by the Commissioners, and Commissioner Colene Martin will have oversight responsibility as established in the signed plan.

 

Following a shoplifting attempt at the South Safeway Monday, law enforcement issued the suspect a citation for Second Degree Theft.

Dispatch was notified of the suspect filling up a backpack with stolen food items around 3:17 p.m. He passed all points of sale without paying, and after denying the theft to the caller, the suspect left the scene on a bicycle southbound on Harbeck.

Grants Pass Police soon located the suspect and made contact. It was determined he had stolen over $106 worth of items from the 1640 Williams Highway grocer. He was arrested and the items were recovered and returned. Officers then issued the suspect a citation to appear in court for Theft in the Second Degree.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man illegally camping for a methamphetamine possession warrant Monday.

The suspect was identified in his tent on Leavitt Family Corporation property around 2:41 p.m. He had an active warrant out of the Police Department, and upon confirmation of both his identity and warrant, officers arrested Ryan Velasquez at the scene.

He was taken into custody, trespassed from the property, and lodged for his Meth Possession warrant. His tent and personal property were entered into safekeeping.

 

Officers with Grants Pass Police stopped a driver for a violation, then lodged him in jail for an out-of-county warrant, and possessing drugs and a firearm.

Early Monday around 12:46 a.m., a black Chrysler was pulled over at the corner of NE 7th Street and NE Manzanita Avenue for failing to display plates. The driver, Austin Jackson, was contacted by officers, and found to be driving while suspended.

A consent search yielded a tooter with residue that field tested presumptive positive for a Schedule II controlled substance. Officers then conducted a search of the vehicle, which located a firearm in a backpack on the passenger seat. A small tin was also found that contained about 10 grams of methamphetamine.

Jackson was taken into custody at the scene, and his vehicle was towed for impounding. Officers proceeded to transport Jackson to the Adult Jail Facility where he was lodged for Felon in Possession of a Weapon, Possession of Fentanyl, and a Jackson County Sheriff's Office warrant for Criminal Mischief in the First Degree.

A Meth Possession charge was referred to the District Attorney's Office.