Local News

Following a traffic stop, a Josephine County Sheriff's deputy apprehended the driver for a warrant and drug charges.

The suspect was pulled over for improper display in the alley behind Carlos Restaurante in Cave Junction Thursday at 2:39 p.m. Upon stopping, he exited the vehicle with a bag of marijuana in his hand. The deputy instructed him to drop it in the car, which he did, but two more bags of processed marijuana were observed in the passenger seat.

The suspect, later identified as Francisco Ramos-Orpena, was instructed to put his hands behind his back. When the deputy attempted to handcuff him, Ramos-Orpena resisted, pulling away and attempting to break free.

He was taken into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail. A clear zip lock bag with a powdery substance was then located under the rear seat. Ramos-Orpena admitted the bag was removed from his pants and that the substance would test positive for cocaine.

The items were processed, and he was charged with Possession of Cocaine and Marijuana, and Resisting Arrest. He was also wanted on a warrant out of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office for Misdemeanor Fleeing or Attempting to Elude.

His belongings had been passed off to his brother inside the restaurant before being lodged, and his vehicle was towed from the scene.

 

Josephine County Sheriff's deputies arrested a woman refusing to leave a property where she had been served a restraining order.

Deputies advised Michelle Pindar that she had 20 minutes to remove her items from the property in the 1900 block of Meadow Glen and leave. She refused, however, and remained on the front porch around 2:15 p.m. Thursday.

She was warned multiple times to vacate the premises prior to the end of her 20 minutes, but she insisted she would not go to jail. After the timer was over, deputies again warned Pindar to leave, or she would be placed into custody.

Upon her refusal, deputies placed Pindar in hand restraints. She pushed and pulled deputies during detainment, so she was charged with Resisting Arrest, as well as a Restraining Order Violation. She was lodged in the Adult Jail Facility.

 

An officer with the Grants Pass Police Department lodged a bicyclist wanted on an out-of-county DUII warrant Thursday.

The suspect was observed riding his bike westbound on Fruitdale Drive at 9:44 p.m. He wasn't wearing required lighting equipment, so the officer initiated a stop, identifying the suspect as Jordan Downham.

He had an active warrant out of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office charging him with DUII, and upon confirmation of his identity, Downham was taken into custody.

He was subsequently transported to the Josephine County Jail for lodging. His belongings were logged for safekeeping.

 

Grants Pass Police lodged a man dancing in the In-N-Out Parking lot after he was detained by an off-duty Josephine County Sheriff's deputy.

Thursday at 9:01 p.m., the suspect, Jordan Haas, was observed by the deputy dancing in the parking lot of the 124 NE Morgan Lane restaurant. He proceeded inside the building before being detained around 9:10 p.m.

According to the police report, Haas was known to have a warrant out of the Sheriff's Office for a charge of Forgery in the First Degree. He was transported to jail by officers and a search of his person was conducted, locating a small baggie of presumptive fentanyl.

Haas was lodged for his warrant, and a Possession of a Controlled Substance charge was referred to the District Attorney's Office.

 

Community members are invited to attend a demonstration of free online genealogy research tools at the Grants Pass branch of Josephine Community Library.

According to a release, the program takes place Saturday, October 10th, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Participants will gain hands-on guided practice using some of Oregon’s largest newspaper and research databases including Archives West, BLM General Land Office Records, Chronicling America, Josephine County Property Records, Northwest Digital Heritage, Oregon Digital Newspaper Program, Oregon Historic Sites Database, Oregon State Archives, and State Library of Oregon.

Participants are encouraged to bring personal devices such as a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. A limited number of laptops are available to borrow while supplies last for those who do not have their own device.

This workshop is offered in partnership between Josephine County Historical Society, Josephine Community Library, and the Southern Oregon Library Federation. It is sponsored in part by 2026 funding from Oregon Heritage.

A library card is not needed to participate. Space is limited and pre-registration is recommended. Register at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfsGYy_3fLI_wCazjWhKR6rV_awqZ9Xf8VHNCCeQlOcqniELg/viewform.

 

MINT, the Mobile Integrative Navigation Team, has withdrawn from lease negotiations with Elk Island Trading Group, LLC, and will conclude its current arrangement for Parker’s Place Village on October 15th, 2026. According to a release from MINT, this decision follows an extended period of discussion regarding the terms under which MINT would lease the Parker’s Place Village property and manage shelter operations. The parties were unable to reach mutually workable terms for both organizations. The property and all shelter operations have been, and will remain, with Elk Island Trading Group, LLC. MINT will continue to provide inclement weather shelters, as well as navigation services and case management through the MINT Navigation Center and mobile navigation throughout the community. These services will remain available to individuals residing at Parker’s Place Village, and those in the community without a safe place to stay. In addition, MINT will continue coordinating breakfast Monday through Friday and lunch seven days a week for all 150 Parker’s Place Village residents.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a repeat trespasser at Bi-Mart Thursday night.

Daniel Hubanks was contacted around 8:36 p.m. at the 230 Redwood Highway business after having been previously trespassed September 4th. He and one other individual were trespassed and given an hour to gather their belongings and leave.

Hubanks admitted to knowing he was trespassing, so he was placed under arrest. According to the police report, the jail refused to lodge Hubanks due to ongoing medical issues. He was then issued a citation in the jail parking lot for Second Degree Trespass, and released.

 

A man asking for money outside Chipotle was reported to law enforcement, later to be arrested for trespassing.

The assistant manager of the 1000 NE E Street restaurant called 911 Thursday at 7:55 p.m. to report the suspect. He had been asking customers for money and food, and when asked to leave, he told the complainant to call the police, and remained unlawfully on the property.

It was requested the suspect be trespassed, and Grants Pass Police responded to the scene to find him inside the building. Officers identified him as Silas Houze, arrested him, and transported him to jail to be lodged on a Second Degree Criminal Trespass charge.

He was trespassed from the Chipotle, and a bike in his possession was logged for safekeeping.

 

Oregon State Police, during a traffic stop, arrested a suspended driver with a Douglas County warrant out for his arrest.

Thursday at 8:50 a.m., the driver of a green Jeep was pulled over on Interstate 5 after he was observed not wearing a seatbelt by troopers. The driver, Steven Despain, was arrested for his warrant charging him with Second Degree Criminal Trespass.

Troopers also cited Despain for Driving While Suspended and Uninsured, and warned him for Failure to Use a Safety Belt and Failure to Register his Vehicle. The Jeep was towed from the scene. Due to a lack of jail resources, Despain was later released.