Local News

Grants Pass Police jailed a young man for probable cause of domestic violence after responding to a disturbance in the southeast part of the city late yesterday. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 1400-block of Florence Lane on Tuesday at 4:11 p.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that an 18-year-old former roommate had returned to the house to get his belongings. The woman had been advised to lock the doors and windows in case he returned after a previous criminal incident in which he fled before the arrival of law enforcement. According to the report, the young man refused to leave the premises and became verbally aggressive with two adults and two children who were inside the house. Upon arrival, officers contacted the suspect and placed him into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for probable cause of Domestic Strangulation and was being held without bail.

 

A violent confrontation between a man and woman in Cave Junction yesterday resulted in both being cited with additional charges being forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for further consideration. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the incident at a home in the 300-block of South Kerby Avenue on Tuesday around 1 p.m.. Deputies said a woman went to the man's house to question him about some photos he had taken when he ordered her off the property. They said he threw a cinder block at her car, damaging the windshield. When the woman got out of the car and started swinging her fists at the man, he raised a pipe wrench and forced her to back out of the driveway. The altercation ended with both parties wrestling on the ground as deputies arrived on scene and broke up the altercation. Both sustained facial injuries from the fight, but refused medical help. The man was cited to appear in court for Criminal Mischief and the woman was cited for Criminal Trespass. Charges of Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Assault were referred to the DA's Office for review and potential prosecution.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man yesterday for roughing up a former friend and co-worker. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the reported incident at a bar in the 200-block of NW 6th Street on Tuesday shortly before 3 p.m.. Police said a man reported that his former friend and co-worker pushed him to the ground, causing scratches and pain to his left arm. They said the suspect learned that the victim was talking poorly about him to other friends and co-workers. Further investigation determined the victim is the suspect's supervisor at work and the incident actually occurred on Monday night. The victim advised he did not instigate the suspect in any way, and the suspect corroborated the victim's story. The suspect was cited to appear in court for Physical Harassment and released.

 

The Oregon State Police apprehended two men wanted on outstanding warrants during separate traffic stops in the Grants Pass area. OSP reports the incident occurred on Tuesday at 11:33 a.m. when state troopers pulled over a Chevrolet C-150 pickup driven by a 25-year-old Medford man in the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 near milepost 54. Troopers said they stopped the vehicle for speeding and quickly discovered that the driver was wanted on a local bench warrant for failing to appear in court for impaired driving. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail and his pickup was left on the side of the freeway at his request. The second incident happened this morning at 12:11 a.m. when troopers pulled over a Toyota RAV-4 driven by a 34-year-old Rogue River man on 6th Street near Voorhies Way. Troopers said they stopped the SUV for a traffic violation and discovered that the driver was wanted on a fugitive warrant out of Indiana. He was wanted for failing to appear in court for an unspecified felony-level crime. The man was lodged in jail on the warrant. He was being held without bail pending extradition to Indiana.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving last night after a traffic complaint in southeast Grants Pass. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Ford F-150 pickup driven by a 70-year-old man near the corner of Parkdale and Fruitdale drives on Tuesday at 10:38 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped the vehicle due to a citizen complaint and the driver displayed signs of impairment by alcohol. They said he performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was nearly twice the legal driving limit. The suspect was lodged at the Sobering Center for suspicion of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His pickup was impounded.

 

A Grants Pass man was jailed after a day-long dragnet this week in which he eluded law enforcement after a domestic violence incident in the downtown area. The Grants Pass Police Department reports officers eventually arrested 32-year-old Casey Jay Whitten in the 600-block of SW 6th Street late Monday afternoon. Police said Whitten unlawfully entered a woman's residence on Monday morning by climbing through her bedroom window. They said he left the location before officers could catch him and he was last seen running toward Western Avenue. Units checked all around the area and were unable to locate him. According to the report, the Women's Crisis Support Team was contacted and an advocate responded to the woman's home. A safety plan was formed and the team will be providing follow-up assistance to the victim. Officers learned that Whitten had taken the woman's phone, so they located him downtown by pinging it. The suspect took off running, but he finally surrendered and was placed into handcuffs near the intersection of 6th and L streets. During transport to the Josephine County Jail, Whitten began to have medical issues so he was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for evaluation. Though he was supervised by officers and hospital staff, he attempted to escape custody by using physical force. He was ultimately subdued and placed back in handcuffs. After being medically cleared at the hospital, Whitten was lodged in jail for 1st-Degree Burglary, Domestic Strangulation, 2nd-Degree Escape and Criminal Trespass. An additional Escape charge was referred to the District Attorney for consideration.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for breaking into a downtown supermarket and stealing food items early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to the burglary incident at the Safeway on SE 7th Street on Tuesday around 2:45 a.m.. Police said the Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center received several calls about a male subject who shattered the front door of Safeway, entered the store and stole food items. Reports indicated the subject then left the scene on foot. Officers arrived on scene and located a man who matched the description of the burglary suspect. He was detained without incident. Further investigation determined that the report was accurate and 47-year-old Brandon Wayne Newton shattered the front door with a shopping cart and entered Safeway to steal donuts. He admitted to the crimes and stated he was hungry. Newton was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on felony charges of 1st-Degree Burglary and 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief plus a misdemeanor charge of Petty Theft. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman who was allegedly using narcotics near a building occupied by Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE). According to the Police Department, officers responded to a report of two men and two women shooting up drugs at the building near the entrance to Baker Park on Monday night. Police said they searched the area and located a 31-year-old female subject who was walking away from a hypodermic needle and burnt foil on the ground. She denied using any drugs, but admitted that she had been trespassed from the city park on June 25th. She was three days short of adhering to the trespass violation. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. She was being held without bail.

 

There's not much happening for the Josephine County Board of Commissioners at its weekly business session this morning. The real action takes place after the meeting. The Board will open the weekly business session with Requests and Comments from Citizens when participants are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic related to Josephine County. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Commissioners will consider approval of a plat map for Phase 1 of the SSPX Elk Crossing development. At 10 a.m., the Board will reconvene to interview candidates for the seat vacated by former Commissioner Dan DeYoung on July 15th. The Commission is expected to appoint DeYoung's replacement after the interview process. Eleven candidates applied for the position, which was narrowed down to three for today's interviews. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium. The appointment of the new Commissioner will take place in the Board's Conference Room in the Courthouse. Both meetings can be viewed via Zoom or the Josephine County YouTube page.