Local News

After driving to Southern Oregon from Texas, the men prepped for their planned operation -- a drug ripoff from a major marijuana grow. Shortly after arriving at the Clarion Pointe Hotel in Medford in February 2022, they mugged for photos in front of drawn drapes in Room 103. They posed in their disguises, dressed in dark clothes and masks, wearing hats and sweatshirts marked "DEA" or "police." They also donned body armor, with guns and rifles at the ready, according to photos in court records. But federal prosecutors said the disguises weren't enough to conceal a violent home invasion robbery days later and an attempt to seize about 1,000 pounds of pot from an unlicensed marijuana grow. The first two of the six men arrested were sentenced yesterday for their roles in the robbery. The Oregonian reports 22-year-old Jordan Allen Gammage received nine years and three months in prison and 23-year-old Alan Jaasiel Lopez received five years and 10 months. Both men pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Robbery and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute 100 Kilograms or More of Marijuana. The other four have entered guilty pleas and are awaiting sentencing in federal court in Medford.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested two people on outstanding warrants while assisting Josephine County Community Corrections yesterday. The Police Department reports officers first arrested 42-year-old Guy Caley McFarland at a home on Skylark Lane on Thursday at 11:02 a.m.. Police said corrections officers attempted to locate McFarland at a residence on SE Vista Drive, but he was not there and they learned he might be at Skylark Lane. He was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for 4th-Degree Assault. During a consent search, McFarland was found to be in possession of a sandwich bag containing a white crystal substance that was identified as methamphetamine. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Meth Possession. According to the report, officers contacted 52-year-old Monica Lynn Campbell at the Vista Drive home during the investigation and they learned she was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for 3rd-Degree Theft. She was lodged in jail on the warrant.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local warrant while investigating a trespassing complaint in the East Park Street area yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident in the 1100-block of SE Acacia Lane on Thursday at 10:25 a.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that 45-year-old David Curtis Williams had been at the home for a couple of days and he refused to leave the residence when asked to do so. The caller said she and her roommate -- who she identified as Williams' girlfriend -- wanted him to go. Officers arrived on scene, contacted Williams and discovered that he was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for Contempt of Court. Williams was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant at the office of Josephine County Community Corrections late yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to the Corrections office on NW 4th Street on Thursday around 4:30 p.m.. Police said they were alerted to 41-year-old Jeffrey Michael Zink in the lobby and that he was wanted on a Cow Creek Tribal Police Department warrant for failing to appear in court for Furnishing False Information to Police. For an unknown reason, Zink had a bag of flour with him and he was unaware that he was about to be arrested. Zink was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a female transient on an outstanding warrant after they caught her sleeping in the Downtown Business District early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 39-year-old Crystal Elizabeth Abel while she was sleeping in front of The Bohemian Bar & Bistro on SW G Street on Thursday shortly after 3 a.m.. Police said Abel was wanted on a Douglas County warrant for failing to appear in court for Criminal Trespass. She was placed into custody without incident. Abel was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and she was cited for Unlawful Camping in the downtown area.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a felon on a local felony warrant and a felony drug charge after investigating a domestic disturbance at an apartment complex this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 33-year-old Erik Alan Jenkins, II, at apartments on NE Fairview Avenue on Wednesday evening. Police said they responded to a report of a male subject assaulting a woman outside the complex. They said the caller stated that a man with face tattoos, short hair and white jogging pants was slamming the woman's head into the door of a vehicle. The vehicle was parked in a carport and the woman may have been a resident of the complex. According to the report, an ambulance responded to transport the woman to the hospital -- but she refused medical attention. She also refused to press charges against the suspect. Jenkins was detained for the investigation when it was discovered that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for Flight to Avoid Prosecution. He was also found to be in possession of a large quantity of methamphetamine. Jenkins was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Felony Possession of Meth. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a woman on a statewide felony warrant this week after she tried to hide from deputies near Cave Junction. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 29-year-old Cierra Shay Powers near the intersection of Redwood Highway and Glendon Road on Wednesday. Deputies said they passed by a female subject they thought might be Powers at that location when she ducked down and laid in the grass. They turned around and found the woman trying to hide from them. Powers was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for felony crimes of Assault on a Police Officer, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle plus misdemeanor crimes of Attempted Assault on a Police Officer and Methamphetamine Possession. Powers was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man on an outstanding warrant while visiting a transient camp in Cave Junction this week. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies contacted 30-year-old Joshua Michael Delkittie at an illegal campsite in the 400-block of South Redwood Highway on Wednesday afternoon. Deputies said Delkittie was found to be wanted on a Josephine County warrant for Probation Violation related to a 2023 arrest for Felony Mail Theft. He was placed into custody without incident. Delkittie was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. He was being held in lieu of posting $25,000 bail. Deputies were also investigating whether a silver 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe parked at the camp had been reported stolen.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man who apparently made a New Year's resolution to attempt to steal from a local supermarket in 2025. The Police Department reports officers responded to a theft complaint involving 51-year-old Sean William MacDowell at WinCo Foods on NE Terry Lane around midday Wednesday. Police said MacDowell tried to deprive WinCo of more than $42 worth of items, but was stopped outside the store by loss prevention. They placed him into custody after reviewing video surveillance footage that showed him selecting items and passing all points of sale without paying for them. MacDowell reportedly admitted to stealing from WinCo. It was the fourth time he had been contacted for stealing from the store this year. MacDowell was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft and he was being held without bail.