Local News

The Medford District of the Bureau of Land Management is closing a section of Galice Access Road as the result of an ongoing landslide. BLM officials suggest that travelers use US Highway 199 or Peavine/Serpentine Springs Road as alternate routes. Officials said the landslide initially developed after heavy winter rains and BLM crews have already cleared the road several times. While they continue to work to keep access open, public safety and crew availability may lead to a road closure without further notice. Justin Kelly, BLM Grants Pass Field Manager, said the slide continues to be very active. He said large boulders -- some the size of trucks -- continuing coming down the hill onto the road. Kelly said they're closing the road for everyone's safety and crews are continuing to monitor the slide area. For updates on the status of Galice Road, call the Grants Pass Field Office at (541)-471-6500.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a motorcyclist who tried to outrun deputies in the Redwood area of Grants Pass early yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies eventually arrested 34-year-old Timothy Cruz Garcia in the 1800-block of Hubbard Lane on Thursday around 3 a.m.. Deputies said they tried to stop Garcia for a traffic violation while he was riding a Yamaha motorcycle on Redwood Avenue near Willow Lane, but he sped away at over 100 miles per hour before turning onto Hubbard. Following the traffic stop, Garcia was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempt to Elude Police and Reckless Driving. His motorcycle was towed to an impound yard. During booking at the jail, Garcia was found to be in possession of fentanyl so that charge was added to his criminal bill and he was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for assaulting an older woman at a south-city residence late last night. The Police Department reports officers arrested 23-year-old Joseph Randall Bakewell for the incident at a home in the 400-block of West Harbeck Road on Thursday at 10:33 p.m.. Police said Bakewell threw a plastic water bottle at the 60-year-old female victim before grabbing a hard plastic water bottle and striking her several times, causing swelling, light bruising, pain and numbness to the woman's body. It was unclear in the report if the suspect and victim are related. According to the report, the victim's daughter called 9-1-1 after her mother texted her pictures of injuries from the attack. She said Bakewell recently stopped taking his medication and has been acting erratically. Bakewell was found hiding in a kitchen closet, he refused to exit and had to be pulled to the floor where he was secured in handcuffs and placed into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Assault and was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for roughing up his girlfriend at a city park last night. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a reported disturbance at Morrison Centennial Park on Rogue River Highway on Thursday at 7:26 p.m.. Police said they contacted a woman who reported her boyfriend -- 43-year-old James Allen Bendickson -- had grabbed her during a heated argument between the two. She advised she was in pain from the incident that was witnessed by several people in the park. One witness told police the man shoved the victim into a fence. Bendickson initially denied any physical contact with his girlfriend, but he later admitted to putting his hands on her. Bendickson was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Physical Harassment. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for vandalizing an occupied vehicle near Baker Park yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident involving 31-year-old Shane Codyglen Weidman at the intersection of Parkdale Drive and the Grants Pass Parkway on Thursday around 1:20 p.m.. Police said multiple witnesses saw Weidman intentionally push a shopping cart into a vehicle and then punch a side mirror. The female driver told officers the suspect also cussed at her and spit on the vehicle. She said the man had a bag of bottles and was heading toward the recycling center on Rogue River Highway. According to the report, damaged to the vehicle was greater than $100. Weidman was located at the Bottle Drop Center and placed into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief and was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender for causing a disturbance both at and near a downtown supermarket last night. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident involving 35-year-old Morgan Delin Weber at the Safeway on SE 7th Street on Thursday at 8:18 p.m.. Police said Weber was initially involved in a verbal altercation with another woman along SE G Street when she ran into Safeway, a business from which she has been trespassed. They said Weber continued to yell and cause a significant disruption inside the store before she proceeded back across the parking lot to the intersection of 8th and G streets where she caused traffic to stop. An unidentified victim told officers that Weber threw a full can of beer at her and struck her. The woman refused medical attention. Weber was placed into custody and lodged in jail for Disorderly Conduct and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. Due to her frequent arrests, she was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested another well-known offender yesterday for causing a ruckus at a neighborhood market. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing complaint at the A-1 Market & Deli on SW G Street on Thursday at 11:05 a.m.. Police said 41-year-old Amber Marie Al-Sarf was being abusive to store workers and customers. One employee called 9-1-1 to report the woman was eating food in the back of the store and throwing trash all over. She had been trespassed from the store for similar behavior in April. News archives show Al-Sarf has been arrested numerous times for eating food and drinking beer she stole from stores throughout Grants Pass and in Cave Junction. She was placed into custody and lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass.

 

The Oregon State Police was investigating a hit-and-run crash that occurred in Cave Junction yesterday. OSP reports troopers responded to the incident near milepost 27 of US Highway 199 on Thursday shortly before the noon hour. Troopers said a 68-year-old man was driving a vehicle that was rear-ended by another vehicle, causing heavy damage to the victim vehicle. The driver of the suspect vehicle fled the scene. No injuries were reported. According to OSP, an investigation has identified a suspect vehicle of interest. Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to dial *OSP.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is seeking public assistance in finding a runaway teenager. Sheriff's officials reported this morning that 15-year-old William Herren was last seen in the Murphy/New Hope area around 6 p.m. Thursday. Herren is described as 5-feet-8-inches tall and 160 pounds, with brownish-blonde hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a black shirt and black pants. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of William Herren is encouraged to contact the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123.