Local News

The Illinois Valley Fire District, AMR-Josephine County, and Josephine County Sheriff's Office were dispatched at 4:52 p.m. yesterday to a reported traffic accident

Upon arrival, first responders observed a head-on collision involving two vehicles in the 400 block of Laurel Road, Cave Junction. One individual required extrication from their vehicle.

One patient was transported to the hospital, and the roadway was closed during the incident.

The Sheriff's Department requested two tow trucks from Jerry's Towing to remove the involved vehicles.

 

The Grants Pass City Council's Monday workshop will be followed by an executive session for real property transactions and negotiations.

Before convening, the Council has non-bargaining compensation and classification, and direction for the Comprehensive Fee Schedule on the agenda.

The agenda review will cover a Public Safety Advisory Committee motion, a Business meeting, and the calendar.

Monday's City Council Workshop will begin at 11:45 a.m. in City Council Chambers, 101 NW A Street, and will be streamed at www.grantspassoregon.gov.

 

Grants Pass Police spoke with a woman in the 2000 block of SW Esther Lane that was looking for her daughter Wednesday afternoon.

At 4:18 p.m., the daughter's phone pinged on the mother's Find My iPhone app about twenty minutes out, heading towards Grants Pass on Interstate 5. The mother said she may call 911 if her daughter's phone pinged closer to town.

Dispatch forwarded the mother to law enforcement. She continued to track her daughter to Solista Grants Pass at 1001 NE A Street, her daughter's workplace.

Officers arrived at the retirement community and took the daughter into custody. She was lodged in the Josephine County Jail on a warrant for Hindering Prosecution, but then released due to lack of jail resources.

 

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office learned of a domestic disturbance Wednesday.

According to KPIC, the disturbance occurred between a 38-year-old Glendale woman and 52-year-old Corey Lange in the 100 block of Section Creek Road in Glendale.

Deputies learned Lange, of Glendale, was in possession of a rifle during the disturbance and is legally prohibited from firearm possession. A search warrant was granted to deputies for the residence and for Lange’s arrest.

Early Thursday morning, members of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office's Tactical Response Team executed the search warrant. Lange was not located.

During the search, deputies contacted Promise Phelps, 27, of Wolf Creek and Jason Dangerfield, 44, of Glendale. Both had outstanding warrants for their arrests.

Phelps was also arrested on a charge of First Degree Burglary and charges of First-Degree Theft related to a previous case. Both were lodged at Douglas County Corrections.

Anyone with information on Lange’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office at (541) 440-4471 and reference case number 25-4207.

 

The Oregon State Police are investigating an in custody death. On Wednesday at approximately 11:45 p.m., during regular cell checks, a Josephine County Sheriff’s Office Corrections deputy discovered Nathan Adams, a 50-year-old adult in custody, unresponsive in his cell. The deputy immediately began life saving measures with the assistance of other staff until American Medical Response arrived. AMR continued life saving measures, but Nathan was pronounced deceased. Next of kin has been notified. Per standard protocol, the Oregon State Police was contacted to investigate the death. There were no indications of foul play. No further details are being released at this time.

 

Grants Pass Police officers arrested a man for Meth Possession after he was found lying in front of a fence on someone's lawn.

Dispatch was notified by someone driving by on southbound Kellenbeck Avenue that a man was on the eastbound side of the roadway at an undisclosed residence.

Officers arrived and contacted the suspect, Sean Mitchell. He was known to have an active and serviceable warrant for Dangerous Drugs. He was detained, and law enforcement requested a Community Service Officer for a Safeway shopping cart and trash in the area.

While Mitchell was being taken into custody, drug paraphernalia and a small bag with a white crystal like substance was found under his person. The substance tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine.

Officers lodged Mitchell in the Josephine County Jail for Possession of Meth and his warrant.

 

According to the Commissioner's office, today's 10 a.m. Weekly Business Session in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium was canceled due to ongoing security threats. Administrative actions for the canceled meeting included board orders in the matter of setting County charged fees and Public Hearings, as well as the rescheduling of the Regular Weekly Business Session Meeting of the Board for 2026. Also on the agenda was a Public Hearing in the matter of an Annexation to the Josephine Community Library District by Petition of Landowner without Election, and consent calendar minute approval.

 

A man wanted on an out-of-county warrant turned himself in to Grants Pass Police Wednesday morning.

At 8:35 a.m., the suspect, Leif Bjornsen, arrived at Police Department Headquarters, 726 NE 7th Street. He had a valid warrant for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender out of the Curry County Sheriff's Office.

After turning himself in, and a positive identification, Bjornsen was taken into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged on the warrant.

 

A young boy from Selma is facing a challenging road to recovery after a tragic accident left him with severe burns over much of his body. KDRV reports Oli, 6, is now in the PICU at Randall Legacy. His mother, Natasha, said Oli will undergo multiple surgeries over the coming weeks. The accident occurred a week ago when Oli and his father were involved in a burn pile incident. Both suffered significant burns, with Oli facing a 60 percent chance of survival. Natasha said his dad is in the burn center next door and will be having surgeries on his hands. To assist with the mounting medical expenses, Oli's family has started a GoFundMe page aimed to help him and his family now, and in the future. You can donate by going online to www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-oli-and-jeffs-burn-recovery.