KRRM - Local News

GPPD Jailed Man for Entering Home of Protected Mother & Fighting with Officers

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for multiple crimes after he entered the residence of his legally protected mother and then fought with officers when they arrived to arrest him. The Police Department reports officers eventually arrested 23-year-old Joseph Randall Bakewell at a home in the 400-block of West Harbeck Road on Saturday at 7:55 p.m.. Police said Bakewell violated a no-contact order protecting his mother when he entered her residence due to a prior case involving domestic violence. After acting in a manner that threatened his mother, he secured himself in a bathroom and refused to submit to lawful detention and arrest. According to the report, Bakewell intentionally used physical force to resist arrest. During the encounter, he tried to assault uniformed officers by wildly thrashing and kicking toward them. He also utilized a detached showerhead to drench two officers with water during the incident. A Taser was deployed to subdue him. Bakewell was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for an evaluation. He was medically cleared and then lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempted Assault on a Peace Officer, Resisting Arrest, Domestic Harassment and Contempt of Court. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 6/23/25 10:54AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Pair for Felony Drug Trafficking in Downtown Welfare Check

Grants Pass Police arrested two people for felony drug trafficking after a weekend welfare check in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers contacted 39-year-old John Thomas Steel, II, and 27-year-old McKayla Nicole Harris in a silver hatchback parked in the 800-block of SE 8th Street on Saturday around 10:30 p.m.. Police said they were alerted to a man and woman laying over in the car with some items on the roof of the vehicle. They initially contacted Steel and discovered that he was wanted on a Medford felony warrant for Aggravated 1st-Degree Theft and 2nd-Degree Burglary. He had a glass pipe and admitted to the use of fentanyl. A consent search of the car uncovered greater quantities of fentanyl, a scale and a large sum of money. A search of Harris's purse revealed more fentanyl, a scale, a glass pipe and a small amount of methamphetamine. She confessed that she and Steel sell and trade fentanyl. They were placed into custody and all the narcotics and paraphernalia were seized as evidence and for eventual destruction. Steel was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus new charges of Felony Possession and Delivery of Fentanyl. Harris was jailed for Possession and Delivery of Fentanyl as well as Methamphetamine Possession. Both were being held without bail.

Posted on 6/23/25 10:53AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Woman for DUII and More after Downtown Stop at Market

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for impaired driving and more after she was caught operating a vehicle with five juvenile passengers inside early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a Honda sedan driven by 34-year-old Deanna Marie Price at the A-1 Market & Deli at 7th and B streets on Sunday around 1 a.m.. Police said a man had driven Price and the young passengers to a concert in Medford. They said he was the designated driver for the group and when they returned to Grants Pass, a highly-intoxicated Price jumped into the Honda and drove away with the juveniles in order to attend a party in the Merlin area. The unidentified man called 9-1-1 because Price was obviously impaired when she drove away. Officers searched the city until they located the suspect and her car. She displayed strong signs of impairment and a consent search revealed her to be in possession of brass knuckles with a spring-loaded knife. They also discovered that she had prior felony convictions before she was placed into custody. Price was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving, Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon and five counts of Reckless Endangering. She was being held without bail and her car was impounded.

Posted on 6/23/25 10:51AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Woman for "Dining and Dashing" from Downtown Eatery

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for "dining and dashing" from a downtown restaurant over the weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a reported theft from Taqueria Mexico on SE H Street on Saturday at about 7:30 p.m.. Police said the restaurant manager reported that a female subject later identified as 29-year-old Kalissa Amy Rocha ordered and consumed $92.25 worth of food and beverages before leaving the business without paying. The manager followed the suspect while talking to dispatchers and directed officers to Wells Fargo Bank. That's where officers placed Rocha into custody when she admitted that she did not have any money and never intended to pay for the meal. Rocha was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft.

Posted on 6/23/25 10:50AM by Sam Marsh

California Man Died in Interstate 5 Crash near Siskiyou Summit in Jackson County

A California man was killed last week in a crash on Interstate 5 near the Siskiyou Summit. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the two-vehicle crash in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 4 last Tuesday afternoon. OSP said the preliminary investigation indicated a Honda Civic driven by 68-year-old Teri Elizabeth Smead of Lemon Grove, California, was traveling on I-5 when it left its travel lane and struck a Freightliner semi-truck and trailer driven by a 30-year-old man from Carmichael, California. A passenger in the Honda -- 74-year-old Harry Smead of Lemon Grove -- was pronounced deceased at the scene. Teri Smead was transported by ambulance to a local hospital with serious injuries. The truck driver was not hurt. Interstate 5 was closed for approximately five hours during the investigation. OSP was assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Ashland Fire-Rescue, Jackson County District Attorney's Office, Jackson County Medical Examiner and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Posted on 6/23/25 6:36AM by Sam Marsh

Motorcyclist Seriously Injured after Going over Embankment in the Merlin Area

A motorcyclist was seriously injured when he went off an embankment while trying to avoid a deer in the Merlin area late yesterday. Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response, Josephine County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State Police were all dispatched to the single-vehicle crash on Galice Road just west of Azalea Drive on Sunday at 5:27 p.m.. Rescue crews from Rural Metro and AMR found the rider about 15 feet over an embankment, suffering from serious injuries. A rope system was set up to extract the patient who was then transported by ambulance to Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford where the trauma system was activated. OSP identified the motorcyclist as 35-year-old Travis Anthony Gendreau of Shingletown, California. There was no word on his current condition. Rural Metro officials said one notable recommendation that came from this incident is that wearing a helmet with facial protection is preferred over the skull-cap style helmet.

Posted on 6/23/25 6:28AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed Man for Roughing Up Girlfriend at Merlin Area Home on Friday

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for roughing up his girlfriend at a Merlin area residence late last week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 31-year-old Hunter Allen Blossom for the incident in the 2300-block of Galice Road on Friday at 2:11 a.m.. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that Blossom had shoved her onto a bed and she narrowly missed landing on her 2-1/2-week-old baby. The caller said her boyfriend then began packing his items and taking them to his trailer on the same property. According to the report, the victim said her intoxicated boyfriend also hit her in the face. However, she declined medical attention. Deputies arrived on scene and interviewed both parties before placing Blossom into custody. He was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 6/23/25 6:20AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man on Local Warrants after Friday Shoplift Call at Walmart

Grants Pass Police jailed a man on two local warrants and more after he was caught stealing from Walmart late last week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 42-year-old Gabriel Feliciano for the incident at the store on NE Terry Lane on Friday at 12:39 p.m.. Police said a Walmart manager called 9-1-1 to report that a male subject took about $200 worth of goods including camping items from the store without paying for them. When confronted by loss prevention, he walked away from them and left the stolen items behind. The entire incident was captured on video surveillance. Officers tracked down Feliciano and discovered that he was wanted on two Grants Pass warrants for Felony Burglary, Felony Criminal Mischief and Criminal Trespass. He was placed into custody without incident. Feliciano was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants plus new charges of 2nd-Degree Theft and Probation Violation. He was being held on $45,000 bail.

Posted on 6/23/25 6:19AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Woman for Ignoring Exclusion Order at 6th & A Rest Site

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for disobeying a 30-day exclusion order at a downtown resting site late last week. According to the Police Department, officers were performing a patrol check at the 6th & A Street homeless encampment around midday Friday when they contacted 37-year-old Melissa Sue Koenig. Police said they spotted Koenig and records indicated that she had been trespassed from the resting site five days prior. After informing her that she was under arrest, she reportedly threw an object at officers but missed them. Koenig was placed into custody and lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. Her belongings were logged into evidence for safekeeping.

Posted on 6/23/25 6:18AM by Sam Marsh

Sand Creek Area Barn Fire in GP Drew Response from Several Local Agencies

A barn fire in the Sand Creek area of Grants Pass drew a response from multiple agencies early yesterday. On Sunday at 8:38 a.m., Rural Metro Fire Department, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue, Oregon Department of Forestry and American Medical Response were dispatched to the reported structure fire near the intersection of Hartley and DeWoody lanes. Rural Metro officials said crews got a quick knockdown on the two-story cinder block building, saving most of the first-floor interior. There were no reported injuries and no spread to the surrounding wildland. The Oregon State Fire Marshal is leading the investigation into the cause of the fire. Additional support was received from the Applegate Valley Fire District and Illinois Valley Fire District to help cover additional calls in the south Grants Pass area.

Posted on 6/23/25 6:16AM by Sam Marsh

RCC Offering Leadership Bootcamp to Strengthen Supervisory Skills in July

Rogue Community College is offering a Supervisory and Leadership Bootcamp in July that is designed to equip current and aspiring leaders with essential tools to succeed in today's dynamic workplace. The three-part, in-person workshop will take place July 10th, 17th and 31st from 2 to 5 p.m. at RCC's Redwood Campus in Grants Pass. The bootcamp is open to professionals across business, nonprofit and public sectors. Participants will engage in interactive learning focused on real-world leadership scenarios, building both confidence and competence in topics such as the role of modern supervisors and leaders, change management, brand stewardship, recruitment and onboarding strategies, team and performance management, and employee development. Lisa Parks, RCC's dean of business and workforce development, said strong leadership is essential in every sector. She said this bootcamp is ideal for professionals ready to grow their leadership capacity and support organizational success. The cost is $179 per person and includes all materials. Registration is open now through June 30th. To register, visit "roguecc.edu/LeadershipBootcamp." For more information, contact RCC Community and Workforce Training at (541)-956-7303.

Posted on 6/23/25 6:13AM by Sam Marsh

ODF Issues Final Update on 453-Acre Upper Applegate Fire at 55% Containment

In its final update on the Upper Applegate Fire, the Oregon Department of Forestry reported the 453-acre wildfire was 55% contained and crews were pushing forward with mop-up operations. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. After a short duration of heavy rain over the incident on Friday night, temperatures remained much lower than normal on Saturday with a light drizzle that helped crews mop up 100 feet into the fire's perimeter. The goal on Sunday was 150 feet. On Saturday morning, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management cancelled all remaining evacuation notices in the area. Upper and Little Applegate roads remained open. However, firefighters were still working in the area so motorists were encouraged to be aware and cautious. The Upper Applegate Fire was reported at 12:30 p.m. on June 18th as a grass fire nearly a year to the day of last year's 1,142-acre Upper Applegate incident. Both fires were located in the same general area, with similar weather and vegetation moisture levels -- but this year's fire started roughly three hours earlier in the day. ODF fire managers attribute bringing initial attack firefighters on earlier as well as hazard tree mitigation work in the area completed by the BLM this year to the success of firefighters on the ground.

Posted on 6/23/25 6:11AM by Sam Marsh