Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving and more after he crashed into a house on the west city of the city and fled on foot late last night. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident in the 700-block of Lincoln Road on Wednesday around 10:30 p.m.. Police said a nearby resident heard the crash and called 9-1-1 to report a vehicle struck a house and the male driver ran away. Fortunately, the only person in the house was not injured and there was little to no damage to the structure. Responding officers observed a man they later identified as "Terry Grigsby" running south from the crash scene on Wagner Meadows Road. Upon contact, he admitted to drinking alcohol and displayed several signs of impairment. A witness told officers they saw him driving at a high rate of speed right before the crash. While escorting Grigsby to a patrol vehicle, officers said he went unconscious and had to be transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center. While there, a legal blood sample was obtained that documented a high level of impairment. Grigsby was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Driving While Suspended and Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage. He was cited to appear in court and released, but his vehicle was impounded.

 

The Oregon State Police impounded a Wolf Creek woman's vehicle last night following a traffic stop in southwest Grants Pass. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Dodge Nitro driven by 67-year-old Brenda Lee Garretson near the intersection of Redwood Highway and Redwood Avenue on Wednesday shortly after 6 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped Garretson for a traffic violation and discovered that her driving privileges had been suspended and she had no insurance on the SUV. Garretson was cited to appear in court for Driving While Suspended and No Insurance and released, but her vehicle was impounded.

 

Authorities have apprehended a suspect wanted for committing several felony-level crimes in Josephine County four years ago. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports the United States Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offenders Task Force located and arrested David Gilbert Brazil in Texas on March 31st. Brazil was wanted for Kidnapping, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, 4th-Degree Assault, Strangulation, Coercion and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle stemming from a 2021 incident in Josephine County. Following the incident, he fled the state and has been a fugitive ever since. Sheriff's officials said the US Marshals Service task force has been investigating and detectives recently found information regarding Brazil's whereabouts. They coordinated with the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in the Western District of Texas who apprehended Brazil in San Antonio. Brazil is currently in custody in Texas, pending extradition to Josephine County.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for stabbing her husband earlier this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 39-year-old Allison Jenkins for the incident that occurred on Tuesday afternoon in the 1400-block of East Park Street. GPPD officials said officers responded to the home and discovered an adult male had been stabbed by his wife. She had fled the scene before the arrival of law enforcement. The victim was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Officers located Jenkins hiding near the south end of Morrison Centennial Park off Rogue River Highway and placed her in custody. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on felony charges of 2nd-Degree Assault and 2nd-Degree Robbery. GPPD's Major Crimes detectives took over the investigation, which is continuing.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested two men involved in a fight at a downtown homeless resting site this week. One of them reportedly displayed a firearm. The Police Department reports officers responded to a disturbance at the camp site at the corner of 6th and A streets on Tuesday afternoon. Police said 34-year-old Kaleb James Farmer and 40-year-old Bobby Joe Swearingen got into mutual combat with each other when Swearingen got a stick and threatened Farmer with it. Farmer then displayed a .357 Smith & Wesson, holding it in a low ready position, which made Swearingen put the stick down and walk away. Officers contacted Farmer and he gave them the gun. As a convicted felon for a 2009 robbery in Idaho, he is prohibited from possessing any weapons. He was lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail for Felon in Possession of a Firearm and 1st-Degree Theft. Swearingen was found to be wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation. He was lodged in jail on the warrant and for Criminal Trespass. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a female motorist for impaired driving this week after a traffic stop in the downtown area. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a GMC pickup driven by 33-year-old Tasheen Fawn Reyes near the corner of SW 4th and G streets Tuesday night. Police said they stopped Reyes after observing her run a red light. They said she showed signs of impairment and performed poorly in field sobriety tests. It was determined that she was under the influence of both alcohol and narcotics. Reyes was cited to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Controlled Substances as well as Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device and then released. She was given a courtesy ride home, but her pickup was impounded. It had expired registration tags. Reyes was provided with a receipt for a large amount of ammunition in the truck that was taken for safekeeping.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Kerby man this week for transporting a large amount of marijuana on Redwood Highway. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Chevrolet Tahoe driven by 51-year-old George M. Phillips in the 25,000-block of US Highway 199 on Tuesday night. He was pulling a Home BTM trailer. Troopers said they stopped Phillips for multiple traffic violations and -- upon further investigation -- discovered he was hauling a felony amount of marijuana plants in the cab of the truck and the trailer. Phillips was cited to appear in court for Unlawful Possession of More Than 128 Marijuana Plants and then released. According to OSP, both the truck and trailer were seized and towed to an impound yard in Grants Pass, pending a search warrant that could generate more charges.

 

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) wants to better understand how residents use all land and water trails throughout the state and opportunities for improvement. OPRD launched an online survey this month to collect feedback now through April 30th. The survey is open to all trail users and potential trail users including hikers, bikers, equestrians, OHV and ATV riders, snowmobilers, boaters and paddlers who recreate on any public lands or bodies of water in Oregon, not just state parks. The information will help inform the Oregon Statewide Trails Plan, which provides guidance for OPRD as well as other federal, state and local agencies and private sector partners. It outlines trends and issues, creates priorities for grant funding and recommends actions to improve trails over the next 10 years. The Oregon Statewide Trails Plan covers non-motorized trails, motorized ATV trails, snowmobile trails and non-motorized boating and water trails. The survey takes about 20 minutes to complete and it's open to all Oregon residents. Those who complete the survey have the option of entering a drawing for a free Oregon State Parks annual parking permit. For questions about this survey or the Oregon Trails Plan, visit "oregon.gov/oprd."

 

The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation and Oregon AARP are hosting the Fraud Fighter Summit and Resource Fair this Saturday in Medford. The free event -- which runs from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. -- will be at the Smullin Health Education Center located at 2825 East Barnett Road. Parking is available on site and a light lunch will be provided. Joining DFR and AARP at the fair will be representatives from the Federal Trade Commission and the Construction Contractors Board who will provide insights on current scams. Attendees will learn tips on how to protect themselves against fraud. They will hear from DFR Administrator TK Keen, Oregon AARP State Director Bandana Shrestha and others. Keen will be speaking about spotting and recovering from scams and steps to follow while working with your insurance company. This information will provide consumers with tips and resources for scam and fraud avoidance, resources for recovery and how to report. If you believe you may have been scammed related to an insurance or financial product or claim, DFR has resources to help you. Consumer advocates are available by calling 1-(888)-877-4894 or visiting "dfr.oregon.gov/help."