Local News

Deputies Arrested Man for Playing Dangerous Game on US Highway 199 in GP
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for playing a dangerous game on Redwood Highway in southwest Grants Pass yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies were alerted to a male subject who kept crossing back and forth while dodging traffic on US Highway 199 near Dowell Road on Wednesday around 3:30 p.m.. Arriving deputies witnessed the incident and contacted the man who stated he crossed the highway only so he could cross the highway again to get back to the other side. One deputy commented that it was almost as if the man was playing the video game "Frogger" with real vehicles. Fortunately, no one got hurt. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 5/9/24 11:21AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Snared 3 Campers on Outstanding Warrants in City Park Patrols
Grants Pass Police arrested three campers on outstanding warrants during city park patrol checks on Wednesday. The Police Department reports officers contacted a 32-year-old man at Westholm Park and discovered that he was wanted on a Jackson County warrant for failing to appear in court for impaired driving. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail and has since been transferred to the Jackson County Jail in Medford. Police contacted a 38-year-old man at Kesterson Park and learned that he was wanted on a Douglas County warrant for failing to appear in court for Vehicle Theft. He was cited to appear in court and then handed over to Options for drug treatment assistance. Officers contacted a 37-year-old man at Riverside Park and discovered that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failure to appear in court for Larceny. He was also found to be in possession of methamphetamine. He was lodged in jail in lieu of posting $20,000 bail.
Posted on 5/9/24 11:19AM by Sam Marsh
 

Grants Pass Police Excluded 3 Campers for Repeat Violations in City Parks
Grants Pass Police evicted three city park campers for repeat ordinance violations early Wednesday. At Baker Park, one man was cited for Improper Utilization of Space and Scattering Rubbish, while another man was cited for Scattering Rubbish. Both were issued 30-day exclusions. A total of 12 camps were posted with 72-hour notices and an e-mail was sent to the United Community Action Network. At Kesterson Park, a man was cited for drug possession and trespassed for 30 days. A total of six camps were posted with 72-hour notices and an e-mail was sent to UCAN.
Posted on 5/9/24 11:17AM by Sam Marsh
 

OSP Cited Man on Bench Warrant after Contact at Oregon DHS Office in GP
The Oregon State Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant after contacting him at a state office in northwest Grants Pass yesterday. OSP reports officers contacted the 45-year-old male subject in the parking lot of the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) on NW Hawthorne Avenue on Wednesday at 2:41 p.m.. Troopers said they spotted the man and knew that he was wanted on a local bench warrant for failing to appear in court. The underlying charge was not disclosed. According to OSP, the suspect was cooperative and admitted his identity so he was cited to appear in court and then released.
Posted on 5/9/24 11:16AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Cited Both Drivers after Collision on 6th Street at Hillcrest Drive
Grants Pass Police cited both drivers after a collision between two vehicles in the north part of the city last night. According to the Police Department, officers and emergency personnel responded to the crash in the 1600-block of NW 6th Street on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m.. Police said an investigation determined a man was driving a 2024 Subaru Outback south on 6th Street when he ran a red light at Hillcrest Drive and slammed into an eastbound 2007 Hyundai sedan driven by another male motorist. A female passenger in the Subaru was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for chest pain caused by her seatbelt. A female passenger in the Hyundai complained of shoulder and leg pain, but declined medical attention. Following the investigation, the driver of the Subaru was cited for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device and the driver of the Hyundai was cited for No Insurance.
Posted on 5/9/24 11:14AM by Sam Marsh
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Portland Area Trucker Fell Asleep at Wheel and Crashed on Mount Sexton
A Portland area truck driver escaped serious injury when he crashed a commercial vehicle on Interstate 5 on Mount Sexton early yesterday. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle accident in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 70 shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday. Troopers said an investigation revealed the 55-year-old Clackamas man was driving a Peterbilt semi-truck and trailer when he fell asleep at the wheel and veered off the freeway, crashing into a speed sign. According to OSP, the trucker was not hurt, the semi sustained only minor damage and it did not need to be towed. The Oregon Department of Transportation responded to assist state troopers. It appears no citations were issued.
Posted on 5/9/24 11:12AM by Sam Marsh
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Medford Police Department Jailed Suspect in Monday Night Shooting Incident
The Medford Police Department has jailed a suspect in a shooting incident that occurred earlier this week. MPD officers arrested 20-year-old Elijia Zeigler on Tuesday following a shooting that occurred in Medford on Monday night. MPD Deputy Chief Trevor Arnold said the incident stemmed from a dispute between the victim and Zeigler that originated at a party in Ashland over the weekend. During the altercation, Zeigler allegedly stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the victim. Arnold said the victim was driving in the 1900-block of Gene Cameron Way on Monday when Zeigler fired two shots at the victim's vehicle as it drove by. Both rounds impacted the vehicle, but no injuries were sustained from the shooting. Shell casings fired from a handgun were recovered by patrol officers and an MPD detective was called to the scene to investigate. Zeigler was interviewed and then subsequently arrested. He was lodged at the Jackson County Jail on charges of Attempted Murder, 1st-Degree Attempted Assault, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing and Reckless Endangering. Anyone with further information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the MPD Criminal Investigation Division at (541)-774-2208.
Posted on 5/9/24 6:38AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Jailed GP Man for Roughing Up His Mother at Redwood Area Home
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Grants Pass man for roughing up his mother at a Redwood area residence this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a domestic disturbance in the 2300-block of Dowell Road on Tuesday afternoon. Deputies said an elderly woman called 9-1-1 to report that her 64-year-old son had become physically aggressive with her while pushing her up against a wall in the home. The caller said she was not seriously hurt and declined medical attention. Upon arrival, deputies located the man in his bedroom where his ex-wife was trying to calm him down. Why the man became aggressive with this mother was not disclosed, but he was immediately placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Physical Harassment and Menacing, both Constituting Domestic Violence. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 5/9/24 6:31AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Collared Two on Outstanding Warrants after Disturbance at Motel 6
Grants Pass Police jailed two people on outstanding warrants this week after a disturbance at a north-city motel. The Police Department reports officers responded to reports of a man and woman chasing each other in the parking lot of Motel 6 on NE 7th Street around midday Tuesday. There were no injuries reported in the skirmish. Police said they contacted a 36-year-old man regarding the incident involving his 34-year-old girlfriend at the motel. It was discovered that he was wanted on three outstanding warrants from Jackson, Marion and Polk counties that included alleged crimes of Forgery, Identity Theft and Contempt of Court. He was lodged in jail on the warrants plus a new charge of Methamphetamine Possession. Officers contacted the female half of the disturbance and discovered that she was wanted on a Columbia County warrant for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and a St. Helens Police Department warrant for Criminal Trespass. She was also lodged in jail. Property in the couples' room was placed in the male suspect's vehicle and both parties were trespassed from Motel 6.
Posted on 5/9/24 6:29AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Incarcerated Woman for Parole Violation after RV Park Trespass Call
Grants Pass Police arrested a "frequent flyer" for violating terms of her post-prison supervision this week while investigating a trespassing call at a local trailer park. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the complaint at Rogue Valley Overnighters in the 1800-block of NW 6th Street on Tuesday afternoon. Police said the RV park manager reported that a 34-year-old female subject was banging on his door and cussing at him so he wanted her trespassed. The caller said the woman picked up some rocks in a ditch behind a trailer and started walking toward the postal facility on NW Washington Boulevard. That's where officers caught up to the woman and told her she was under arrest. She reportedly kept walking away from them until they eventually placed her into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Parole Violation and she was being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records indicate the woman has been arrested at least eight times for Parole Violation since last September.
Posted on 5/9/24 6:28AM by Sam Marsh
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Williams Firefighters Assisted Property Owner Whose Outdoor Burn Escaped
The Williams Rural Fire Protection District assisted a property owner whose outdoor debris burn escaped and threatened to spread into the nearby wildland. On Tuesday evening, Williams firefighters were contacted by a resident who lives on the dead end stretch of St. Parris Road regarding an escaped burn. The resident said he was burning debris when embers from the fire went into the top of a standing snag and the dead tree caught on fire. The quick-thinking man used a chainsaw to cut down the burning snag and ran water to the site to put out the flames before fire crews arrived on scene. Williams fire officials said crews helped the landowner cut up the downed snag and made sure the fire was completely out before clearing the scene.
Posted on 5/9/24 6:18AM by Sam Marsh
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Applications Now Accepted for Position on GP Urban Tree Advisory Panel
Applications are being accepted for a position on the Grants Pass Urban Tree Advisory Committee due to a vacancy. The position will expire in April 2025. The purpose of the Urban Tree Advisory Committee is to review, develop and implement programs and activities that promote, protect and enhance the urban forest in Grants Pass as part of the Tree City USA program. The special qualification for this position is interest in the promotion and enhancement of the urban forest. Applications are available at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 5th. Applications will be reviewed by the committee on Monday, June 10th. The Grants Pass City Council will make the appointment during its meeting on Wednesday, July 3rd.
Posted on 5/9/24 6:17AM by Sam Marsh
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