Local News

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist on an outstanding warrant last night following a traffic stop in Selma. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Ford F-150 pickup driven by 59-year-old John Thomas Steel in the Ray's Food Place parking lot off Deer Creek Road on Tuesday at 9:18 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped the pickup for traffic violations, contacted Steel and discovered that he was wanted on a local misdemeanor warrant for an undisclosed crime. Steel was cited to appear in court on the warrant and released. His passenger was identified as a 48-year-old Grants Pass woman.

 

The Grants Pass Police Department logged no arrests yesterday as officers focused on traffic violations. On Tuesday at 7:03 p.m., GPPD officers pulled over a Toyota sedan at NE 6th and F streets because the female driver was speeding and using her cellphone. On Tuesday at 7:15 p.m., officers contacted the juvenile driver of a vehicle that was reported to be "drifting" in the parking lot of the Oregon Department of Human Services on NW Hawthorne Avenue. On Tuesday at 8:09 p.m., officers pulled over a Toyota Highlander at NE 6th Street and Midland Avenue after the female driver ran a red light at the intersection of 7th and Morgan as pedestrians were crossing. On Tuesday at 10:25 p.m., officers pulled over a vehicle at SE 8th and K streets after the male driver was observed speeding.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is celebrating "National Property & Evidence Professionals Appreciation Week." The Sheriff's Office recognizes the dedicated professionals who play a vital role in maintaining the integrity of the criminal justice system. These law enforcement professionals play a crucial role in ensuring that property and evidence are properly handled, stored and tracked for investigative and legal purposes. Sheriff Dave Daniel thanks them for their hard work, attention to detail and commitment to excellence. He said they are essential to keeping our communities safe and keeping the legal process fair for everyone.

 

UPDATE: DONALD GALE HAS BEEN FOUND AND HE IS SAFE.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was seeking public assistance in locating a missing Murphy area man. The Sheriff's Office said they received a report that 73-year-old Donald Albert Gale was missing early yesterday. Gale left his residence in the 5,000-block of Williams Highway in the early morning hours on Sunday, March 30th, in a silver Dodge pickup with Oregon license plate WBB 795. Gale is described as a white male adult standing 5-feet-11-inches tall and weighing 160 pounds, with gray hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Donald Gale is encouraged to contact the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Wolf Creek man this week for assaulting and mistreating his father. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 35-year-old Jared Lee Gunn for the incident at a home in the 400-block of Warner Road on Monday morning. Deputies said they responded to the incident location after a property owner called 9-1-1 to report that her tenant was being assaulted and shoved down by his son. The caller told dispatchers she has heard screaming in the past and witnessed the son become violent with his father. Upon arrival, deputies contacted Gunn and his father who complained of pain in his right leg after being pushed down. The father seemed reluctant to press charges against his son, but he admitted that the man had hit him with a baseball bat in the past and he did not report it. The son has been acting as a caregiver for his father. Following the investigation, deputies placed Gunn into custody, transported him to Grants Pass and lodged him at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Criminal Mistreatment and misdemeanor 4th-Degree Domestic Assault. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant in the downtown area this week. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 32-year-old Clifford Ray Rapstine, Jr., near the Purple Parrot on SE J Street late Monday afternoon. Police said they contacted Rapstine during a patrol check and discovered that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation related to a past conviction for an unspecified crime. Rapstine started walking away from officers when they questioned him, but he eventually surrendered to them and was placed into custody. During a consent search, he was found to be in possession of "lots" of drug paraphernalia. Rapstine was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. Additional charges of drug possession were referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for stealing a vehicle from his elderly stepfather in a remote location near Wolf Creek this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the incident in the 700-block of King Mountain Trail on Monday afternoon. Deputies said a preliminary investigation determined that 60-year-old Douglas Don Cleveland, II, had forced his way into his father's home recently and refused to leave. The father woke up early yesterday to find his GMC Sierra had been taken by his stepson. He did not have permission to drive the pickup due to a drug issue. According to the report, Cleveland had been arrested with a stolen vehicle at the Manzanita Rest Area off Interstate 5 in late February. Deputies located the stolen pickup later in the day in an unspecified location and placed Cleveland into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. He was being held without bail.

 

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol is preparing for warmer weather and an influx of people enjoying recreation on the Rogue River. This means clearing river hazards like a fallen tree near Dodge Bridge. The warmer weather can also mean higher water flows and more river debris. Although the weather is getting warmer, the water remains very cold so make sure you have the appropriate protective equipment. The Oregon State Marine Board has a great resource for staying safe and prepared. To report water hazards and check your river route before hitting the water, visit "oregon-boating-obstructions-geo.hub.arcgis.com." As always, keep safety first when on the water. Boat sober, wear your life jacket and enjoy the river responsibly.

 

OnTrack Rogue Valley is pleased to announce the opening of its Emergency Lodging Program and the relocation and expansion of its Outpatient Treatment Facility in Grants Pass. OnTrack officials said these new facilities represent a significant step toward addressing the urgent need for substance abuse treatment and temporary housing, offering hope and healing to individuals and families in Southern Oregon. The new Emergency Lodging Program is designed to serve as a critical bridge for individuals who are unhoused and waiting for residential treatment. Currently, 398 individuals are on the waitlist for one of OnTrack's residential treatment beds and many lack stable housing to support their recovery journey. The Grants Pass Emergency Lodging Facility will provide 12 single-occupancy rooms with keypad locks for privacy and safety, ADA-accessible units to ensure inclusivity for all individuals, shared amenities designed to foster community and dignity, and on-site case management to connect residents with treatment and resources. This program builds on the success of OnTrack's Emergency Lodging Program in Medford, which has already helped 173 individuals move from the streets to treatment and long-term recovery.