Local News

The Board of Commissioners this morning made a proclamation on behalf of Josephine County Community Corrections. Board Vice-Chair Chris Barnett read the proclamation naming July 20th-26th "Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Week." Community Corrections Director Scott Hyde thanked the Board for the positive endorsement of the work done by the department's approximately 80 employees. Conspicuously absent from the meeting was an agreement between the Oregon State University Extension Service and Josephine County. Board Chair Andreas Blech postponed consideration of the agreement last week, stating that the pact was "not ready." With less than one week before the County Fair, no action was taken. It should be noted that Blech cast the lone dissenting vote when the Board recently reinstated the 4-H Extension Service District. To date, Blech has yet to vote against any of the controversial measures approved by the former Board of Commissioners that included Herman Baertschiger, John West and him. During the public comment period, former Juvenile Justice Director Jim Goodwin spoke in favor of increased transparency by the Board when it comes to personnel decisions. Former Grants Pass City Councilor Vanessa Ogier spoke about what she called the "dismantling" of Josephine County Emergency Management operations. Several people spoke in favor of programs offered by the Josephine Community Library District including dog handlers involved in K9 Reading Buddies.

 

The 469-acre Board Shanty Fire south of Grants Pass continues to be mopped up by firefighters around the clock. Resources during Wednesday's two work shifts pushed forward and brought containment up to 37% by this morning. Firefighters planned to continue this work today, with 204 personnel assigned to the wildfire including eight 20-person hand crews, two engines, five water tenders, a set of tree fallers and various overhead positions. Oregon Department of Forestry resources will spend the day searching for hot spots and areas with remaining heat or embers that could flare up in the hot conditions and reignite the fire. By methodically extinguishing these areas, the overall line built around the fire is strengthened and containment increases. In most areas, the fire has been mopped up 200 feet from the line into the interior of the fire. These areas will continue to be checked, with the goal being further progress on the incident. Tonight, 105 personnel will be assigned to the fire to continue mopping up. Aircraft remain available if needed, but the majority of the remaining work must be done by firefighters on the ground. A temporary flight restriction is in place over the fire area to create a safe airspace for fire-related aircraft when needed. Any and all drone use will be reported to law enforcement. Josephine County Zones 436, 437 and 448-A remain under a Level 1 "Be Ready" evacuation notice until further notice.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for threatening his girlfriend while breaking a window on her vehicle in the south part of the city last night. The Police Department reports officers arrested 41-year-old Jeremy Douglas McGhee for the incident at an Independence Drive residence on Wednesday at 9:17 p.m.. Police said McGhee's girlfriend called 9-1-1 to report that he was intoxicated after drinking a bottle and a half of liquor and was "smarting off" when he told him to "shut up." McGhee then flipped over a tray table containing food and threw a small dog toy at the woman, striking her. She was frightened, but not hurt. According to the report, the victim tried to leave the home because she was in fear McGhee would seriously injure her. While seated in her car, McGhee used his fist to shatter the front driver-side window of the vehicle before she was able to drive away and call for law enforcement assistance. Officers arrived on scene and placed McGhee into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Domestic Menacing and was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a woman for breaking into the garage of a Cave Junction residence late yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 34-year-old Meghan Melissa Gomez for the incident in the 200-block of Nolan Lane on Wednesday shortly after 5 p.m.. Deputies said the male occupant called 9-1-1 when he returned home and found Gomez inside the attached garage going through his belongings and removing some items. The victim said the female subject took a seat at the south end of his driveway and refused to leave. She also refused to identify herself. Upon arrival, deputies contacted Gomez and she admitted that she did not have permission to be inside of the garage. A consent search of her backpack revealed $300 worth of stolen items along with a glass pipe and a small baggie of a white crystal substance that tested positive as methamphetamine. Gomez was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-Degree Burglary, 2nd-Degree Theft and Possession of Meth. She was being held without bail.

 

For the third time this week, Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violating a court order by contacting a woman who is legally protected from him. The Police Department reports officers arrested 54-year-old Jason Mecham for the latest incident in the 2500-block of SW Keagan's Court on Tuesday at 8:52 p.m.. Police said Mecham violated a valid restraining order within five hours of being released from jail for the second time in two days. This time, they said he sent the protected woman two text messages telling her how sorry he was and begging for forgiveness. Instead, she call 9-1-1 and officers searched for the suspect. Mecham was observed near the South Y intersection by an officer who contacted him and placed him into custody. He readily admitted to sending repeated texts to the victim. Mecham was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for five counts of Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for shoving employees while stealing a small amount of merchandise from WinCo Foods last night. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at the supermarket on NE Terry Lane on Wednesday at 8:48 p.m.. Police said a female subject was captured on video surveillance as she bypassed all points of sale and exited WinCo with just over $17 worth of unpurchased items. When she was confronted by loss prevention, she intentionally shoved them in an attempt to flee. Officers arrived on scene and found her with some fentanyl. The female suspect refused to identify herself and appeared to be having a medical emergency, so she was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for an evaluation. She was cleared by the hospital and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Robbery, 3rd-Degree Theft and Fentanyl Possession. A few hours later, "Jane Doe" was identified through fingerprints as 26-year-old Mahdi Kohl Eider. She was found to be wanted on two Jackson County warrants and one Medford warrant -- all charging her with Probation Violation related to arrests for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. She was held without bail on the warrants and additionally charged with Furnishing False Information to Police.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested an unidentified man for drug possession at a city park late last night. Police officers contacted the male subject under the 7th Street Bridge at Riverside Park on Wednesday at 11:20 p.m., which was well after the park had closed. Officers said in plain view next to the man was glass pipe coated in white residue, which tested positive as methamphetamine. They said the suspect refused to identify himself throughout the contact and subsequent investigation. "John Doe" was placed into custody and lodged in jail for Meth Possession. Jail staff members were still attempting to identify him this morning.

 

The Oregon State Police is investigating a Grants Pass man who was arrested last week for multiple sex crimes. OSP detectives arrested 50-year-old David Brian Scott in the 600-block of SW Balsam Road on Friday, July 18th. Scott is currently lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-Degree Rape and two other felony-level sex crimes plus 3rd-Degree Sexual Abuse and one other misdemeanor-level sex crime. No details about the alleged charges against Scott have been disclosed. He has been arraigned in court and is being held in lieu of posting $500,000 bail. Anyone with additional information about this case is encouraged to contact OSP's Southern Command Center at 1-(800)-442-2068 or dial *OSP from a mobile phone. Please reference Case #SP25-340600.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a nationwide fugitive this week following an incident at the local Greyhound bus stop. The Police Department reports officers arrested 27-year-old Jose Santana-Robles at the A-1 Market & Deli on NE 7th Street on Tuesday morning. Police said the Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center received a report that an aggressive and hostile male subject had threatened the bus driver before he was forcefully removed from the transit vehicle. There were no injuries reported. Upon arrival, officers contacted Santana-Robles and discovered that he was wanted on a US Marshals Service warrant for Probation Violation related to a past arrest for Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. He was immediately placed into custody. Santana-Robles was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and he was being held on a no-bail detainer.