Local News

Lower temperatures overnight limited activity and spread of two new wildfires burning in southern Douglas County. The Douglas Forest Protective Association (DFPA) estimated this morning that the Devil's Knob Fire burning along the Tiller-Trail Highway was between 1,200 and 1,500 acres. It was first reported to DFPA on Thursday at 2:10 p.m.. Crews continued to engage in the initial attack, with additional resources expected to arrive today. Due to a smoke inversion, air attack was unable to survey the area during this morning's flyover. Due to proximity of homes in the area, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office issued Level 1 "Be Ready" evacuation notices on the east side of Tiller-Trail Highway between addresses 3400 and 36760 as well as Tison Road, Diamond Elk Road and the Joe Hall area. DFPA estimated this morning that the Milepost 98 Fire along the west side of Interstate 5 south of Canyonville was 120 acres including a 20-acre spot fire southwest of the primary blaze. It was first reported on Thursday at 5:15 p.m. after being sparked by a motor vehicle accident in the southbound lanes of I-5. Crews worked diligently overnight, creating indirect bulldozer and hand-lines around the fire's perimeters. Due to this morning's smoke inversion, air attack could not survey the area. Evacuations continue to be in place in coordination with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. A Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation order was issued for all homes on Ritchie Road in Canyonville. A Level 2 "Be Set" notice was issued for all homes on Canyon Creek Road. Traffic continues to be controlled on Interstate 5 in both directions from milepost 97 to 98 for public and firefighter safety. Motorists are urged to watch for crews and equipment.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for domestic violence as well as an outstanding warrant in the south part of the city last night. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a domestic disturbance in the 1800-block of Drury Lane on Thursday around 8:20 p.m.. Police said a man called 9-1-1 and reported that his female tenant and her male friend were possibly assaulted by the woman's 64-year-old ex-boyfriend. The landlord wanted to know about assault and battery laws in the state of Oregon. Officers arrived on scene and determined the ex-boyfriend subjected the woman to offensive physical contact, which caused pain, swelling, bruising and scrapes. The subject also prevented the victim from calling 9-1-1 by taking her phone. The suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault, Domestic Harassment and Interfering with Making a Police Report along with a GPPD warrant for failing to appear in court for impaired driving. The victim was reluctant to speak with law enforcement. She was referred to the Women's Crisis Support Team.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man wanted for a previous law enforcement pursuit while adding a charge of drug possession and referring a charge of bribery. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 33-year-old male subject they identified as "Terry Lee Grigsby" in the 1800-block of Nebraska Avenue on Thursday at 3:21 p.m.. Police said Grigsby had previously eluded them and they spotted his black BMW before placing him into custody. During a consent search, they found him to be in possession of a white crystal substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. During the booking process at the Josephine County Jail, Grigsby reportedly offered the arresting officer gifts in return for a special recommendation for his release. Grigsby was lodged in jail for probable cause of Felony Attempt to Elude Police, Reckless Driving and Meth Possession. A charge of Bribery was referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man on three out-of-county warrants last night after a brief pursuit in the south part of the city. Police officers said they received a report of suspicious activity on Union Avenue near Williams Highway on Thursday at 9:23 p.m.. Police said a citizen reported a male subject walking around and yelling, stating that he had been hit by a car and left for dead. The caller said the man screamed that he wanted "everyone to die in Grants Pass." When the 60-year-old man spotted arriving officers, he ran toward Williams Highway and caused at least one vehicle to slow down to avoid hitting him. After the man fell into some bushes near Planet Fitness, he got up and ran across the highway to Walgreens where he was eventually placed into custody. The subject -- identified as 60-year-old Michael David Jackson -- was wanted on two Jackson County warrants for Menacing and Criminal Trespass plus a warrant out of Ashland for Disorderly Conduct. According to the report, Jackson said he ran because he thought it was funny. Officers disagreed and lodged Jackson in the Josephine County Jail on the warrants along with new charges of Disorderly Conduct and Escape.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for drug possession and possibly vehicle theft after a traffic stop in the northwest part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a 2013 Honda Civic driven by a 46-year-old male subject near the corner of NW Conklin Avenue and Savage Street on Thursday around 11:35 a.m.. Police said the Honda had been reported stolen by the Josephine County Sheriff's Office and the subject matched the description of the thief. However, officers were unable to make contact with the registered owner. The man GPPD identified as "Russell Gene Thompson" consented to a search of the car and officers located two glass pipes with methamphetamine residue. The drug paraphernalia was seized for destruction and the suspect was arrested. Thompson was lodged in jail for Meth Possession, he was cited for Driving While Suspended and he was warned for No Seatbelt. The stolen car was recovered and a report was sent to the Sheriff's Office for further investigation. Custody of the suspect's dog was given to a friend.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing merchandise from Fred Meyer and unsuccessfully trying to disguise himself late yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a shoplifting call at the store on the Grants Pass Parkway on Thursday shortly after 5 p.m.. Police said a Fred Meyer loss prevention officer reported a male shoplifting suspect fled on foot after stealing more than $100 worth of items. The caller gave a detailed description of the suspect and said he was heading toward Abby's Pizza. Officers entered Abby's and customers told them the suspect was hiding in the restroom. That's where he was located with his T-shirt turned inside out. Stolen property including duffel bags, socks and food items were recovered. The 35-year-old suspect was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft. He was also trespassed from Fred Meyer.

 

The Oregon State Police was investigating the cause of a motor vehicle accident that occurred in downtown Cave Junction early yesterday. OSP reports state troopers, the Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to the two-vehicle crash on Redwood Highway at Lister Street on Thursday at about 6:45 a.m.. Arriving units found one vehicle blocking the highway and the other vehicle out of the roadway. It appeared that one of the vehicles ran into the back of the other. AMR evaluated all occupants at the scene and no one was seriously injured. Both vehicles were towed from the crash scene. OSP was conducting the investigation.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving early yesterday after a traffic stop on Williams Highway in south Grants Pass. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Dodge Ram 1500 pickup driven by a 28-year-old male subject near the intersection of Highway 238 and Union Avenue on Thursday at 1:30 a.m.. Troopers said they stopped the vehicle for a traffic violation and the driver showed signs of impairment. After performing poorly in field sobriety tests, he was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was well over the legal driving limit. The suspect was lodged at the Sobering Center for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His pickup was impounded and towed away.

 

The Douglas Forest Protective Association (DFPA) has its hands full after two fires broke out in southern Douglas County yesterday. On Thursday at 2:10 p.m., crews from DFPA, Umpqua National Forest, Tiller Rural Fire Department, Milo Rural Volunteer Fire Department and Riddle Fire Protection District responded to a fast-moving wildfire off Devils Knob Road near the Tiller-Trail Highway. Aerial and ground resources actively engaged in an aggressive initial attack on the Devils Knob Fire, which was estimated to be 800 to 1,000 acres last night. A Level 1 "Be Ready" evacuation notice has been issued for the 3400-block to 36760-block of Tiller-Trail Highway as well as Tison and Diamond Elk roads and Joe Hall area. On Thursday around 5:15 p.m., DFPA, Canyonville Fire Department, Tri-City Fire Department, Riddle Fire Department and Myrtle Creek Fire Department responded to a fire that resulted from a vehicle crash on Interstate 5 near milepost 98. As of last night, the Milepost 98 Fire was estimated to be well over 100 acres and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office issued a Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation order for residents on Ritchie Road in Canyonville. Officials also issued a Level 2 "Be Set" evacuation notice on Canyon Creek Road. DFPA officials said the wildfire is located on the west side of I-5 near Canyon Creek Road and it's affecting southbound traffic. One southbound lane of the freeway remained closed this morning and motorists were urged to watch for crews and equipment.