Local News

Deputies Collared Man Wanted on Warrants after Wolf Creek Area Traffic Stop
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man wanted on two outstanding felony warrants yesterday during a traffic stop near Wolf Creek. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a white Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 36-year-old Christopher Lee Myers in the 100-block of Speaker Road on Tuesday around 1:15 p.m.. They stopped him because the vehicle had no plates. Deputies said they were familiar with Myers from previous law enforcement contacts and they knew he was wanted on two felony warrants issued by Douglas County Circuit Court, both for failing to appear in court for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. Myers was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants. He was being held without bail pending transfer to the Douglas County Jail in Roseburg.
Posted on 10/9/24 11:43AM by Sam Marsh
 

Deputies Snared Man Wanted on Statewide Warrant at Plumtree Lane Address
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant in the North Valley area yesterday. According to Sheriff's Office, deputies contacted 36-year-old Alejandro Soto and placed him into custody in the 800-block of Plumtree Lane at 3:35 p.m. Tuesday. Deputies said they were looking for Soto because he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for Felony Hit-and-Run. They were initially unable to locate him, but found him in the bathroom. No details were disclosed about the original crime or how Soto had violated his post-prison supervision. Soto was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.
Posted on 10/9/24 11:42AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Nabbed Corrections Clients on Outstanding Warrants at Local Office
Grants Pass Police arrested two Josephine County Community Corrections clients on outstanding warrants during separate incidents yesterday. According to the Police Department, the first incident occurred when officers were contacted by the local corrections office on NW 4th Street on Tuesday at 9 a.m.. Police said they were informed that 38-year-old Katina Renee Emrick was there and that she was wanted on a Multnomah County felony warrant for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. She was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the no-bail warrant. The second incident happened on Tuesday at 1:37 p.m. when officers were alerted to the presence of 23-year-old Chance Canon Calaustro at the corrections office. Police said Calaustro was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for Probation Violation related to a recent arrest for Cocaine Possession. He was placed into custody and lodged in jail on $40,000 bail. In both cases, the corrections clients were unaware they were about to be arrested.
Posted on 10/9/24 11:40AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Arrested Motorist for DUII after Downtown Area Traffic Complaint
Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving last night following a traffic complaint in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to a light-blue Toyota Prius swerving and almost hitting several vehicles in the area of NW A and 5th streets on Tuesday at about 7:30 p.m.. Police said a citizen called 9-1-1 to report they were following the suspect vehicle with an older female behind the wheel. The caller advised the woman was driving dangerously at varying speeds and they suspected she might be impaired. They advised officers that the suspect vehicle had parked on NW Highland Avenue in a "No Parking" zone. Officers eventually tracked down the 72-year-old driver at a residence in the 1600-block of Sue Circle. They said she answered the door with a strong odor of alcohol coming from her person. When questioned, the woman admitted to consuming adult beverages before driving to her home. The suspect refused to participate in field sobriety tests, so a search warrant was obtained and she was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw. She was medically cleared and then lodged in jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants.
Posted on 10/9/24 11:38AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Arrested Man on Outstanding Warrant in City Park Patrol Check
Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant during a patrol check at a city park early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers contacted a male subject who was sleeping near the restrooms at Morrison Centennial Park on Tuesday at 8:28 a.m.. Police said a routine records check showed 58-year-old Donnie Wayne Snow, Jr., was wanted on a Coos Bay Police Department warrant for failing to appear in court for Larceny or Petty Theft. They said he was also found to be in possession of a small amount of marijuana, which was seized for destruction. Snow was lodged in jail on the warrant and he was cited to appear in court for the drug crime. He was also trespassed from the park for 30 days. His bicycle and bike trailer were logged into evidence for safekeeping.
Posted on 10/9/24 11:37AM by Sam Marsh
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Josephine County SO Seeking Public Assistance in Locating Missing CJ Woman
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UPDATE: MOREFIRE HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND IS NO LONGER MISSING.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is seeking public assistance in locating a missing woman. Sheriff's officials said they received a Monday report that 39-year-old Morefire Zyerin Stilke has not had contact with her family since July of this year. She was last known to be residing in the Cave Junction area. At this time, officials said there is very limited information about her potential whereabouts. Stilke is described as a white female adult, 5-feet-7-inches tall and 180 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information on Morefire Stilke is encouraged to call the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123.
Posted on 10/9/24 6:42AM by Sam Marsh
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Josephine County Man Jailed on Felony Warrant after North Valley Police Pursuit
A Josephine County man was jailed on a local felony warrant and he may be facing additional charges after he led a multi-agency pursuit in the North Valley area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies and the Oregon State Police arrested 25-year-old Griffan Ian Lucas in a field next to Interstate 5 in the Hugo area on Monday afternoon. Deputies said the incident started with a Monday morning call from a property owner in the 600-block of Oxyoke Road who reported that someone broke into his minivan. A short time later, a caller reported their surveillance camera caught a male subject trying to break into their house and another caller reported that multiple cigarette lighters had been stolen off their back porch in recent weeks. An investigation led deputies to a property in the 700-block of Mossy Oak Drive where Lucas bolted out the back door when they tried to enter the residence. The suspect ran down Mossy Oak to El Conejo and toward I-5 where he was believed to be hunkered down in the brush. The Sheriff's Office brought in a K-9 officer and the Oregon State Police deployed a drone to search for the suspect from the air. After an extensive search of the area, Lucas was located and he struggled with law enforcement as they placed him into custody. Further investigation led police to the suspect's home where he had hidden numerous stolen items including cell phones, Ipads and more in a tree house. The items were seized as evidence in the case. Lucas had several cuts from eluding law enforcement, so he was checked out by medics before being lodged in jail on a Josephine County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and for Escape. He is likely facing additional charges from the residential and vehicle burglaries.
Posted on 10/9/24 6:40AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Snared Man for Multiple Crimes after Unusual Incident West of Selma
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for multiple crimes after a strange incident on Illinois River Road west of Selma this week. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies contacted and arrested 55-year-old John Christopher Latch on Illinois River Road below the Six Mile Campground on Monday night. Deputies said dispatchers received a 9-1-1 call from two women who reported a male subject with a red suitcase and a sleeping mat lying in the middle of Illinois River Road. The man had been there for several hours and he refused to speak to one woman who asked if he was okay. Upon arrival, deputies discovered Latch was wanted on warrants out of the state of Washington -- but authorities there said the warrants were not extraditable. It was also learned that the subject had been flagged as hostile and was known to carry a baseball bat and razors. None of those weapons were found, but the subject was uncooperative and struggled with deputies as they placed him into custody. Latch refused to wear a seatbelt as he was transported to Grants Pass. He was lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail for three counts of Felony Aggravated Harassment and one count of Disorderly Conduct. Aggravated Harassment usually indicates that a suspect spit on law enforcement.
Posted on 10/9/24 6:39AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Nabbed Felon for Warrant & Weapon Crime after Camping Complaint
Grants Pass Police arrested a local felon on an outstanding warrant and for a weapon crime while investigating an illegal camping complaint on the east side of the city. The Police Department reports officers contacted and arrested 44-year-old Donn Reeves Fincher on NE Fairview Avenue on Monday. Police said they received multiple calls about a man and woman who were staying in a green tent in the middle of the sidewalk along Fairview. They contacted both and discovered that Fincher was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Methamphetamine Possession. The woman was not identified. During a consent search, Fincher was found to be in possession of a spring-assisted knife which was seized as evidence. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing any type of weapon. Fincher was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon. His tent and personal belongings were logged into evidence for safekeeping.
Posted on 10/9/24 6:38AM by Sam Marsh
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South Carolina Man and Passenger Not Hurt after Car Hit Bear on Interstate 5
A South Carolina man and his passenger escaped injury when their vehicle struck a bear on Interstate 5 in the North Valley area this week. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the mishap in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 63 on Monday night. Troopers said a 32-year-old man from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was driving a Chevrolet Malibu when he struck a bear that was on the freeway. They said the driver and his 29-year-old female passenger from Lennon, Michigan, were not hurt. According to OSP, the driver was warned for Violating the Basic Rule which indicates he was driving too fast for the conditions. The man arranged for his own tow through the automobile rental company. No word on the condition of the bear.
Posted on 10/9/24 6:30AM by Sam Marsh
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Commissioners Set to Consider Library Annexation Request at Weekly Session
There is only one action item on the agenda for the Josephine County Board of Commissioners for its weekly business session this morning. The Commissioners will hold a public hearing for an annexation to the Josephine Community Library District by petition of the landowner. In this case, it’s a 5.33-acre property on Cloverlawn Drive. The Board will start the session with its monthly recognition of employees. As always, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens in which people are given three minutes to address the Board on virtually any topic related to Josephine County. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.
Posted on 10/9/24 6:18AM by Sam Marsh
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OHCS Homeowner Assistance Fund Accepting Final Applications Online Until October 31st
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Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is reopening the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) online application portal to accept final applications directly from homeowners. Applications must be submitted by October 31st. New applications will be put on a wait-list and prioritized for homeowners most at risk of foreclosure or loss. Homeowners can now review application criteria and apply directly online using a link on the HAF website, which is "oregonhomeownerassistance.org." HAF offers federal temporary COVID-19 pandemic relief to help homeowners who experienced financial hardship due to the pandemic. HAF can help them become current on their mortgages, county taxes, homeowners' associations, land sale contracts, secured manufacture home or floating home loans, and lot rent or moorage fees associated with homeowners in manufactured home parks or marinas. Financial hardship includes a reduction in income or an increase in housing costs resulting from the pandemic. Homeowners are eligible to apply if they meet the program's general eligibility criteria and are facing foreclosure, involved in a court case that threatens their home,
Posted on 10/9/24 6:16AM by Sam Marsh
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