Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman on an outstanding warrant and a man for drug possession at a city park early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers contacted 42-year-old Samantha Jane Roberts and "Darious Hunt" during a patrol check at Tussing Park on Monday at about 9:20 a.m.. Roberts was found to be wanted on a Josephine County warrant for failing to appear in court for 2nd-Degree Theft. She was lodged in jail on the warrant. Hunt was found to be in possession of a glass pipe with residue that field-tested positive as methamphetamine. He was cited to appear in court and released. Meanwhile, another man identified as "Ryan Burrows" was cited for Scattering Rubbish and Utilization of Space. He was trespassed from the park for 30 days.

 

Grants Pass Police evicted a man for "trashing" his resting site in a city park last night. During a 7:05 p.m. patrol check at Kesterson Park on NE Evelyn Avenue, officers contacted a man they identified as "Steven Carrier." Carrier reportedly had two mounds of trash, debris and property in the park, which officers said detracted from the natural beauty of the area. They cited him to appear in court for Offensive Littering. Carrier was issued a 30-day park exclusion and he was given until this morning to vacate the premises.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a California fugitive for multiple felony-level weapon and drug crimes in the Redwood area last weekend. The Police Department reports officers arrested 46-year-old Charles Perkiss at a home in the 1800-block of Medart Lane on Sunday at 12:20 p.m.. While at the scene of a domestic violence call, police said they contacted Perkiss who dispatch advised had an extraditable warrant out of Sutter County, California, for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for Spousal Abuse. Perkiss was detained and found to be in possession of several restricted weapons including a spring-loaded knife, brass knuckles and a dagger. He was also wearing a concealed carry holster on his waist band which he said was for an airsoft gun. Perkiss' vehicle was parked in the driveway and officers saw ammunition on the floor board and a handgun in the center console. A consent search of the vehicle uncovered a 9-millimeter handgun, AR-15 assault rifle, well over 30 grams of methamphetamine, four LSD gummies and six Adderall pills. All were seized. Perkiss was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the out-of-state warrant plus new charges including two counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, three counts of Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon, Meth Possession and LSD Possession. He was being held without bail pending extradition proceedings.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man on a statewide felony warrant at a home in the downtown area early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 30-year-old Jacob Eugene Snyder in the 400-block of NW C Street on Monday shortly after 2 a.m.. Police said they had initially responded to a male subject who had overdosed on drugs when the man refused to identify himself and refused medical transport to the hospital. A photo was taken of the man and he was later identified as Snyder who was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation related to a weapon offense. Officers returned to the address and the owner permitted entry. After multiple announcements, Snyder was located and placed into custody. Snyder was transported to the Josephine County Jail where in the sally port he began to overdose again. He was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center where he was monitored and then cleared for incarceration. Snyder was subsequently lodged in jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for attacking his roommate at an adult foster care facility in the northeast part of the city last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a disturbance at the home in the 900-block of NE Campus Drive on Sunday at about 9:45 p.m.. Police said 21-year-old Seth Christion Haylett and another man share a room at the adult foster home. They got into a disagreement on Sunday afternoon and Haylett attacked the roommate before fleeing the area. The facility manager was advised to call 9-1-1 when Haylett returned. Haylett returned that night, the manager called and officers responded. The suspect was interviewed and admitted to attacking his roommate in an attempt to injure him. The Josephine County District Attorney's Office was consulted before officers placed Haylett into custody and lodged him in jail for Attempted 4th-Degree Assault.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a woman for obstructing traffic on a road just east of Grants Pass last weekend. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the incident involving 37-year-old Jessica Shawnae Ryan Knowlton in the 2100-block of Foothill Boulevard near Pearce Park Road on Sunday around 2 p.m.. Deputies said multiple motorists including a fire engine company reported a female subject was standing on the white line of the road and she seemed to be "out of it." The callers said they had to slowly drive around the woman because she wouldn't move. Deputies arrived on scene and placed Knowlton into custody. Knowlton was lodged in jail for Disorderly Conduct. She was being held without bail.

 

Firefighters from two local agencies contained an open burn that had escaped in the Wilderville area last weekend. On Sunday at 12:53 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to the incident in the 400-block of Daily Lane off Riverbanks Road. The response was at the request of the landowner. Aided by water in a nearby pond, firefighters were able to quickly halt the spread of the fire at approximately one-third of an acre. Rural Metro officials said the 2025 fire season will start on June 1st, if not sooner. They said many landowners are working to remove vegetation and winter storm damage using fire -- work that is aimed at reducing fire intensity around homes during peak season incidents. While most spring open burns are conducted successfully by the majority of local landowners, people are urged to follow these recommendations: construct a vegetation-free ring down to dirt around the burn pile, have a reliable water source on-site, have a shovel or other tools on-site, carry a charged cell phone to call for help in case of spread, burn only in the morning to avoid afternoon winds, stay in attendance with the burn, fully extinguish remaining ash with water and then check for heat using bare hands to prevent future rekindling and escape.

 

The American Red Cross encourages the public to schedule their May donation appointment before summer gets into full swing. Year-end ceremonies, sporting events and celebrations are expected to fill evenings and weekends, but patients are counting on donors to also make blood donations a priority. Emergencies can happen anywhere, at any time, without a moment's notice. By giving blood to the Red Cross, donors can help ensure blood is ready for patients in the most critical situations. Give blood or platelets during "Trauma Awareness Month" to keep hospitals prepared for all transfusion needs including emergencies. Type O blood donors and donors giving platelets are especially needed right now. Make blood donation a priority in May and help accident victims and other patients in critical situations. Schedule a time to give now by visiting "RedCrossBlood.org" calling 1-(800)-RED-CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry and other fire prevention experts are urging everyone to exercise caution when disposing of yard debris this spring. There have already been 32 escaped debris burns reported on ODF-protected lands in 2025. That's nearly double the amount compared to this time last year. The average size of an escaped spring debris burn is about one acre -- or the size of a football field -- and generally requires suppression from a local fire agency. Over 75% of wildfires in Oregon are human-caused, with escaped debris burns topping the list. With forecasters becoming increasingly confident that this season will be hotter and drier than normal, now is the time to practice wildfire prevention. As grass and vegetation begin to dry out, the risk of a fire creeping away from a debris burn pile increases. Make sure to weigh your options and have all of the fire prevention tools in place before lighting the burn pile or burn barrel. Besides burning, preferable options for brush removal include composting or recycling. Check with your local disposal company for recycling options. But if burning now is the only option to dispose of yard debris, fire prevention officials ask people to follow safe burning practices. If your debris burn spreads out of control, you may have to pay for suppression costs as well as any damage to your neighbors' properties, which can be extremely expensive.