Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a Merlin man for hurting his wife during a verbal-turned-physical argument at their home yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a domestic disturbance in the 200-block of Gary Lane on Monday around 1:30 p.m.. Deputies said an investigation determined that a 56-year-old male subject and his wife were in their bedroom when the woman attempted to call 9-1-1 based on his screaming and yelling at her. The subject grabbed his wife's leg, which caused her to fall off the bed and sustain an injury to the right side of her face. The wife sustained slight bruising on her face, but she refused medical attention. The husband admitted to drinking alcohol that morning and he was placed into custody. The suspect was transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was booked for Attempted 4th-Degree Domestic Assault. He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a woman for her bad behavior at a Cave Junction retailer early yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies were alerted to the incident at the Grocery Outlet on South Redwood Highway on Monday shortly before 7 a.m.. Deputies said the Grocery Outlet manager called 9-1-1 to report that 29-year-old Brittney Anne McGuire arrived at the store and became aggressive toward their employees. He advised the woman ripped a sign off the wall and threw it against the window. Further investigation revealed that McGuire was punching the front door and yelling that the store manager "needed to die." She was also throwing items at nearby vehicles. Upon arrival, deputies placed McGuire into custody and transported her to the Josephine County Jail where she was lodged for Disorderly Conduct. She was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman on five outstanding warrants as she was released from the hospital late last night. The Police Department reports officers placed 40-year-old Erika Ann Vineyard into custody at Three Rivers Medical Center on Monday at 11:05 p.m.. Police said Vineyard was a patient at the hospital for undisclosed reasons and they requested to be contacted when she was ready to be released. Vineyard was wanted on three Jackson County warrants for two counts of failing to appear in court for Probation Violation related to impaired driving arrests and one count of failing to appear in court for Driving While Suspended. She was also wanted on two Medford warrants for failing to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving and Criminal Suspended Driving. Vineyard was lodged on the warrants at the Josephine County Jail where her bail was set at $115,000.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving and more early yesterday after she struck another vehicle on Interstate 5 in the Sunny Valley area and fled the scene. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 73 on Monday at 8:40 a.m.. Troopers said a 28-year-old woman was driving a Nissan sedan when she struck a Chevrolet Cobalt driven by a 63-year-old man and did not stop. The suspect was located a short time later, pulled over and found to be impaired. According to OSP, there were no injuries reported -- but both vehicles sustained damage. The suspect was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage. She was cited to appear in court and released, but her car was impounded.

 

Grants Pass Police issued several citations and trespassed one person during patrol checks at the city's two designated campgrounds early yesterday. At the NE 7th Street campground, four people were cited for violations involving Utilization of Space. It was the second such citation for one woman who was given a 30-day exclusion from the campsite. One man was cited for Marijuana Possession and another man was cited for Scattering Rubbish. One camp was removed as there were numerous syringes and other drug paraphernalia observed inside the tent. No one claimed responsibility. At the SE J Street campground, a man and woman were both cited for violations involving Utilization of Space.

 

UPDATE: MISSING MEN HAVE BEEN LOCATED.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was seeking public assistance in locating two men who had not returned from a weekend hunting trip. The Sheriff's Office reports 71-year-old Donald Pratt and 39-year-old Eric Pratt went hunting in the Illinois Valley early Sunday. Their vehicle was captured on cameras, it is believed they went up Lone Mountain Road in O'Brien and may be near the Sourdough Campground. They are in a white Toyota pickup with a white canopy with Oregon license plate 267 CZH. Donald Pratt is described as a white male adult, 6-feet-tall and 240 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Eric Pratt is described as a white male adult, 6-feet-4-inches tall and 300 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of these two men is urged to contact the Sheriff's Office at (541)-474-5123. Please reference Case #24-25041.

 

Authorities are seeking the identity of a burglar who broke into the Staples at the Grants Pass Shopping Center early yesterday. The Grants Pass Police Department reports a lone burglar broke through the store's front window just after 2 a.m. on Monday. Police said the burglar broke into display cabinets and took electronic items before fleeing. The unidentified subject now has numerous brand new electronics. GPPD has video of the incident on its Facebook page. If anyone knows or suspects who this burglar may be, they are encouraged to contact Officer Payne at (541)-450-6260. Please reference Case #24-39341. According to GPPD, teamwork and citizen involvement are key to community policing and public safety.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for felony impaired driving last weekend after he crashed into another vehicle and fled the scene on foot. According to the Police Department, officers and emergency crews responded to the collision at the corner of Axtell and Overland drives on Sunday at 6:50 p.m.. Police said a 32-year-old male subject was intoxicated while driving a vehicle that crashed into another vehicle head-on at low speed. They said the complainant reported the subject got out of his vehicle, was yelling at people and running around. The man kicked down a fence and ran away down a pedestrian trail. Officers searched the area and located a man matching the suspect's description. The subject confessed to being impaired and fleeing the scene of the crash. He was placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. There was no damage to the fence and little damage to the other vehicle.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a young woman for attempting to steal a skateboard from a local sporting goods store last weekend. The Police Department reports officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at Big 5 Sporting Goods off NE Agness Avenue on Sunday around 10:20 a.m.. Police said 20-year-old Brianna Marie Bailey entered Big 5 and concealed a skateboard valued at $70 under her jacket. She passed all points of sale and was contacted by officers on the Grants Pass Parkway near NE Beacon Drive. According to the report, the theft was captured on video surveillance. Bailey was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft. The stolen skateboard was returned to Big 5 and the thief was trespassed from the store.