Local News

On Thursday, a man under the influence at the McDonalds was observed by Parole Officers.

The suspect, Nicholas Knowles, was reported to dispatch at the 204 NE Beacon Drive restaurant. Law enforcement assistance was requested by the officers at 4:49 p.m. A detainer was placed on Knowles, and upon arrival, Grants Pass Police took him into custody.

A glass smoking device with residue was located on Knowles during a search of his person, which he would not consent to. There were no charges made against Knowles regarding the device, and it was placed into evidence for destruction.

Knowles was transported to the Josephine County Jail and lodged on his detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police were alerted to a man acting erratically at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley Thursday afternoon.

An employee of the club reported to dispatch at 2:13 p.m. that the suspect had been on the scene for 10 minutes in the way of where the busses park. He was taking his clothes off and scratching himself. The employee believed the man was highly under the influence.

A request was made for the man to be trespassed from the 203 SE 9th Street business. Officers arrived and were able to detain the suspect, Shane Barton, who was wanted on a valid and serviceable warrant out of the GPPD for Third Degree Theft.

Barton's identity and warrant were confirmed, and he was lodged in the Josephine County Jail. Barton and another man on the scene were trespassed from the club.

 

The Oregon Department of Transportation is warning Oregonians of phishing scams going around from senders claiming to be with ODOT and DMV. In a release from ODOT, Oregon DMV Public Information Officer Chris Crabb said, "If you receive an unsolicited text claiming to be from ODOT or DMV saying you owe money for an unpaid traffic fine or toll balance, it’s a scam. Do not click any links or provide payment or personal identifying information. These are fake messages designed to steal your personal and financial information." The latest scam messages are sent from an unknown phone number and typically begin with urgent language such as, "Evasion Notice for Oregon Traffic Court" or "Final Notice – Toll Violation". Oregonians are reminded to ignore and delete the scam text messages and block the number to prevent further potential harm. You can report scams and suspicious communications to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. If you clicked on a link or provided personal information, secure your personal information and financial accounts, dispute any unfamiliar charges, and file a customer complaint with Oregon Department of Justice Consumer Protection.

 

Deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office attempted to contact a man walking into traffic at the corner of S Hussey Avenue and W Watkins Street.

On Thursday around 11:51 a.m., the suspect, later identified as Floyd Greenlee, refused to cooperate with law enforcement, walking away and resisting arrest. He was soon detained and taken into custody.

Greenlee was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for initial charges of Second Degree Disorderly Conduct, Resisting Arrest, and Possession of Methamphetamine. An additional charge was added for Interfering with a Peace Officer.

 

Grants Pass Police responded to the Mini Pet Mart on Rogue River Highway Wednesday where an RV and tent were reported to be on site.

The assistant manager of the mart told dispatch at 8:51 a.m. that the RV had been there since the day before, but that the silver and blue tent showed up overnight. Upon arrival, officers contacted Jason Oachs, who had been trespassed from the location Tuesday.

He hadn't made any attempts to leave during the 15 hour timeframe, so officers took him into custody. Oaks was charged with Second Degree Criminal Trespass and a Post-Prison Supervision Sanction. Wet, soiled, biohazard items on the scene were disposed of at Southern Oregon Sanitation.

 

A man driving with expired tags was arrested by Grants Pass Police for Meth Possession.

Officers pulled over a blue van Wednesday at 9:39 p.m. at the corner of SE 8th Street and SE L Street. The vehicle had expired registration tags, and officers contacted the driver, Shane Shelton.

During a consent search of the vehicle, a small baggie with a crystal-like substance was found. Following a presumptive positive field test for methamphetamine, Shelton was taken into custody.

Officers lodged him in the Josephine County Jail for a charge of Meth Possession, and a Parole Violation Detainer. He was also given a traffic citation for Driving While Suspended, Driving Uninsured, and Failure to Register Vehicle. Shelton's van was impounded.

 

After conducting a traffic stop, a Grants Pass Police officer arrested the driver for Meth Possession.

On Wednesday around 10:48 p.m., the suspect driver was observed in his VW Jetta failing to signal 100 feet prior to turning eastbound on Marion Lane. The officer pulled the vehicle over into the Muchas Gracias at the corner of Redwood Highway and SW Henderson Lane.

The driver was identified as Troy Fisher upon contact, and he was found to be driving while suspended and uninsured. The officer also located a clear baggie with a white powdery substance in the cup holder. Fisher said the powder was meth, which was proven by a positive field test.

He was taken into custody by the officer and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Possession of Methamphetamine. Fisher was also cited for his traffic violations. His vehicle was impounded, and his passenger was released.

 

Grants Pass Police received three separate calls Wednesday afternoon regarding the same woman in her pajamas.

The suspect was reported around the Grants Pass Parkway and Rogue River Highway walking into traffic by Grants Pass Equipment Rentals. One of the calls to dispatch requested the woman be trespassed, the other two were in regards to her disorderly conduct.

Officers arrived and took the suspect, Jessica Knowlton, into custody. A detainer was requested by her Parole Officer, so Knowlton was transported to the Josephine County Jail where she was lodged.

 

Applications are being accepted for four positions on the Budget Committee.

The City of Grants Pass Budget Committee receives and reviews the Recommended Budget and approves a Budget for Council’s consideration.

Half of the City of Grants Pass Budget Committee members are elected officials, and half are applicants from the community at large. The committee representation welcomes divergent views of the community.

Applications are available at the City Administration Office, 101 N.W. A Street, or online at www.grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application. Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. February 10th.

Candidates will be interviewed and appointed by the City Council on Wednesday, February 18th.