Local News

The Board of Commissioners heard comments from the public and discussed Full Time Equivalent reductions for the Josephine County Sheriff's Office at their Weekly Business Session.

The public presented topics to the board including education, comments on the jail levy, concern over information posted on the Oregon Health Authority website regarding fungus, help for seniors in mobile home parks, rent increases, and infrastructure transparency.

A motion to approve the consent calendar passed 3-0, and Commissioner Gary Richardson discussed the Full Time Equivalent reduction for the Sheriff's Office Budgets. Two patrol and corrections deputies, as well as two major crimes detective positions will be affected.

He continued, saying that due to the collective bargaining agreements as discussed in a previous Supplemental Budget Meeting, the current budget can't support said positions.

 

A power line incident was reported early this morning in the 5700 block of Deer Creek Road in Selma.

Illinois Valley Fire District personnel responded at 12:06 a.m. to a report of a tree downed across power lines. Upon arrival, Pacific Power representatives assessed the situation and confirmed the lines were cable.

The appropriate service provider was dispatched to remove the obstruction and facilitate necessary repairs. The roadway remained closed for the duration of the night and was later reopened.

 

A drug dealer is in jail after multiple attempted eludes throughout Jackson County. The suspect, Ismael Garcia-Nava Jr., 32, of Medford, remains lodged in the Jackson County Jail after crashing September 19th while attempting to elude Central Point Police Department officers. Garcia-Nava was originally arrested August 12th after crashing during an attempted elude with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Due to jail overcrowding he was force released August 22nd before a search uncovered the drugs and firearm in his vehicle. Multiple search warrants revealed more than 100g of fentanyl, nearly 400g of heroin, 28g of methamphetamines, scales, packaging material, and a loaded firearm. Garcia-Nava was lodged in the second elude case September 19th. He was charged with Unlawful Possession, Manufacture, and Delivery of Controlled Substances, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, multiple counts of Elude, and Reckless Driving.

 

A man wanted on a Failure to Report warrant and located trespassing downtown was arrested by Grants Pass Police.

Monday at 7:55 a.m., an officer contacted Johnnathon Adams at the corner of SE 7th Street and SE G Street. He had a warrant out for his arrest for Failure to Report as a Sex Offender, and had been issued a 90-Day Downtown Exclusion Zone order on August 19th, 2026.

The officer took Adams into custody at the scene after confirming his identity. Adams told law enforcement he was not in the Downtown Zone for any of the eight exempt reasons according to the police report.

He was transported to jail to be lodged on his warrant and a charge of Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree. He was also further trespassed from the Exclusion Zone for 180 days.

During a consent search, a phone was located on Adam's person, which he said was not his. The phone was logged as found property.

 

The Board of Commissioners approved the findings of fact regarding the appeal of a decision approving a processing facility in Cave Junction at today's workshop. Following an executive session where attorney's provided the board an update on the Stephen Eric Fitch v. Josephine County et al case, the workshop was held at 1:30 p.m. in consideration of department business. Commissioner Gary Richardson moved that the board approve the appeal of the decision to approve the facility at 2581 Dick George Road with the criteria presented. A public notice of the board's decision will be drafted and mailed to all participating neighbors of the stated property. Pending any appeals after 21 days, the applicant may proceed with development of the processing facility. The motion passed unanimously. The board approved 3-0 the signing of a a Seedling Growing Service Contract from the Forestry department with Weyerhaeuser NR Company, where $120,280 would be utilized for the planting of about 190,000 seedlings on County lands. Also approved, pending the project's completion and utilization of ARPA funds, was Recreation's request to sign for a restroom unit for Whitehorse Park.

 

Grants Pass Police were dispatched Monday to a welfare check at the Riverside Inn, where they later arrested a woman for a Parole Violation detainer.

Security at the 986 SW 6th Street business reported the suspect was laying on the ground screaming around 10:52 p.m. She was located in the walkway between the inn and Taprock, and it was unknown if she was injured or under the influence.

She was described as having dark hair, and wearing an orange track jacket, white shorts, and tennis shoes. Law enforcement arrived to conduct a welfare check, but found the suspect, Braylyn McElmurry, was too impaired to safely care for herself. She was arrested at the scene.

Officers contacted McElmurry's parole officer, and a detainer was requested. After being medically cleared, McElmurry was lodged in the Adult Jail Facility.

 

Security with Asante Three Rivers Medical Center made a trespassing complaint to dispatch, and the suspect was lodged in jail by responding officers Monday.

A woman had been discharged from the 500 SW Ramsey Avenue hospital earlier that day, but had been on the property since. Dispatch was alerted to the situation at 9:53 p.m., and was told the disruptive suspect was in the imaging lobby next to the emergency room.

She was heard yelling in the background of the call, and was trespassed by staff. Officers identified the suspect, soon located on the highway east of Ringuette Street, as Hannah Olsen. Her parole officer was contacted, who advised a detainer would be issued.

Olsen was transported to and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for, according to jail logs, an out-of-county

 

A transient under the stairs of a local law firm was reported to police and later lodged for being out of compliance with his sex offender registration.

Monday around 6:09 p.m., the suspect was reportedly "doing something" under the stairs of the 303 NW E street building. The 911 caller requested law enforcement remove the man and trespass him.

Upon arrival, officers with the Grants Pass Police Department trespassed the suspect, Jason Williams. He was found to be out of compliance with his sex offender reporting since August 28th, 2023, so he was arrested and transported to the Josephine County Jail for lodging.

 

An employee of Speedway Express reported a shoplifting incident Monday, leading to the suspect's arrest for a DUII warrant by Grants Pass Police officers.

The suspect was reported inside the 1094 NE E Street store stealing items at 3:01 p.m. He was described as having black hair, and wearing a gray shirt with a hood, and blue jeans. The employee wished to pursue for theft and trespassing charges, and it wasn't clear at the time of the call the value of the stolen items.

According to the police report, despite the suspect's refusal to identify himself, he eventually paid cash for the almost $10 worth of food he had eaten. He was warned by arriving officers for trespassing, then released.

However, after being identified as Matthew Morrison, he was found to be wanted out of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. He was taken into custody in the parking lot, taken to jail, and lodged for his warrant.