Local News

GP Police Incarcerated Man for Attacking Girlfriend at Northeast City Residence
Grants Pass Police jailed a man for attacking his girlfriend at a northeast city home last night. The Police Department reports officers arrested 57-year-old Richard Allen Wood for the incident at a NE Baker Drive residence on Tuesday around 8:45 p.m.. Police said a taxi cab driver called 9-1-1 to report a male subject shoving a female subject outside the home. They said an investigation determined that Wood subjected his girlfriend to unwanted physical contact during an argument when he pushed the woman with the muzzle of his firearm. According to the report, Wood's conduct placed the victim in fear of imminent physical injury or death. She sustained red marks on her face and body from the incident, but she declined medical treatment. The gun was seized as evidence. Officers placed Wood into custody and lodged him at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing and Harassment. He was being held without bail pending his Circuit Court arraignment this afternoon.
Posted on 2/12/25 11:06AM by Sam Marsh
 

Deputies Jailed Man for Violating Court Order by Contacting Protected Woman
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for violating a court order by contacting his estranged girlfriend at U-Turn for Christ. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a disturbance at the organization in the 300-block of Lind Road on Tuesday at 6:15 p.m.. Deputies said they were alerted to the incident involving 34-year-old Jake Cameron Callin by a U-Turn for Christ staff member who reported a belligerent male subject yelling at a female subject in a verbal argument about a vehicle. The caller advised the man may have been intoxicated and the woman took his keys. Upon arrival, deputies interviewed all parties before discovering that the woman had a no-contact order in place to protect her from Callin. They said he displayed manic and aggressive behaviors while being placed into custody. He was loaded into a patrol vehicle with some difficulty. Callin was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Violating a No Contact Order. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 2/12/25 11:04AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Nabbed Frequent Flyer for Stealing Fire Extinguisher & Other Items
Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender for stealing a fire extinguisher from Fire Mountain Gems and discharging it early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident involving 31-year-old Kody Tyler Halverson at the business on Fire Mountain Way around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Police said Halverson stole a fire extinguisher from Fire Mountain Gems valued at about $125. They said he ran across the street and discharged the fire extinguisher for fun, without any real reason for doing so. Halverson fled into Joann's Fabrics at the Grants Pass Shopping Center and he was contacted while leaving the store with stolen merchandise visible in his clothing. He admitted he did not pay for the items. During a consent search, he was found to be in possession of a glass pipe with methamphetamine residue. It was seized. Halverson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft, Meth Possession and 3rd-Degree Criminal Mischief.
Posted on 2/12/25 11:02AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Snared Woman on Warrant after Disturbance at Apartment Complex
Grants Pass Police arrested a woman on an outstanding warrant after she caused a disturbance at a southeast city apartment complex yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a reported break-in attempt at Holiday Garden Apartments on East Park Street at 1:10 p.m. Tuesday. Police said a caller reported a female subject -- later identified as 51-year-old Gennette Elise Hudgins -- was trying to get into the caller's apartment. They said the woman arrived on a scooter and was knocking on the door and ringing the bell. Officers arrived on scene and contacted Hudgins, placing her into custody when it was discovered that she was wanted on a Jackson County warrant for failing to appear in court for Larceny. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail.
Posted on 2/12/25 11:01AM by Sam Marsh
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No One Hurt When Driver Pulled Out in Front of Vehicle on Williams Highway
No one was injured in a crash that occurred when a motorist pulled out in front of another vehicle on Williams Highway near Provolt late yesterday. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision near milepost 10 of Highway 238 on Tuesday shortly after 6 p.m.. Troopers said an investigation determined that a Ford F-150 driven by a 70-year-old woman failed to yield to oncoming traffic when she entered the highway from a driveway. They said a Ford Escape driven by a 28-year-old Medford man was unable to stop in time and struck the rear of the pickup. According to OSP, there were no apparent injuries and the Ford Escape was towed to Grants Pass. Four Medford residents including two juveniles were in the car. Following the investigation, the at-fault driver was either cited or warned for the violation.
Posted on 2/12/25 11:00AM by Sam Marsh
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GPPD Showed Compassion after Citing Man for Warming Fire at City Park
Grants Pass Police showed a measure of compassion when they cited a homeless man for lighting a warming fire at Riverside Park early yesterday. Police said they contacted a man they identified as "Ryan Burrows" after they received a complaint that Burrows had started a fire at the city park. He was actively putting the small fire out as officers arrived on scene. GPPD cited Burrows for violating park rules by starting a fire. GPPD also provided Burrows with a sleeping bag and some warm socks.
Posted on 2/12/25 10:58AM by Sam Marsh
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NWS Posts Winter Weather Advisory for SW Oregon Tonight-Thursday Morning
There's a chance for snow overnight in southwest Oregon, but it should give way to rain by mid-morning. The National Weather Service has posted another Winter Weather Advisory for Josephine and eastern Curry counties that runs from 10 o'clock tonight until 8 a.m. Thursday. Wet snow is expected above 1,500 feet, with total snow accumulations up to one inch. Lighter snow of a half-inch or less is possible on the valley floors. Winds may gust as high as 20 miles per hour in the valleys and 40 miles per hour over the local mountains. Affected areas include Interstate 5 passes north of Grants Pass, portions of the Illinois Valley, and the mountains of Josephine and eastern Curry counties. Snow levels are expected to start out around 1,000 feet tonight and rise early Thursday morning to around 1,500 feet before rising to 4,000 feet by around midday tomorrow. A period of light to moderate snow is expected, but it will transition to rain for most areas, with brief periods of wintry mix with ice pellets. Travelers are encouraged to slow down and use extra caution. For updated road conditions, visit "tripcheck.com."
Posted on 2/12/25 9:40AM by Sam Marsh
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Jackson County Woman Filed Lawsuit against Davis Shows Carnival at RV Mall
A Jackson County woman who says she was thrown from a ride at the Rogue Valley Mall in Medford has filed a lawsuit seeking $600,000 from Davis Shows, the carnival's operating company. The Oregonian reports 35-year-old Rachal Martinez-Orozco alleges in court papers she was exiting the unspecified amusement ride when it suddenly roared back to life -- throwing her off the ride and onto the ground on April 22, 2023. Martinez-Orozco says she suffered cuts, bruises and a concussion, according to the lawsuit filed January 28th in Jackson County Circuit Court. Pat Davis, co-owner of Davis Shows, said the allegations in the lawsuit were inaccurate, but denied to comment further. The Rogue Valley Mall hosts a variety of carnival rides operated by Davis Shows each April.
Posted on 2/12/25 6:32AM by Sam Marsh
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Deputies Jailed Sex Offender for Not Complying with Registration Requirements
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a sex offender this week for not complying with his registration requirements. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 44-year-old Joseph Michael Correia at the corner of Merlin Avenue and Pleasant Valley Road late Monday night. Deputies said they spotted Correia while patrolling the Merlin area. They said a routine records check revealed that he was wanted for Felony Failure to Report as a Sex Offender. According to the Sheriff's Log, Correia has a history of assaultive behavior and he is a risk to escape. However, he was placed into custody without incident. Correia was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail.
Posted on 2/12/25 6:31AM by Sam Marsh
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Josephine County Sheriff's Deputies Snared Motorist for Leading Them on Chase
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for leading deputies on a pursuit early yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies eventually caught up to 44-year-old Robin Joseph McCafferty in an unspecified location on Tuesday just after midnight. He was booked into the Josephine County Jail at 12:58 a.m. yesterday. No details were available about the incident. As is often the case, there was no entry in the Sheriff's Log and the information came from jail bookings. McCafferty was charged with Felony Attempt to Elude Police and Reckless Driving. He was being held without bail after being arraigned in Circuit Court on Tuesday afternoon.
Posted on 2/12/25 6:30AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Investigation into Hit & Run Crash Led to Arrest of Alleged Suspect
An investigation into a hit-and-run crash that occurred last week in west Grants Pass resulted in the arrest of the alleged offender last weekend. Grants Pass Police were alerted to the incident that occurred in the 900-block of SW Laurel Street last Thursday afternoon. Police said a motorist later identified as "Kevin Haugen" crashed his white Ford Explorer into a vehicle parked in front of the victim's residence. The suspect left the scene without stopping and did not attempt to contact the victim. According to GPPD, the incident was caught on video from a surveillance camera which led them to the suspect's home in the 1900-block of Rogue River Highway on Sunday afternoon. Haugen admitted to hitting the parked vehicle and driving away. He was cited to appear in court for Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage and No Insurance.
Posted on 2/12/25 6:29AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Cited Driver for Crashing into Parked Vehicles in NW Neighborhood
Grants Pass Police cited a motorist last weekend after she crashed into two parked vehicles in a northwest city neighborhood. According to the Police Department, officers and emergency crews responded to the three-vehicle collision in the 1,000-block of NW Washington Boulevard late Sunday afternoon. Police said an investigation determined that 33-year-old Tarren Thomas was driving a Lincoln SUV north on Washington Boulevard when she wrecked into a Honda CRV and a Ford Focus parked along the curb. They said they contacted Thomas at the scene and there were no signs of impairment. Thomas was subsequently cited to appear in court for Failure to Maintain Lane and No Insurance. Her SUV sustained moderate damage and it was towed away. Crash reports were supplied to all the involved parties.
Posted on 2/12/25 6:27AM by Sam Marsh
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