KRRM - Local News

Armed Robbery Investigation at Walgreens Leads to Vehicle Pursuit, Suspects in Custody

Medford Police officers responded around 8:45 p.m. Sunday to a reported armed robbery at the West Main Street Walgreens. Store employees confronted a male and female who were attempting to leave the store with a shopping cart full of unpaid merchandise. During the confrontation, the female suspect reportedly produced a handgun, pointed it at an employee, and threatened to shoot. The suspects left the area in a white SUV with a black roof rack. Responding officers searched the area but were unable to locate the suspects or vehicle. Store security footage corroborated employee statements, and investigators obtained video and still images of the suspects and involved vehicle. Today at approximately 12:30 p.m., an officer located the vehicle near Sage Road and Highway 238. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver fled at a high rate of speed. Officers initiated a pursuit. The vehicle traveled through several areas before entering Interstate 5 northbound. Police were assisted by the Oregon State Police and the Jackson County Sheriff's Department

Posted on 9/1/26 3:00PM by Alex Bauer

BCC Tabled Legal Business, Approved Community Corrections, Finance Business

After tabling Legal Department Business, the Board of Commissioners approved orders and requests during their workshop.

Information Technology gave a progress report, stating communications material for the Firewise Defensible Spaces project has wrapped up, as well as the feedback period for the Strategic Communications Plan. Social Media and Records policies will be sent to Legal Counsel, and an AI Project extension request was approved by the board.

A motion passed 3-0 approving a rental agreement renewal for a Community Corrections transitional housing program property, as was an application for Real Property Tax Exemption. The lease on the property is $1500. In state travel to attend the Oregon Association of Community Corrections Directors meetings passed unanimously.

The board approved an order for Establishment of the Josephine County Economic Development Grant from Finance, tabled the order accepting By-Laws, and approved without objection a New Economic Development Grant Application.

Commissioner Gary Richardson will propose a process and timeline to 4H for Agricultural Education Grants, then bring further information to the board. An Outstanding Resource Water Designation for the Illinois River and Rough & Ready Creek was approved without objection.

All Human Resources personnel actions were approved. A request from the Regent Rogue Applegate Daughters of The American Revolution to bring the American Revolution Experience display to the Anne G. Basker Auditorium in December will be considered. Lastly, it was announced the Whitehorse Park re-opening, scheduled for September 2nd, is canceled due to rain.

Posted on 9/1/26 2:54PM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Cite Walmart Suspect to Appear for Third Degree Theft

Grants Pass Police cited and trespassed a suspect in a Walmart Theft case Monday morning.

Steven Dowell was detained by law enforcement at 8:05 a.m. He had concealed just over $8 worth of food in his backpack and passed all points of sale at the 135 NE Terry Lane store.

He was cooperative with police, and after being taken into custody and warned for trespassing at the Walmart, officers issued him a citation to appear for a Third Degree Theft charge. He was then released from custody.

Posted on 9/1/26 1:21PM by Alex Bauer

Woman Sleeping in Best Western Hallway Arrested for Fentanyl Possession

A Best Western employee reported a suspect trespassing to dispatch, who was then arrested for Fentanyl Possession by Grants Pass Police.

Monday at 10:24 p.m., the suspect was reportedly sitting and sleeping in an outside hallway at the 111 NE Agness Avenue location. The employee requested the suspect be trespassed.

The suspect, Bobbie Jo Langdon, was contacted by arriving officers, and found with paraphernalia in plain view. A usable amount of a white powdery substance was found inside a piece of foil. Langdon admitted the substance was fentanyl, and a field test of the substance returned presumptive positive.

Officers advised Langdon she was under arrest, transported her to jail, and lodged her for Possession of Fentanyl. She was also trespassed from the Best Western.

Posted on 9/1/26 12:52PM by Alex Bauer

OSP Pulled Over, Arrested Suspended Driver

A traffic stop conducted by Oregon State Police Monday resulted in the arrest of a suspended driver.

Troopers pulled over a gray Toyota 4-Runner at 9:24 p.m. at the corner of NE 6th Street and NE Jackson Street. A violation had been observed, and the driver was discovered to be operating the vehicle while having been revoked of her license since 2009.

She was identified as Dawn Bowen-Barnes, and troopers took her into custody. The vehicle was taken by her husband, while she was transported to the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility for a Misdemeanor Driving While Suspended or Revoked charge.

Bowen-Barnes was later released due to a lack of resources at the jail.

Posted on 9/1/26 12:30PM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Lodge WinCo Shoplifter for Theft, Warrants out of GPPD, JCSO

Grants Pass Police lodged a shoplifting suspect wanted on two serviceable warrants this morning.

Loss prevention at WinCo had the suspect in custody when alerting dispatch to the incident around 4:36 a.m. Officers arrived at the scene and identified the suspect as Christian Bradley. Probable cause was developed for a Third Degree Theft charge, after he attempted to steal over $77 worth of goods.

Law enforcement also found Bradley was wanted on warrants out of the Police Department and Jackson County Sheriff's Office. Charges against him included Possession of Fentanyl, and First Degree Burglary. He was trespassed from the 231 NE Terry Lane Grocer, and promptly taken into custody.

The warrants were cleared, and officers transported Bradley to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged for his warrants and Theft charge.

Posted on 9/1/26 11:39AM by Alex Bauer

Arrests Made in Drive-By Shooting Investigation by Medford Police

Medford Police received a report August 20th that a residence in the 3000 block of Carnelian Street had been damaged by gunfire during the previous night. Investigators confirmed that a window had been struck by a bullet and, through video evidence, identified a vehicle believed to be involved. The same residence was previously targeted in drive-by shootings July 26th and the 27th, 2025. During that investigation, detectives developed probable cause to arrest 31-year-old Joel Matthew Caswell. He was arrested on August 27th, 2025, and remains in custody. During the current investigation, detectives determined that Caswell was associated with 50-year-old Phillip Leo Muradanes. Detectives also identified Muradanes as being associated with a vehicle matching the description of the vehicle believed to have been used in the August 20 shooting. On August 31st, 2026, detectives located Muradanes at a local motel and took him into custody. He was lodged for Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Criminal Mischief in the 1st Degree, and a Parole Board warrant.

Posted on 9/1/26 11:26AM by Alex Bauer

Convicted Felon Charged With Possessing Firearms, Silencers, Destructive Device

A federal grand jury in Medford returned an indictment charging a Medford man with possessing nine firearms while being a convicted felon, possessing unregistered firearms silencers, and possessing an unregistered destructive device. Michael Scott Beugli, 32, appeared in court Monday to be arraigned on a superseding indictment and to seek release. Beugli pleaded not guilty and was detained pending trial. According to court documents, on February 24, 2026, a witness saw Beugli throwing firearms out of his residence. Beugli is a convicted felon not allowed to possess firearms. He fled the premises, and law enforcement located nine guns and additional homemade silencers at Beugli’s residence. About a month after this incident, Beugli sent threatening messages to the witness. On March 25, 2026, ATF responded to an explosive device detonating in a car at the witness’s residence. Beugli was located nearby in a home with similar devices and explosive materials. He had not registered any silencers or destructive devices with ATF as required by law.

Posted on 9/1/26 5:57AM by Alex Bauer

Theft Suspect Fled Scene, Apprehended, Trespassed, Lodged by GP Police

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department lodged a man for Theft following an incident at a Pinnacle 365.

Dispatch learned the suspect had taken items from the 1995 NE 6th Street store valuing up to $20 Sunday around 9:35 a.m. The caller described the suspect as having "crazy hair", and wearing a brown long sleeve shirt with tan pants.

He had been disruptive in the store, and left the scene before the items could be recovered. Upon arrival, officers identified Kody Lewis as the suspect. He admitted to the theft, so he was taken into custody.

Officers trespassed him from the store by request of the caller. Lewis was transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged on a Third Degree Theft charge. Due to a lack of jail resources, he was later released.

Posted on 8/31/26 3:03PM by Alex Bauer

Two Suspects in Physical Disturbance during Protest Arrested by GP Police

Grants Pass Police lodged two suspects involved in a physical disturbance during a protest event outside the Anne G. Basker Auditorium last week. Officers were dispatched shortly before 10 a.m. Wednesday to a report of a physical disturbance in the 600 block of 6th Street. It was reported that individuals were physically fighting in the street. Officers found that two adult males had been involved in an altercation. Statements from the involved parties and witnesses were inconsistent however. A citizen video showing a portion of the incident was circulated online and reviewed by officers. Knowing that additional videos might exist that captured the full altercation, no arrests were made that day pending a thorough investigation. After obtaining and reviewing additional video evidence, officers were able to assess the entire incident. Based on the review, probable cause was established for the arrest of both men on charges of Harassment and Disorderly Conduct.

Posted on 8/31/26 2:51PM by Alex Bauer

Current Payment Plan to Continue after Council's Police Headquarters Refinance Discussion

City Council voted to continue with the current payment plan following a Police Headquarters refinance presentation.

Previously, Council authorized a Full Faith and Credit Financing for the Public Safety Building, with property tax dollars covering expenses. The spending of up to 19.2% of the General Fund balance was authorized for Fiscal Year 2027.

With the continuation of the current contract, the General Fund would only pay about $507,000 of the larger balloon payments. The Equipment Replacement Fund would give the General Fund a loan for the difference in each of the upcoming three years. With Council's decision, inter-loan funds will be used for the remaining three years.

The workshop began at 11:45 a.m. with an informational presentation for Level of Service, plus General Fund Balance and Stabilization. Council would set the policy outcomes, while staff would deliver the methods, translating the outcomes into costed options.

Following the presentation, staff will provide links to pave audits for Council, and provide memos of both the cost breakdown for the general fund, and benchmarks for service and efficiency.

A Committee on Public Art motion recommending Council support using available funds for art on a Water Treatment Plant tank was tabled for future discussion.

Posted on 8/31/26 2:39PM by Alex Bauer

Labor Day Rogue River Closure Set for Sunday

During the Labor Day Races, the Rogue River will be closed Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Baker Park to Griffin Park.

All spectators will remain off the water until the races are over. All spectators will remain 50 feet from the waterway at all times.

Movement on the water is restricted to Law Enforcement, Rescue personnel and Authorized Race Officials during the closures. Private boats are not allowed to assist with crash or rescue operations for safety reasons.

Boats can be anchored on the shoreline if it is deemed safe by Race Officials and Law Enforcement. All users shall be off the water and in an approved area one hour prior to the start of the race. Any unauthorized boats on the water during the closure may be cited for Reckless or Unsafe Operation and are subject to a $440 fine.

Law Enforcement will be patrolling the waterways during the race events. Please Contact the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office (541) 474-5123 if you have any questions regarding the river closures.

Posted on 8/31/26 2:26PM by Alex Bauer