Local News

A report of a woman yelling in an ARCO bathroom dispatched Grants Pass Police to the scene Monday morning.

An employee of the 190 NE Terry Lane gas station reported the suspect was acting strange while inside the building at 11:34 a.m. She was displaying numerous indicators of impairment, and was yelling inside the bathroom.

Police responded and attempted to contact the uncooperative suspect. She was held at taser point before being taken into custody and being identified as Christina Nissen.

During detainment, she hit an officer in the arm. She was transported to the Josephine County Jail and lodged for Attempted Assault on a Peace Officer

 

Grants Pass City Council held two interviews for the Historical Buildings and Sites Commission, then heard presentations for the Washington Midland Redevelopment Plan and Interstate 5 Sign Code overlay. Council was presented the preferred redevelopment framework and potential steps recommended to implement the plan. The project has moved from concepts to a preferred plan and development strategy. This includes improved streets and utilities on Franklin and Bunnel Avenues, improved pedestrian accessibility, commercial uses, and housing options with a range of townhomes and apartments as rentals or to own. Potential costs could be $1.9 million for the city and public, $190K in Private property and Frontage costs, with a combined investment of $2.09 million. A draft plan will be prepared for final review by council before potential adoption. Next for consideration was the potential I-5 Sign Code overlay following a previous appeal for a 100 foot Dutch Bros. and Les Schwab sign. Current regulation permits one freestanding sign per street frontage up to 25-foot height and 100-square-foot sign area.

 

Oregon State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on Highway 199 near milepost 20 Friday around 2:30 p.m.

The preliminary investigation indicated a white Ram 3500 pickup, operated by Harvey Anthony Caron, 72, of Cave Junction, was traveling southbound on Highway 199 when, for unknown reasons, it crossed the center median and northbound lane before striking several trees on the shoulder of the highway.

Caron was pronounced deceased at the scene. The highway was not impacted during the investigation.

OSP was assisted by the Illinois Valley Fire District, Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

 

Deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to two fatal crashes early in the weekend. Friday at 8:18 p.m., a vehicle vs pedestrian crash was reported near the 2600 block of Merlin Road. A Geo Metro car was traveling east on Merlin Road when the vehicle hit a male pedestrian. The driver of the Geo Metro stayed on scene. The pedestrian was identified as Scott Starke, 88, who was transported to an area hospital and later succumbed to his injuries. Next of kin has been notified. This case is still an active investigation and pending results of evidence, charges will be referred to the District Attorney’s Office. No further information in this case will be released at this time. Saturday afternoon at 12:15 p.m., deputies, American Medical Response, and fire personnel responded to Monument Drive near Mary Harris Way for a report of an ATV crash. Once on scene, a male, Barry Fell, 58, was found with serious injuries after crashing an ATV. He was transported by AMR to an area hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. Next of kin have been notified. No further information will be released.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was notified of a body located in the Rogue River at Baker Park Friday at 1:23 p.m. Deputies and fire personnel arrived on scene and made contact with the individuals who originally made the call to 911. The body was located in the main channel of the Rogue River at Baker Park. The Jackson County dive team was activated to assist with the recovery of the body. The individual has not been identified and next of kin has not been notified. The Josephine County Medical Examiner will be continuing their investigation to identify the individual.

 

A man stole a bike from the Grants Pass Family YMCA, only to return in later and be arrested by Grants Pass Police.

The bike owner called 911 to report his stolen property at 9:14 a.m. The bike was reported to be valued at about $1000 and was taken from the property while the owner was in the gym. The suspect had reportedly stolen from the location before.

Surveillance footage was able to capture the theft, but the suspect and the bike were not located. Around 2:36 p.m. the same day, dispatch was advised by employees that the suspect, Anthony Horton, had returned to the YMCA after being confronted by the bike's owner. The bike had been recovered, and Horton was arrested by arriving officers.

He was trespassed from the YMCA, and lodged in jail for two counts of First Degree Theft, Second Degree Theft, and Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle.

 

Oregon State Police lodged a man wanted on a theft warrant after finding his vehicle parked in the tree line off Interstate 5.

The suspect, identified as Timothy Darrow, was contacted near a suspicious vehicle parked near milepost 78 on I-5 Friday around 9:54 a.m. Troopers discovered he was illegally harvesting wood from Oregon Department of Transportation property and trespassing.

Darrow was also found to have a bench warrant charging him with Theft in the Second Degree. Troopers arrested Darrow for his warrant, and officials requested he be trespassed for the illegal wood harvesting. He was warned for trespassing and harvesting, and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for his warrant.

 

WinCo loss prevention apprehended a man eating merchandise before the arrival of Grants Pass Police Sunday afternoon.

The uncooperative suspect was handcuffed while staff of the 231 NE Terry Lane grocer called 911 around 4:41 p.m. The suspect attempted to fight staff after having consumed just over $6 worth of food items within the store. He discarded the trash and exited without paying, leading to his being detained by staff.

Upon arrival, police took the suspect, Brandon Debree, into custody and trespassed him from WinCo. A consent search of his person located a glass pipe with white residue. A field test produced a positive result for the presumptive presence of methamphetamine.

Debree was ultimately lodged in the Adult Jail Facility for charges of Theft in the Third Degree, and Misdemeanor Possession of Meth. A backpack in his possession was logged for safekeeping.

 

A man doing karate outside China Hut was arrested by Grants Pass Police for a parole violation detainer.

Dispatch was notified the suspect, who appeared to be under the influence, was walking back and forth between the restaurant and the nearby Lithia dealership Sunday at 1:46 p.m. He was described as having brown hair, a goatee, being shirtless, wearing black and blue pants, white socks, black shoes, and carrying a white t-shirt.

Officers were dispatched to the scene, contacting the suspect at the China Hut, where he was performing karate moves. He was identified as Zane Hatcher, and his parole officer, upon contact, requested a detainer.

Hatcher was found with burnt foil and a razor knife in his possession, a violation of his probation. Officers took him into custody and transported him to the Josephine County Jail for lodging on the detainer.