Local News

A man refusing to leave Mill Street Mini Storage was arrested on Criminal Mischief and Trespass charges Saturday evening.

Dispatch was alerted to the incident at the 696 SE J Street location around 6:59 p.m. A man with brown hair, a green shirt, and dark colored shorts was caught messing with some of the latch locks, and was asked to leave the premises.

He remained, saying it was his constitutional right, despite the facilities being closed, and the latch not being his. He caused damage to the latch, and was again told to leave, reportedly six to seven times. It was unclear if the suspect had a unit at the facility.

Officers arrived and determined damage costs were estimated to be $50 for parts and $60 in labor. The suspect, James Snyder, was trespassed from the location, and arrested for Second Degree Criminal Trespass, and Third Degree Criminal Mischief.

He was lodged in jail. The storage unit manager, who reported the suspect to law enforcement, gave permission for Snyder to come back Thursday after calling and setting up a time to obtain his belongings.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District and emergency crews responded to traffic accidents early in the weekend and this morning.

The first incident occurred in the 24,000 block of Redwood Highway in Kerby. Friday at 2:14 p.m., the three vehicle, non-injury collision warranted responses from IVFD and Oregon State Police.

There was no obstruction to traffic, and all involved parties exchanged relevant information.

Then on Saturday around 1:01 p.m., another traffic accident occurred in the 27,000 block of Redwood Highway in Cave Junction. IVFD, American Medical Response, OSP, and deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the scene.

No injuries were reported among the involved parties, and OSP lead the investigation.

This morning at 7:16 a.m., the third traffic accident occurred at the corner of White Creek Road and Deer Creek Road in Selma.

IVFD and AMR were dispatched to the accident, where the involved vehicle was found to be abandoned. It was subsequently flagged. All additional responding units were then canceled.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is still seeking the public's help in the search for two missing kids. Nevaeh and Albert Bungart were last seen leaving the Cave Junction area on foot Wednesday August 26th at approximately 8:30pm. Their direction of travel is uncertain. Nevaeh was wearing a gray shirt with lettering, and black pants when she left. Nevaeh has a nose ring and pierced ears. She is described as a 5'6" 15-year-old weighing 105 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Albert was wearing a white shirt with black or grey shorts on. He's described as a 5'6" 13-year-old with brown hair, blue eyes, and weighing 110 pounds. Both were also carrying backpacks. If you have any information, contact the Josephine County Sheriff's Office at 541-474-5123.

 

An officer recognized a man wanted on a warrant out of the Grants Pass Police Department Thursday morning.

The suspect was observed behind Cash Connection around 6:53 a.m. The officer recognized him as Daniel Hall, and knew he was wanted on a warrant for Trespassing.

Hall's identity was confirmed, his warrant was faxed to the Josephine County Jail, and he was taken into custody at the scene to then be transported and lodged.

 

A proposed fee increase of 20% for the District Attorney's office was approved to move forward without objection by the Board of Commissioners.

During their 1 p.m. workshop, the potential $20 to $24 increase, the first since 2016, will be published September 2nd in the paper and on the County website, with a second publication September 9th.

The request will then go to the Weekly Business Session September 16th, where a public hearing will be held for potential adoption of the second order of the request. The fees would then go into effect September 21st.

Board Business was next, with consideration of the Troutbeck Townhomes Middle Housing Land Division Map. After having been available to view by the public, the map was approved 3-0 following a motion.

After looking at the original COCONUT department efficiency presentation, Commissioner Colene Martin said she felt County departments needed to modernize at their own speed rather than being forced to, and didn't want to turn confidential department data over to an outside organization. The board echoed similar sentiments.

 

The Board of County Commissioners and City Council are scheduled to finish the month with a Land Use Hearing and Workshop respectively. Monday the 31st at 10 a.m., the board will convene in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium for a continued discussion regarding a Dick George Road Property. A request for an appeal objecting to a decision approving a cannabis processing facility with access off the property will be considered. Then, at 11:45 a.m., the City Council Workshop will be held in Council Chambers concerning Police Headquarters refinancing, and Level of Service and Budget consideration. Following a review of Wednesday's meeting agenda, council will adjourn. The Land Use Hearing can be streamed at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream, while the workshop is available for viewing at www.grantspassoregon.gov.

 

Grants Pass Police conducted a welfare check on a man convulsing on the ground, later to the arrest him for Offensive Littering and Disorderly Conduct charges.

A call to 911 at 4:07 this morning reported the suspect on the ground near the U-Turn for Christ charity shop. The caller stated it looked like the man was huddled up and shaking on the sidewalk with objects near him.

He had already begun walking away from the scene upon arrival of officers, and left behind a large pile of trash. Police advised him to stop and that he wasn't free to leave, but he walked into the middle of the intersection and began resisting.

Officers were soon able to detain the suspect, Jeromie Wharregard, around 4:15 a.m. He was taken into custody for his Littering and Second Degree Disorderly Conduct charges, and lodged in the Adult Jail Facility.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department arrested a woman contacted after hours in Baker Park.

Thursday at 10:45 p.m., police located the suspect in the 760 E Park Street location, as well as two others who were eventually cited for being in the park after hours, per the police report.

Riddle was arrested by law enforcement and issued a 180 Day Exclusion Order from the park. She was transported to and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for a charge of Second Degree Criminal Trespass. According to jail logs, Riddle was later released on her own recognizance.

 

A man mooning and flipping people off was arrested by Grants Pass Police Thursday night.

Dispatch was notified that a man in a green shirt was screaming outside Plaza Liquor at 1638 Williams Highway. Other calls to 911 regarding the same suspect reported he was flipping people off, exposing himself, and yelling at patrons and customers of various nearby businesses.

The manager of the nearby Safeway wanted the suspect trespassed. It had also been requested he be trespassed from the liquor store. An arriving officer located the suspect, identifying him as Sean McDowell. He was warned for Second Degree Disorderly Conduct, but upon release, he began yelling at others again, threatening to fight them.

McDowell was then taken into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail. While en route, he began spitting and kicking the partition in the patrol vehicle. He was subsequently lodged for Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree, Public Indecency, and Third Degree Criminal Mischief.