Local News

The Illinois Valley Fire District, AMR, and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to both single, and two-vehicle incidents Saturday.

The first accident occurred at the intersection of South Redwood Highway and Caves Highway in Cave Junction around 11:35 a.m. Crews responded to the two-vehicle collision.

One individual sustained minor injuries and was subsequently transported for medical attention. Crews then responded to a single-vehicle accident in the 4800 block of Dick George Drive in Cave Junction at 1:26 p.m.

The vehicle had impacted a tree, and the occupant was in critical condition, requiring medical transport by Mercy Flights. The Sheriff's Office is conducting both investigations.

 

A man wanted on a warrant for 26 sex crimes was apprehended by Grants Pass Police Thursday. Officers assisted the Oregon Department of Justice in executing a search warrant at a home in the 200 block of SW J Street. The residence was cleared, and Jory Garibay was detained at 11:17 a.m. He was wanted on a Douglas County Sheriff's Office warrant for four counts of Using a Child in Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct, 18 counts of First Degree Encouraging Child Sex Abuse, and four counts of Luring a Minor. Garibay was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

Officers arrested and lodged a man in jail after he was found rummaging through a delivery driver's pallet early this morning.

Grants Pass Police were dispatched to the Subway at 262 NE Agness Avenue. The driver called 911 during a delivery to the restaurant at 4:33 a.m., saying the suspect, later identified as Nicholas Knowles, seemed to be under the influence and was going through a delivery pallet.

He was described as wearing a pink shirt, socks, possibly a skirt, but no shoes. Dispatch was told the caller would remain inside the restaurant until officers arrived.

Police contacted Knowles, warning him for his behavior. His Parole Officer requested a detainer, and law enforcement took Knowles into custody. He was subsequently transported to and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for the detainer.

 

All three Commissioners are scheduled to meet for two Open and Executive Sessions Monday, as well as a County Administration Workshop Tuesday afternoon in the BCC Conference Room.

The board's 10 a.m. Monday meeting will be held regarding the Robert Brandes vs. Josephine County, Andreas Blech case. A second session will be held at 3 p.m. to consider the dismissal or discipline of, or to hear complaints or charges brought against the Airports Manager. The meetings will adjourn following the Executive Sessions.

Tuesday's 1:30 p.m. workshop will begin with Department Business. The Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management will present a resolution in the matter of the Declaration of a Drought Emergency in Josephine County, and an amendment to the Securus Technologies Master Services Agreement.

Personnel Requisitions and Actions from Human Resources will be considered, as well as Appointments to the Compensation Committee, and Interim Emergency Management Director Compensation.

The Recreation department will bring a recommendation of Appointment to the Fair Board, and Public Works has a board order on the agenda in the matter of Proceedings to legalize a portion of Caves Camp Road.

The board will hear an IV Business Hub Economic Development Grant Agreement and Central Square Invoice from Finance, and Public Health will present the Oregon Health Authority 2025 Triennial Review.

Both meetings will be streamed at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream.

 

The City of Ashland Public Arts Advisory Committee is inviting artists to submit proposals for the 2026 Traffic Signal Box Painting Project as part of the Neighborhood Public Artworks initiative.

According to a release, this year’s project includes three traffic signal boxes located near Ashland Fire Station 1 and the Ashland Public Library. Artists are encouraged to create designs inspired by themes of service, safety, storytelling, learning, and community connection.

Selected artists will receive a $500 stipend and a $200 materials budget. Artists of all backgrounds and experience levels are encouraged to apply by the submission deadline at 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 12th.

Learn more at www.ashlandoregon.gov

 

A man's van was reportedly parked outside of the Applebee's IHOP restaurant for six hours, leading to the suspect being trespassed, cited, and arrested by Grants Pass Police officers.

Dispatch was alerted to the van's presence around 12:08 a.m. The caller reported the van was in the parking lot all day, and that people were coming and going from it. The van was described as older, and either silver or tan in color, and the caller thought the suspects near the van were selling drugs.

Officers were dispatched to the scene, where they contacted the two suspects. Both were trespassed from the 250 NE Agness Avenue restaurant, but one of them, Dakota Ree, was found to have two warrants out for his arrest.

He was wanted on two Methamphetamine Possession charges out of the Police Department, so officers took him into custody. He consented to a search of his person, and was found to have a meth pipe in his pocket.

The pipe tested positive for the presumptive presence of methamphetamine. He was issued a citation for Meth Possession, and lodged in jail on his two warrants.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man after three Parole Officers detained him for resisting arrest.

Officers arrived at the Josephine County Community Corrections building at 510 NW 4th Street, where they contacted the three officers around 10:01 a.m. One of them said he was attempting to take the suspect, Shallone Sheets, into custody for a Parole Violation detainer, when he resisted.

He was being escorted to his vehicle when he began to lock up and pull away from the officer, leading to Sheets being brought to the ground in order to control his movements.

His Parole Officer advised police that Sheets' detainer would be faxed to the Josephine County Jail, and that a charge of Resisting Arrest would be pursued. The police report said Sheets was transported to the Adult Jail Facility where he was lodged on his charge and detainer.

 

Officers with Grants Pass Police arrested a man wanted on two out of county warrants Thursday morning.

Law enforcement contacted the suspect, Tyrone Cashatt, at the corner of NE B Street and NE 6th Street around 10:51 a.m. He was heading westbound on B and wasn't stopping. As he was approaching 6th, officers detained him.

Cashatt was known to be wanted on two warrants out of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and the Medford Police Department. He was wanted for Eluding Police and Possession of Methamphetamine, so officers took him into custody.

He was transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged on his warrants.

 

The Oregon Department of Transportation is warning the public of ongoing Oregon DMV scams. According to ODOT, this nationwide scam, which began as a toll phishing scam, has been targeting drivers in several states for nearly two years. Oregon DMV will never send you notices, warnings or payment requests by text or email. These fake messages often come from international phone numbers or non-government email addresses. They can cite fake administrative codes, and threaten to suspend vehicle registration or driving privileges. Scammers will demand payment by a certain date, and provide a link to URLs that may contain the agency name but with added letters or dashes. Past scam messages often included obvious spelling and grammar mistakes. While those are still a red flag, many of today’s criminals are using artificial intelligence to generate realistic, professional-sounding messages.