JoCo Sheriff's Deputies Arrested Three Men for Armed Robbery

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office was alerted to a victim robbed at gunpoint Saturday afternoon. The victim told dispatch about the incident at 1:15 p.m., saying he had been hit in the head with a gun and robbed at the 5030 Monument Drive Lil Pantry. The suspects left the scene in a white Infiniti G37, which deputies were soon able to track down heading southbound on Interstate 5. Deputies, Oregon State Police, and a K9 Unit conducted the high risk vehicle stop at the Exit 48 on ramp. Three suspects, Manuel Martinez, Kevin Rhodes, and Ordee Martin, were contacted and detained without incident. All three were charged with First Degree Conspiracy to Commit a Robbery. Martinez and Martin were charged with First Degree Robbery and First Degree Theft, and Martinez was also found to be wanted on a Merced Police Department warrant for two counts of Felony Robbery. Martinez, Rhodes, and Martin were all transported and lodged in the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility. ...Read more

GP Police Responded to ARCO Vehicle Crash, Driver Cited

Two vehicles got into a crash Sunday night, with one of them flipping upside down and crashing into an ARCO gas station. Dispatch received multiple calls reporting the incident. One caller who wasn't involved reported the crash around 7:03 p.m., saying a vehicle had crashed into the 785 SE 7th Street station. Grants Pass Police responded to the scene. According to the police report, the driver of a Honda was traveling at a high rate of speed southbound on SE 7th Street. As it approached the SE M Street intersection, the driver lost control of his vehicle. He continued to accelerate as he entered the eastbound turn lane on to SE M Street. He attempted to avoid a black Toyota pick-up, but struck the bed, causing his Honda to go airborne, rollover, then crash into the ARCO. Both vehicles and the building sustained significant damage. The driver of the Honda was issued a criminal citation for Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering, and Third Degree Assault. He and his injured female passenger were both transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital. The vehicles were towed from the scene. ...Read more

Temporary Board Chooses 5 Applicants to Interview for Commissioner Vacancies

The Temporary Board of Other Elective Administrative Officers will decide between 5 applicants for the vacant Commissioner seats. During their special meeting, the board chose five applicants out of 37 potentials. In a release from Human Resources, the applicants are Colene Martin, Lorna Jessee, Gary Richardson, Kirk Brust, and Simon Hare. Interviews for the five will be held Wednesday the 18th starting at 9 a.m., with each interview lasting one hour. The board will send potential questions to the Human Resources department by 9 a.m. this Friday. A meeting will then be held Tuesday the 17th at 9 a.m. to finalize the questions and determine the order of interviews. Before noon that same day, the five applicants will be emailed the questions. The public will be welcome to attend the interviews which will conclude at 3 p.m. on the 18th. Overflow seating will be available in a separate room with a television broadcasting the interviews. The public can also stream the interviews at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream. Human Resources will conduct background checks. The temporary board will then convene on the 19th at 9 a.m. for a final discussion on the interviewees. The board chair will follow up with the chosen applicants. ...Read more