Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a young man for seriously injuring his father with a knife during an altercation in Wolf Creek early yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested an 18-year-old man for the incident in the 1600-block of Old Highway 99 on Thursday at 10:58 a.m.. Deputies said they received a 9:35 a.m. call from a woman who reported her son was out of control and her husband had been cut. The caller said her husband and son got into a fight over the son being late for a community work crew. She said her son is on probation with Josephine County Community Corrections. According to the report, the husband was upset over his son's continued drug use and showing up under the influence for his community service. The mother told dispatchers her son has been using cocaine and methamphetamine. During the fight, the teenager grabbed a knife, threatened both his parents with it, and sliced his father in the shoulder and down his arm before locking himself in a trailer. The father was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center where he received stitches for multiple slice wounds. Deputies assisted the wounded man until medics arrived on scene and then placed the suspect into custody. He was transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was booked on charges of Felony 2nd-Degree Assault, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Probation Violation related to a past arrest for Riot. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for trying to steal gloves from the Grange Co-op and then attacking an employee who attempted to stop him yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to a disturbance at the store on West Schutzwohl Lane near Redwood Highway on Thursday at about 4 p.m.. Police said an investigation determined the 48-year-old male suspect passed all points of sale with a pair of gloves valued at $35. While being confronted by loss prevention in the store parking lot, the man tossed the gloves away and then struck an employee several times while trying to cause physical injury to the worker. Grange Co-op employees managed to get the suspect to the ground and detained him until officers arrived on scene. The man's girlfriend reportedly started taking photos of the incident and yelling at security, inciting other customers to join in. Officers arrived on scene and placed the suspect into custody. He was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center with a minor injury and then lodged at the Josephine County Jail without bail on charges of Felony 3rd-Degree Robbery, Attempted 4th-Degree Assault and 3rd-Degree Theft. Both he and his girlfriend were trespassed.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended an out-of-state fugitive in the Redwood area of Grants Pass early yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies arrested a 29-year-old man in the 1700-block of Redwood Avenue on Thursday at 8:08 a.m..' Deputies said they received a call that a male subject in a 2003 Dodge Caravan was armed with a gun. The caller also stated that the man was wanted on a warrant out of Arizona. Upon contact with the suspect, deputies learned that he was wanted on a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office felony warrant for Probation Violation related to an arrest for Promoting the Introduction of Contraband into a Prison. He was immediately placed into custody while a male passenger was detained and then released. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and he was being held without bail pending extradition proceedings to send him to Arizona.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a Josephine County Drug Court client for pulling a fire alarm at a north-city motel and causing the occupants to evacuate yesterday. The Police Department reports officers and firefighters responded to the incident at Motel 6 on NW 7th Street around 12:15 p.m. Thursday. Police said the 32-year-old man was under the influence of drugs when he pulled the fire alarm, which forced a complete evacuation of the motel as well as public annoyance for surrounding businesses. Firefighters confirmed there was no fire and the man admitted to pulling the alarm. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for charges including 2nd-Degree Burglary, 3rd-Degree Theft and Disorderly Conduct plus Parole Violation stemming from convictions for several other crimes. Jail records show the man is a Drug Court client who was on a release through the program. Records also show additional charges were filed against him including Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and 2nd-Degree Theft. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Oregon State Police cited two motorists who were involved in a crash on Rogue River Highway that sent two people to the hospital with minor injuries. OSP reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the two-vehicle collision in the 4600-block of Highway 99 on Thursday at 9:43 p.m.. Troopers said a 47-year-old Salinas, California, woman was driving a Tesla when she attempted to conduct a U-turn in the middle of the highway directly in the path of a Ford Focus driven by a 41-year-old Grants Pass woman. They said the Ford collided with the driver-side of the Tesla, causing significant damage to both cars. The occupants of the Ford -- including the driver and a 14-year-old male passenger -- were transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center. No one else was hurt. Both vehicles were towed to Grants Pass. Following an investigation, the Tesla driver was cited for Illegal U-Turn and the Ford driver was cited for No Insurance.

 

The Oregon State Police cited a Grants Pass motorist for causing a crash on Rogue River Highway just east of the city. According to OSP, troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision near milepost 2.5 of Highway 99 on Thursday shortly after 2 p.m.. Troopers said a 17-year-old girl was driving a Volkswagen Jetta that was waiting to turn left onto another road when a Mazda MZ5 driven by a 44-year-old woman rear-ended the Jetta. They said the driver of the Jetta was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for suspected minor injuries. No one else was hurt. Both the Volkswagen and the Mazda were damaged and towed into Grants Pass. After an investigation, the Mazda driver was cited for multiple traffic violations.

 

A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a Medford man with illegally possessing and selling explosives and drugs. The US Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon announced that 56-year-old Wesley Allen Armstrong, Jr., was charged yesterday with Distributing Explosives by a Non-Licensee, Possessing with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. According to court documents, detectives from the Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement team (MADGE) notified special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in March of Armstrong's alleged possession and desire to sell explosives. On March 27th, Armstrong was arrested after selling eight cast explosives, seven non-electric shock tube detonators and a small quantity of fentanyl. Investigators executed a search warrant on Armstrong's vehicle, locating and seizing a loaded pistol and an additional quantity of fentanyl. On March 28th, Armstrong was charged by federal criminal complaint with dealing explosives without a license, possessing stolen explosives, possessing explosives as a convicted felon, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl. Armstrong made his first appearance in federal court in Medford on Thursday. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings and will be arraigned at a later date.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested two people for old and new drug crimes during patrol checks on the same night on separate sides of the city. According to the Police Department, the first incident occurred on Wednesday at 10:14 p.m. when officers arrested a 34-year-old woman who was sitting in a vehicle in the 1600-block of SE N Street. Police said they contacted the woman and discovered that she was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from convictions for Manufacture and Possession of a Schedule 2 Controlled Substance as well as Possession of Methamphetamine. She was lodged in jail on a no-bail detainer. The second incident happened on Wednesday at 10:26 p.m. when officers arrested a 46-year-old man who was sitting in a vehicle in the 100-block of NW Booth Street. Police said they observed the man with drug paraphernalia on his lap and in plain view. The man admitted it was fentanyl and it weighed approximately 3.7 grams. He was also identified as the suspect in a theft investigation, so he was placed into custody and lodged in jail for Possession of Fentanyl and 3rd-Degree Theft. He was also being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a "frequent flyer" this week for violating her post-prison supervision by scuffling with officers who arrested her for trespassing. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at the north Safeway supermarket on SE 7th Street around midday Wednesday. Police said the 33-year-old woman returned to Safeway after previously being trespassed from the store. Callers reported she appeared to be under the influence while pushing an empty baby stroller and intentionally stopping traffic in the parking lot. Officers contacted the woman at the corner of 6th and G streets, advising her she was under arrest. She physically resisted officers placing her into custody and continued to be hostile toward law enforcement while banging her head in the patrol vehicle. She was not seriously hurt. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Resisting Arrest, Criminal Trespass and the resulting Parole Violation stemming from previous convictions for Resisting Arrest, Disorderly Conduct and Offensive Littering. She was being held on a no-bail detainer. Her property was logged into evidence for safekeeping.