Firefighters Conducting Aggressive Initial Attack on I-5 Grass Fire Near GP
Emergency crews are conducting an aggressive initial attack on a grass fire burning along Interstate 5 near Grants Pass. A Level 3: GO NOW Evacuation Order is in effect for Zones GRA-022, GRA-034, and GRA-036. A Level 2: BE SET Evacuation Order for Zone JCU-422-B is in effect as well. According to the Oregon Department of Forestry, the fire is still estimated at approximately 60 acres. Both night resources for tonight and additional day shift resources for tomorrow to support continued suppression efforts have been ordered. Five air tankers have also been ordered to assist firefighters on the line. Initial reports indicate one residence has been lost. The Oregon Department of Transportation announced I-5 has one lane closed northbound in Grants Pass due to the fire. This is causing delays and traffic to back up. Use caution as smoke may also limit visibility. Please pay attention, slow down and move over for workers in the area. Roads and lanes near fires may open or close with little notice. According to Pacific Power, over 2,000 customers are without power in the area due to a Wildfire Emergency De-Energization. The estimated restoration time is 11 p.m. tonight. The official cause of the fire is under investigation.
...Read more
GP Police Continue Search for Wanted Man Following Disturbance, Car Chase
Grants Pass Police continue searching for a domestic disturbance suspect. Dispatch was notified around 7:22 a.m. of a domestic disturbance in the 1400 block of NE Meier Drive. Police discovered the suspect had fled out the back door. After the investigation, officers established probable cause to arrest Anthony Teal, 36, for Strangulation and Menacing. The search continued for Teal in the area. He was then reported stealing a car at the corner of NE D Street and Beacon Drive. Teal had pulled the male driver out of his car, who attempted to keep control. With the victim driver hanging on, Teal hurriedly accelerated onto NE D. He then struck another motorist who had stopped after seeing the car theft. Teal sped backwards, with the victim driver still being dragged from the car, but who was soon able to free himself. Teal then fled that scene, and American Medical Response aided the victim driver. A Josephine County Sheriff’s deputy located Teal near the railroad bridge on the Grants Pass Parkway. A traffic stop was attempted, but Teal eluded. The pursuit was terminated, and law enforcement lost sight of Teal because it was too dangerous to follow him closely. ...Read more
Medford Man Indicted, Lodged on 12 Child Sex Abuse Charges
A report of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) on a mobile device led to the arrest of a 29-year-old Medford man. A Jackson County Grand Jury returned an indictment Tuesday on all charges. The Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team and Medford Police Department had arrested the suspect Thursday, July 23rd at a residence in the 800 block of Bennett Avenue. The suspect, Jonathan Daniel Marquez, 29, of Medford, is charged with two counts of First Degree Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse, and 10 counts of Second Degree Encouraging Child Sexual Abuse. He is lodged in the Jackson County Jail. SOCET began their investigation after MPD received a report of CSAM on a mobile device which led to subpoenas, followed by a search warrant at the residence. The Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force assisted in the investigation.
...Read more
