KAJO 99.7FM - Local News

OSP & Agencies Responded to Multiple Casualty Incident on Redwood Highway

Multiple agencies responded to a multiple-casualty incident that occurred over the weekend on Redwood Highway near Selma. The Oregon State Police, Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response and Oregon Department of Transportation were dispatched to a three-vehicle crash in the 17,900-block of US Highway 199 on Saturday around 3:45 p.m.. State troopers said a preliminary investigation indicated a northbound truck pulling a trailer crossed the center line of the highway and nearly collided head-on with a southbound vehicle. The truck driver was not identified in the report and may have fled the scene. Three other southbound vehicles -- a Jeep Wrangler driven by 28-year-old Mario Hernandez-Diaz of Central Point, a Volvo sedan driven by Tana Leah Rich of Wolf Creek and a vehicle driven by 64-year-old John Walter Griffith of Millcreek, Utah -- all tried to avoid the collision, but were unable to stop in time and rear-ended each other. IVFD officials said a total of 12 individuals were assessed by medical personnel and three individuals were transported by ambulances to local hospitals including Three Rivers Medical Center. With assistance from ODOT, emergency first responders worked to expedite the reopening of the highway after it was completely shut down by the incident. At least two of the vehicles were removed by Jerry's Towing of Cave Junction.

Posted on 7/7/25 11:02AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Entering Home & Harassing Legally-Protected Woman

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for violating a court order early yesterday after he unlawfully entered a downtown area home and physically harassed a woman who is legally protected from him. The Police Department reports 36-year-old Ryan Anthony Caropreso was arrested for the incident in the 600-block of SE 8th Street on Sunday around 1 a.m.. Police said Caropreso violated an active restraining order when he unlawfully and without permission entered the residence of the protected woman. They said he refused to listen to the woman and leave the premises. When the woman tried to walk away from him, the suspect grabbed her and pulled her toward him. Caropreso left the home and walked toward his residence on SW Greenwood Drive where he was detained. He refused to answer any questions or provide a statement, so he was placed into custody. Ryan Caropreso was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-Degree Burglary, Physical Harassment and Contempt of Court-Restraining Order Violation. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 7/7/25 10:59AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for 22 Court Violations after He Contacted Woman

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for violating a court order at least 22 times in one day over the weekend. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to a domestic disturbance near River Valley Church on NE 6th Street on Saturday at 7:17 p.m.. Police said a woman who is homeless and living in her car called 9-1-1 to report that 38-year-old Keagan David Robison had attempted to call her several times on Saturday. The woman said she has active restraining and stalking orders protecting her from the suspect. Officers obtained photos of the victim's recent call log, showing Robison had been calling her from his personal phone. They tracked down the suspect and placed him into custody before contacting his corrections officer. Robison was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 11 counts each of Restraining Order Violation and Stalking Order Violation. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 7/7/25 10:58AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Pair for Drug Possession after Walmart Shoplifting Call

Grants Pass Police arrested two people for drug possession during a weekend shoplifting caper at Walmart. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the theft complaint at the store on NE Terry Lane on Saturday at about 2:50 p.m.. Police said 30-year-old Apolonio Fidel Mendez and 38-year-old Rachel May Lowden were inside Walmart when Mendez intentionally deprived the store of $15.56 by concealing razor blades and passing all points of sale. He also used a barcode of a lower-priced item to scan higher-priced items. Mendez and Lowden were detained by loss prevention just outside Walmart. He wouldn't listen to lawful commands, so officers forced him to the ground in a controlled manner. During a consent search, he was found with a glass pipe with residue that field tested positive as methamphetamine. In a consent search of Lowden's purse, more than 20 grams of meth was located and seized for destruction. Mendez was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Meth Possession and Petty Theft. Lowden was cited to appear in court for Meth Possession and released.

Posted on 7/7/25 10:56AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Shoplifter for Stealing Hundreds' Worth of Walmart Items

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing nearly $350 worth of merchandise from Walmart. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the shoplifting call at the store on NE Terry Lane on Saturday at 11:10 a.m.. Police said 23-year-old Jaxon David Schatza deprived Walmart of $348.70 worth of items including an Exacto knife, American flags, ice chests and posters while wearing a stolen shirt. Schatza was contacted by officers at Taco Bell near the Grants Pass Parkway and placed into custody after admitting to the heist. He was lodged at the nearby jail facility for 2nd-Degree Theft and was being held without bail.

Posted on 7/7/25 10:54AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Incarcerated Frequent Drug User for Narcotics Possession at City Park

Grants Pass Police arrested a man they described as "a frequent and unapologetic" drug user for narcotics possession at a city park on Independence Day. The Police Department reports officers were performing a patrol check at Baker Park on Friday afternoon when they contacted 50-year-old Jesse John Beier. Police said they observed Beier in his tent and found him to be in possession of a pipe with residue that field tested positive as methamphetamine. The pipe was seized and logged into evidence. Beier was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Meth Possession and he was trespassed from the park for 30 days. His belongings were left in the care of his brother who also resides at the park.

Posted on 7/7/25 6:15AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Violating His Probation after Arresting Him on Warrant

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for violating his probation after arresting him on an outstanding warrant in the north part of the city late last week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 34-year-old Zane Raynier Hatcher near the corner of NE 7th Street and Midland Avenue on Friday at 1:55 p.m.. Police said they observed Hatcher walking along 7th Street and they knew that he was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Possession of Methamphetamine. He was placed into custody and his corrections officer was contacted. Hatcher was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus the resulting Felony Probation Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 7/7/25 6:13AM by Sam Marsh

Independence Day Crash Investigation Led to Motorist Being Charged with DUII

A Josephine County Sheriff's Office investigation into an Independence Day crash near Cave Junction led to the arrest of a motorist for impaired driving. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies, the Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to the single-vehicle wreck in the 9300-block of Takilma Road on Friday at 7:48 p.m.. Deputies said two people were impaired after attending a party when one of them agreed to drive the other to another location. The driver -- identified by deputies as 23-year-old Erin Moore -- lost control of the vehicle and crashed. According to the report, Moore was transported by AMR ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment of unspecified injuries while the unidentified passenger was not hurt. The passenger did not wish to press charges and was given a ride home. Following the investigation, Moore was cited at the hospital for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving.

Posted on 7/7/25 6:12AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Assisted OSP with Arrest of Motorist for DUII on Redwood Highway

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving at the beginning of Independence Day following a traffic stop on Redwood Highway near Wonder. According to the Sheriff's Office, the Oregon State Police pulled over a vehicle driven by 35-year-old Ryan Keil on US Highway 199 near Newt Gulch Road on Friday shortly after midnight. Deputies said troopers reported they pulled over Keil for traffic violations and he displayed signs of impairment. They called in the Sheriff's Office to administer field sobriety tests and the suspect performed poorly. Keil was transported to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that exceeded the legal driving limit. He was cited to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and his vehicle was impounded.

Posted on 7/7/25 6:10AM by Sam Marsh

Truck Driver Reports Mechanical Issues Led to Small Fire off Greens Creek Road

The driver of a pickup called the Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center to report mechanical issues that led to a weekend fire on a BLM Road east of the city. Rural Metro Fire Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry responded to the incident on a BLM Road off the end of Greens Creek Road on Saturday at about 4:20 p.m.. Rural Metro officials said crews were able to access the location and extinguish the vehicle as well as an estimated one-quarter-acre spread to nearby vegetation. Both ground and air units were engaged in an aggressive attack to stop the blaze from escaping into the surrounding wildland. ODF officials said current "high" fire danger in southwest Oregon requires those traveling through forestland to carry firefighting equipment including one shovel and either one gallon of water or one 2.5-pound or larger fire extinguisher.

Posted on 7/7/25 6:08AM by Sam Marsh

GP 911 Communications Center Fielded Over 1,200 Emergency Calls Last Week

The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded more than 1,200 emergency calls in the week leading up to Independence Day. From June 26th through July 2nd, the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center reported a total of 1,224 emergency calls that were directed to local first responders. The Grants Pass Police Department received by far the most emergency calls with 797, followed by American Medical Response with 310 and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue with 89. Rural Metro Fire Department received 43 calls, the Illinois Valley Fire District received 27, the Oregon Department of Forestry received 22, Williams Fire & Rescue received seven and the Wolf Creek Fire Department got three. In addition to the emergency calls received last week, dispatchers received a total of 399 internal phone calls and they made 569 outbound calls. Calls related to Independence Day fireworks complaints will be included in the report that is released later this week.

Posted on 7/7/25 6:07AM by Sam Marsh

State DFR Agency Encourages Oregonians to Prepare for Active 2025 Wildfire Season

With hotter and drier conditions arriving early this year, the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) is urging residents to prepare for an active 2025 fire season. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, fire activity has increased gradually since May, droughts have intensified in the Pacific Northwest and several significant fires have broken out recently. In the 2020s alone, Oregon wildfires have caused nearly $3 billion in estimated losses, which is more than the previous four decades combined. The National Interagency Fire Center anticipates that in July, August and September, most of Oregon will be above normal in its fire activity. DFR has created a disaster toolkit on its website, which includes how to financially prepare for wildfire season, wildfire preparedness for your home and evacuation tips. To save time, money and stress, visit "dfr.oregon.gov/preparenow." DFR also has a webpage dedicated to wildfire insurance resources. One area that often gets overlooked is how to make your home as fireproof as possible by creating defensible space by removing dry leaves, dead brush, debris and pine needles from yards and gutters. Trim trees away from your home, barns and sheds, and place screens over open vents on homes. These tasks reduce the fuels that enable wildfires to spread and give firefighters more time to slow the blaze.

Posted on 7/7/25 6:00AM by Sam Marsh