KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

GP Police Arrested Man for Trying to Steal Scooter & Groceries from Safeway

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for attempting to steal an electric scooter and groceries from a south-city supermarket over the weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a theft complaint at the Safeway in the Williams Highway Plaza on Saturday around 5 p.m.. Police said a Safeway worker called 9-1-1 to report a male subject drove an electric scooter loaded with more than $300 worth of groceries past all points of sale without making any attempt to pay. The scooter was valued at $3,000. Employees stopped 52-year-old Troy William Enloe several hundred feet away from the exit to the store. He reportedly told them he was taking the scooter and groceries to the J Street Camp to "feed the children" because God told him he could. Arriving officers placed Enloe into custody after he admitted to the heist. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Attempted 1st-Degree Theft as well as 2nd-Degree Theft and was being held without bail.

Posted on 12/16/24 10:59AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Arrested GP Motorist for DUII after Interstate 5 Crash North of Wolf Creek

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass man for drugged driving after he crashed his car on Interstate 5 in northern Josephine County yesterday. OSP reports troopers responded to the single-vehicle wreck in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 80 on Sunday at 11:52 a.m.. Troopers said the gold Toyota Camry had been called in as a driving complaint just prior to the crash. Upon contact with the 56-year-old male driver, they said he showed signs of impairment and then performed poorly in field sobriety tests. The suspect was placed into custody on charges of Driving Under the Influence of Controlled Substances and Reckless Driving before he was transported to the Grants Pass Sobering Center. He provided a urine sample and was issued several criminal citations. His car was impounded and towed to Grants Pass.

Posted on 12/16/24 10:57AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Nabbed Two More Motorists for DUII after Weekend Stops in Grants Pass

The Oregon State Police arrested at least two other motorists for impaired driving over the weekend in the Grants Pass area. According to OSP, the first incident occurred on Friday at 9:32 p.m. when troopers pulled over a Toyota Tundra driven by a 66-year-old Williams man near the corner of Cloverlawn Drive and Haviland Drive in southeast Grants Pass. Troopers said they stopped the Toyota for a traffic violation and the driver showed signs of impairment. They said the driver was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving before he was transported to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a urine sample for suspected marijuana impairment. He was cited to appear in court and his truck was towed. The second incident happened on Saturday at 5:22 p.m. when troopers pulled over a Ford F-250 pickup driven by a 42-year-old Grants Pass man near the corner of Redwood Highway and Tussey Lane. Troopers said they stopped the Ford for a traffic violation and discovered the driver had a suspended license. They said he also displayed signs of impairment, so a search warrant was obtained and he was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw. The suspect was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail for DUII and Driving While Suspended. His pickup was impounded.

Posted on 12/16/24 10:56AM by Sam Marsh

Young GP Driver Hurt after Crashing Car on Interstate 5 at Smith Hill Summit

A young Grants Pass woman was injured when she crashed her vehicle on Interstate 5 near the Smith Hill Summit over the weekend. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the single-vehicle wreck in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 74 at 7:22 p.m. Saturday. Troopers said an investigation indicated that a 19-year-old woman was driving a Nissan Sentra that left the freeway and struck a slide-slope rock embankment. The driver stated that she did not know how fast she was going, but that it was likely too fast for the road and weather conditions. The young driver was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center for an evaluation after she complained of pain. Her car was towed to Grants Pass. Following the investigation, the driver was either cited or warned for Violating the Basic Rule.

Posted on 12/16/24 10:55AM by Sam Marsh

Motorcyclist Killed in Friday AM Crash with Semi on Interstate 5 in Central Point

A motorcyclist was killed late last week when they crashed their bike while riding recklessly during a rainstorm on Interstate 5 in the Central Point area. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office reports the fatal crash occurred on I-5 near milepost 34 on Friday morning. Approximately two minutes before the crash, a sheriff's deputy clocked the motorcycle traveling north on I-5 in excess of 100 miles per hour. There were also multiple witnesses who reported the motorcyclist riding recklessly. The deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop by activating his lights and siren, but the motorcyclist continued at a high rate of speed before crashing into a semi-truck at 10:53 a.m.. Jackson County Fire District #3 and Mercy Flights responded and pronounced the rider deceased at the scene. Investigators said the identity of the decedent would be released after next of kin was notified. All further information will come from the Oregon State Police.

Posted on 12/16/24 6:14AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed Man for Allegedly Assaulting Person at RR Highway Residence

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for allegedly assaulting another person at or near a Rogue River Highway residence over the weekend. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to an active assault in the 200-block of Highway 99 on Saturday around 2:30 p.m.. Deputies contacted a suspect whom they identified as 30-year-old Dustin Michael Fontana at that location and placed him into custody. The suspect reportedly tried to fight with deputies as they placed him into the patrol vehicle. No other information about the incident was disclosed and deputies were unable to locate the victim. Fontana was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Assault and Menacing. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 12/16/24 6:13AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Woman on Local Felony Warrant in Weekend Patrol Check

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman on a local felony warrant during a weekend patrol check at a shuttered restaurant on the east side of the city. The Police Department reports officers spotted a blue minivan parked at the former Shari's Cafe & Pies on NE Agness Avenue on Saturday at 9:37 a.m.. Police said the minivan had a female subject inside who refused to identify herself when she was informed that she was trespassing on private property. The van was determined to be associated with 32-year-old Kaitlyn Elaine Cook who was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. According to the report, Cook barricaded herself inside the vehicle by locking all the doors. Officers were forced to smash the driver-side window in order to remove her from the vehicle and place her into custody. She was not hurt. Cook was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and she was being held without bail. Her minivan was towed and she was trespassed from the former restaurant as well as the Three Rivers Medical Center Family House.

Posted on 12/16/24 6:11AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Apprehended 2 Corrections Clients on Same Day Late Last Week

Grants Pass Police arrested two Josephine County Community Corrections clients on the same day late last week. According to the Police Department, officers first responded to the Corrections Office on NW 4th Street on Friday at 9:20 a.m.. Police said they were alerted that 33-year-old Clinten Anthony Robertson was there and that he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a previous kidnapping conviction. He was placed into custody without incident and lodged without bail at the Josephine County Jail. The second incident occurred at 1 p.m. Friday when officers arrested 29-year-old Jake Robert Thompson at the local corrections office. Police said Corrections officials notified them that Thompson was prematurely released from jail and that he needed to be returned to lockup. He was in custody for Felony Parole Violation related to an unspecified incident in 2017 and was returned to the jail facility where he was being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show Thompson was been arrested for violating his post-prison supervision 14 times since November 2023.

Posted on 12/16/24 6:10AM by Sam Marsh

Firefighters Extinguished Saturday Night Fires near Cave Junction & Selma

The Illinois Valley Fire District responded to two weekend incidents involving fires on the same night near Cave Junction and Selma. On Saturday at 9:07 p.m., IVFD crews were dispatched to a small vehicle fire at the Rough and Ready Creek Wayside along Redwood Highway. IVFD officials said passersby observed the fire and called 9-1-1. They said the abandoned vehicle was fully-involved in flames when crews arrived on scene. They successfully extinguished the fire and found no one near the burnt vehicle. The Oregon State Police was notified and a formal investigation is underway. On Saturday at 10:56 p.m., IVFD and Rural Metro Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire on Hogue Drive. Upon arrival, units discovered an uncontrolled and illegal eight-by-eight-foot trash fire on Norman Road. The fire was extinguished, the residents received a citation and all units returned to service.

Posted on 12/16/24 6:00AM by Sam Marsh

US Cellular Donating Equipment to GP Lady Rogues Fastpitch Softball Team

US Cellular is giving back to the local community this holiday season by donating needed items to the Grants Pass Lady Rogues Fastpitch Softball Program. With its "Gift of Connection" program, US Cellular is donating $1,500 worth of bat backpacks to help enhance their experience and confidence as they grow in their athletic journey. This "Gift of Connection" donation is one of 50 donations to nonprofit groups and organizations across the country. The company is helping organizations that bring people and communities together to enjoy genuine connections through arts, music, sports and food with needed supplies. Since 2009, US Cellular has invested more than $47 million in monetary donations, technology resources and countless experiences to nonprofit organizations across the country.

Posted on 12/16/24 5:57AM by Sam Marsh

Voter Turnout Low So Far for Recall Election Targeting Commissioner John West

Not many voters in Josephine County have weighed in so far on the recall election that seeks to remove Commissioner John West from office. As of Friday evening, the Josephine County Clerk's Office reported just over 25% of registered voters had returned their ballots before Tuesday night's deadline. Out of 70,462 registered voters, only 17,875 had turned in their ballots. West has filed a lawsuit against Josephine County Clerk Rhiannon Henkels, alleging that she and her staff improperly counted signatures on the recall petition. A court hearing has been set for Wednesday -- the day after the election. Per the Oregon Secretary of State's Office, it is recommended that voters drop their ballots off at the Courthouse in Grants Pass or an official drop-site location before tomorrow's 8 p.m. deadline. Drop boxes are located at the Clerk's Office, the north and south entrances to the Courthouse, the back parking lot of the Grants Pass library branch, Washington Federal Bank on Union Avenue, Ray's Food Place in Merlin, Hidden Valley Market in Murphy and Cave Junction City Hall. Voters can still mail in their ballots and they will be counted if they receive the December 17th postmark.

Posted on 12/16/24 5:55AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police & Firefighters Protecting Citizens and Structures during Holiday Season

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters continued their quest to protect citizens and structures during the holiday season. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 544 calls for service along with 224 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 47 arrests, 21 citations, 31 warnings and nine highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) made a total of 120 contacts with potential troublemakers while arresting two people, citing four more and warning 20 others. The CRT unit also trespassed five individuals, posted one transient camp and removed trash from 25 campsites. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 88 calls last week including 30 for emergency medical service, 17 lift assists, one rescue situation, four assists to other agencies and two false alarms. Firefighters also performed 30 business inspections, led six education/prevention programs and assisted the public at least four times.

Posted on 12/16/24 5:53AM by Sam Marsh

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