KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

GP Police Collared Man Wanted on Local Felony Warrant after Trespassing Call

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a local felony warrant last night following a trespassing complaint at a local fast food restaurant. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing call at the Taco Bell on NE Terry Lane on Wednesday around 10:15 p.m.. Police said they contacted a 41-year-old male subject who was yelling at customers while holding an open container of beer. They said he was highly intoxicated and had refused to leave the premises. A routine records check showed that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for Methamphetamine Possession, so he was placed into custody. While in the back of the patrol car, the man became extremely hostile, telling the officer that he was going to kill him, his family and that he should "die a horrible death." He then intentionally hit his head on the metal partition, causing a cut that required medical attention. He was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center where he received a bandage for his self-inflicted injury, but refused a CT scan. The doctor refused to medically clear him until he got the scan, which he finally did. The suspect was medically cleared and then transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was being held this morning on a no-bail detainer. His property was logged into evidence for safekeeping.

Posted on 8/1/24 11:28AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Felon for Parole Violation after Downtown DUII Traffic Stop

Grants Pass Police arrested a felon for violating his post-prison supervision by driving while impaired in the downtown area yesterday. The Police Department reports officers initiated a traffic stop on a white Ford pickup driven by a 62-year-old male subject near the corner of NE 7th Street and Voorhies Way on Wednesday at 3:34 p.m.. Police said they observed the subject whom they knew by sight driving his pickup near Riverside Park while making several moving violations. Officers followed him and eventually pulled him over in the lot behind Arco at 7th and M streets. According to the report, the man displayed several signs of impairment and refused to participate in field sobriety tests. A search warrant was obtained and he was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented his high level of impairment. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Driving While Suspended and Felony Parole Violation. His pickup was impounded and hauled away by Goodfellas Towing.

Posted on 8/1/24 11:27AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Roughing Up His Wife at NW 6th Street Residence

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for allegedly roughing up his wife at a residence in the north part of the city early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a domestic disturbance in the 1800-block of NW 6th Street on Wednesday around 8:30 a.m.. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her husband slapped her three times on the face, slammed the door on her and pushed her. The caller said their baby was in the house when it happened, but the infant was sleeping. The victim advised she was not seriously hurt and denied medical attention. Officers arrived on scene, interviewed both parties and then placed the 26-year-old husband and father into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Domestic Harassment and was being held without bail. According to the report, the incident was reported to the Oregon Department of Human Services.

Posted on 8/1/24 11:25AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Felon Who Refused to Leave Three Rivers Medical Center

Grants Pass Police arrested a felon who refused to leave the hospital this week. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing call at Three Rivers Medical Center on SW Ramsey Avenue late Tuesday night. Police said a 39-year-old man refused to leave the hospital after being asked to do so multiple times. While he was being placed into custody, the man tensed up his arms and attempted to use his weight to prevent being placed in handcuffs. He was eventually subdued. During a search of the suspect, a sling shot was located in his right front pocket. He is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing any weapons. The slingshot was seized as evidence. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon, Resisting Arrest, Criminal Trespass and the resulting Probation Violation related to past arrests for Methamphetamine Possession, Driving While Suspended and Furnishing False Information to Police.

Posted on 8/1/24 11:24AM by Sam Marsh

Motorcyclist Hurt in Wednesday Morning Crash on Highway 199 near Selma

A motorcyclist was injured yesterday in an early morning crash on Redwood Highway near Selma. On Wednesday at 5:55 a.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response and Oregon State Police were dispatched to a two-vehicle collision on US Highway 199 at Draper Valley Road. IVFD officials said arriving units discovered that a vehicle had run into the back of a motorcycle. They said the motorcycle rider was hurt and transported by AMR ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center. He was not identified in the report. OSP was investigating the cause of the crash.

Posted on 8/1/24 11:22AM by Sam Marsh

IVFD and ODF Crews Responded to Two Fires on Dick George Road near CJ

Firefighters from the Illinois Valley Fire District and Oregon Department of Forestry were sent to two fires on the same road near Cave Junction yesterday. On Wednesday at 5:37 a.m., IVFD and ODF crews responded to a reported grass fire in the 900-block of Dick George Road. IVFD officials said arriving units found several areas along the road that were on fire, with passersby and local residents attempting to put them out. They said crews quickly extinguished the flames and the cause of the fires was under investigation. On Wednesday at 2:26 p.m., IVFD and ODF responded to a small electrical fire in the 4,000-block of Dick George Road. Officials said arriving units found a 16-square-foot blaze that had already been extinguished by the property owner. They said an electrical cord had caught on fire and spread to nearby grass surrounding a recreational vehicle. Crews left the scene after the small blaze was determined to be completely out.

Posted on 8/1/24 11:21AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed Man Who Led Them on High-Speed IV Pursuit in Stolen Vehicle

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man who led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit through the Illinois Valley before crashing the stolen vehicle he was driving into a power pole, knocking out electrical service to local residents. The Sheriff's Office did not report the incident in its daily log, but jail records show a 39-year-old man identified as "Victor Ryan Taber" was booked Wednesday at 1:50 a.m.. Trusted sources report deputies spotted a stolen vehicle and started a pursuit, but the driver refused to yield while leading them on a high-speed chase that ended when the vehicle crashed into a power pole. There were no serious injuries reported, but a widespread power outage occurred due to the crash. The Grants Pass Police Department reports the suspect stole the keys to a woman's Audi Q3 while she was shopping at Walmart on Tuesday night. The Illinois Valley Fire District reports the crash occurred in the 900-block of Caves Highway. The suspect identified as "Taber" was placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged for crimes including Felony Attempt to Elude Police, Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief, Reckless Driving, Recklessly Endangering a Highway Worker, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 8/1/24 6:42AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed Two BLM Campers for Vandalizing Land and Statewide Warrant

Two men camping on Bureau of Land Management property in Josephine County were arrested this week for vandalizing the land and one of them was also arrested on a statewide felony warrant. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office reports deputies contacted several people -- including the two arrestees -- on the BLM property in an undisclosed area on Tuesday. Deputies said they initially detained three people at gunpoint while investigating the illegal casite. Two of the three were arrested -- a 43-year-old male subject and a 40-year-old male subject. Both were charged with Felony 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief and Offensive Littering after being placed into custody. A routine records check revealed that the 43-year-old man was also wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation related to a conviction for Delivery of Methamphetamine. He was also charged with Escape and Interfering with a Police Officer. Ammunition was found at the campsite, but a firearm was not located. Both suspects were transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. The older man was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 8/1/24 6:41AM by Sam Marsh

Police Arrested Man for Stealing Cell Phone from Juvenile at GP Family YMCA

Police arrested a man for stealing a cell phone from a teenage boy at the Grants Pass Family YMCA. Grants Pass police officers responded to the theft complaint at the YMCA facility on Redwood Avenue around midday Tuesday. Police said a 47-year-old male subject stole a $50 cell phone from a juvenile. They reviewed surveillance video, recognized the man and found him a short time later at Morrison Centennial Park. He had already given away the phone when he was contacted. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft. It was unclear if the stolen phone was recovered.

Posted on 8/1/24 6:39AM by Sam Marsh

Occupants Escaped from Sunny Valley House Fire that Claimed Several Dogs

A dog and several puppies were lost to a fire in the Sunny Valley area early yesterday. On Wednesday at 7:43 a.m., Rural Metro Fire Department, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue, Wolf Creek Rural Fire Protection District and the Oregon Department of Forestry responded to a structure fire in the 4400-block of Placer Road. Rural Metro officials said arriving units found a single-story home fully-involved with flames, but the occupants were able to escape without injury. However, the family's dog and several puppies did not survive. Due to the time of day, officials said spread into nearby vegetation was minimal and easily contained. The investigation was turned over to the Oregon State Fire Marshal. Assistance through the two-county mutual aid system brought in crews from the Illinois Valley Fire District, Applegate Valley Fire District and Jackson County Fire District #1 to help cover additional calls.

Posted on 8/1/24 6:31AM by Sam Marsh

Crews Extinguished Fast-Moving Grass Fire off Highway 234 near Agate Road

Firefighters extinguished a fast-moving grass fire in the Sams Valley area near Eagle Point yesterday. Jackson County Fire District #3 and the Oregon Department of Forestry were dispatched to an estimated five-acre grass fire on the south side of Highway 234 and Agate Road around midday Wednesday. As the fire burned within the solar panel farm property, crews were actively extinguishing the flames with ODF helicopters providing aerial support. There was no need for evacuations, but motorists were advised of increased fire traffic in the area. In a 1:05 p.m. update, ODF reported firefighters stopped the progress of the fire at seven acres. Resources remained engaged until the fire area was mopped up. According to ODF, the cause of the fire was under investigation.

Posted on 8/1/24 6:29AM by Sam Marsh

ODOT Alerting Customers to Phishing Scam from Hackers Claiming to be DMV

The Oregon Department of Transportation has become aware of a phishing scam in the state where hackers are contacting their customers and claiming to be from the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Oregon DMV will never ask you for personal information such as your driver's license number, Social Security number or date of birth through an unsolicited phone call, text or e-mail. Scammers impersonate the DMV to trick you into giving them personal information or money. If you receive an unsolicited phone call, text, or e-mail claiming to be from DMV with an urgent matter -- like you driver's license or vehicle registration is about to expire or you are owed money due to overpayment -- ignore or delete the message or hang up. Do not click on any verification links. If you receive a phishing calls, text or e-mail, notify the DMV Fraud Prevention Team at (503)-945-8946 or send an online report. The Oregon Department of Justice encourages people to report any potential frauds and scams to the Oregon Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-(877)-877-9392 or online at "oregonconsumer.gov."

Posted on 8/1/24 6:28AM by Sam Marsh

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