Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for attempting to steal a boat from an out-of-town property owner near Grants Pass. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies were alerted to the incident in the 4900-block of Lower River Road on Saturday around 2:15 p.m.. Deputies said a neighbor who was watching the property for the absentee owner told dispatchers that a male subject with a white Ford Bronco was trying to steal a Seaswirl Trophy Sport Fishing Boat and trailer. Upon arrival, deputies contacted 54-year-old Charles H. Chambers who told them he had purchased the boat for $1,500 and said he had multiple text messages about the transaction. However, a review of the texts revealed nothing about the boat. The neighbor confirmed the owner was not selling the boat and that nobody was allowed to be on the property. Chambers was placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was booked for Attempted Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a Josephine County Community Corrections client for violating terms of his probation by being nude in public -- again. According to the Police Department, officers responded to perform a welfare check on a male subject behind the The Glass Forge on SW G Street Saturday morning. Police said a passerby called 9-1-1 to request the welfare check after seeing a male subject sitting on the back loading dock while completely naked. Officers arrived on scene and contacted 29-year-old Jake Robert Thompson who appeared to be disassociated with his surroundings and admitted to using alcohol and fentanyl the night before. He was placed into custody and lodged in jail for Felony Probation Violation related to a previous arrest for Public Indecency. Jail records show Thompson has been arrested for Parole and Probation Violations a total of 17 times since February of 2024.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving in south Grants Pass. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies pulled over a vehicle driven by a 32-year-old male subject at the car wash near the intersection of Williams Highway and New Hope Road on Saturday shortly after 6 p.m.. Deputies said they stopped the vehicle for a traffic violation and the driver showed signs of impairment. They said he performed poorly in field sobriety tests, so he was placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangering because he had his 6-year-old son as a passenger. The boy was picked up by his mother.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving after he caused a weekend crash on Redwood Highway in Cave Junction. OSP reports troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle wreck on US Highway 199 at Hanby Lane on Friday at 9:30 p.m.. Troopers said the 24-year-old driver of a Saturn Ion failed to obey a traffic control device and went into oncoming traffic, resulting in a T-bone collision with a Chevrolet Cruze driven by a 55-year-old Cave Junction woman. No one was hurt. According to OSP, the driver of the Saturn showed signs of impairment and he was taken to the Cave Junction Substation where he provided a breath sample that was twice the legal driving limit. The suspect was cited to appear in court for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. Both vehicles were recovered by Jerry's Towing.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a convicted felon for possession of firearms and drugs late last week. Last Thursday, police officers were called to a residence on NW D Street to assist Josephine County Community Corrections after firearm parts were found during a home visit of 30-year-old Killian Mavity who was on supervised release from jail. Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) -- consisting of investigators from the Grants Pass Police Department, Oregon State Police and Community Corrections -- also responded to the scene to assist with a search warrant. During execution of the warrant, investigators recovered two loaded firearms, two 3D printed "Ghost Gun" lower receivers, two lower receivers with obliterated serial numbers and numerous firearm components and manufacturing apparatuses. In addition, three scales and drug packaging materials were found covered with cocaine and methamphetamine residue. Mavity was arrested and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for the weapon and drug crimes plus Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. The investigative report has been forwarded to the Josephine County District Attorney's Office for review and prosecution.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant late last week after he allegedly roughed up his ex-wife at a residence near the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 700-block of NW D Street early Friday morning. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that she and her ex-husband became involved in a physical altercation in which he threw her to the ground. She also stated that her ex was wanted on a warrant and he was under the influence. Officers arrived on scene and found the two yelling at each other outside the home. The man -- identified as 47-year-old Jonathan Glenn Wilder -- advised his ex-wife started the physical fight and that he pushed her away after being struck in the face. There was no evidence of physical injury to either subject so no charges were filed. A routine records check showed Wilder was wanted on a Grants Pass warrant for Probation Violation related to a previous arrest for Methamphetamine Possession. He was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail.

 

Back-to-back motor vehicle accidents in Cave Junction kept the Illinois Valley Fire District and other first responders busy at the start of the weekend. On Friday at 8:21 p.m., IVFD, American Medical Response and the Oregon State Police were dispatched to a two-vehicle collision on Redwood Highway at Elwood Lane. IVFD officials said one patient was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with minor injuries. OSP was investigating the cause of the crash and Jerry's Towing removed the involved vehicles. On Friday at 9:27 p.m., state troopers discovered another two-vehicle crash while responding to the first accident. This one occurred in the 100-block of West Hanby Lane. IVFD and AMR crews responded to assist. Officials said all occupants were examined and released at the scene. OSP was conducting an investigation and Jerry's Towing removed the vehicles

 

Widespread flooding and power line problems occurred in the Illinois Valley on Sunday. The Illinois Valley Fire District responded to a downed power line caused by a fallen tree in the 1300-block of Lone Mountain Road in O'Brien at 3:34 p.m. yesterday. Pacific Power crews secured the line and restored service to affected customers. IVFD responded to another downed power line in the 3400-block of West Side Road at 4:21 p.m.. Officials said the incident also involved a tree that was knocked down by high winds. Pacific Power crews secured the line and restored power to the affected area.

 

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters logged an active week of community protection. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 589 calls for service along with 381 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 36 arrests, 45 citations, 60 warnings and seven highly intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 100 traffic stops in the city and they made 26 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS). The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) contacted a total of 115 potential troublemakers while arresting four people, citing four more and warning eight others. The CRT unit also trespassed eight individuals and posted 90 transient camps. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 61 calls last week including 19 for emergency medical service, three for reports of fire or smoke, 11 lift assists, four rescue situations, two assists to other agencies and three false alarms. The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded a total of 958 emergency calls last week.