Local News

A man who had been reported missing in northern Lane County was apprehended on a Springfield felony warrant after he went to the Grants Pass Police Department early yesterday. Grants Pass Police reported the 54-year-old male subject arrived at GPPD on NE 7th Street on Monday around 9:30 a.m.. Police said the man came to the police headquarters to turn himself in as a missing person out of the small city of Coburg. He was cleared from the missing persons list, but apparently unaware that he was wanted on a Springfield Police Department felony warrant for Probation Violation related to a conditional release agreement. The underlying crime in the release agreement was not disclosed. The former missing person was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. He was being held on scheduled bail of $250,000.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for obstructing traffic on Redwood Highway last night. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to multiple reports of a female pedestrian obstructing the flow of traffic on US Highway 199 at Affordable Truck & RV on Monday at 9:40 p.m.. Officers said they contacted the 25-year-old woman after she failed to obey a traffic control device and crossed the highway in front of several vehicles, causing them to stop. They placed her into custody after she did it again, forcing vehicles to stop to avoid hitting her. The suspect was lodged in jail for Disorderly Conduct and was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police evicted a total of 14 campers for violating ordinances in city parks on Monday. At Riverside Park, 11 campers were cited for Illegal Camping after they failed to remove their previously posted campsites. All 11 were issued 30-day exclusions. At Lawnridge Park, one man was cited for Misuse of Open Space and Scattering Rubbish while another man was cited for Misuse of Open Space and Staking a Tent. Both were trespassed from the park for 30 days. Later in the day at Lawnridge Park, a man was cited for Misuse of Open Space, Scattering Rubbish and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was also issued a 30-day exclusion. Six other campsites were posted for Illegal Camping. At Baker Park, officers assisted in enforcement of parking codes after a citizen reported there was no parking available for boaters. All the spots were taken up by vehicles associated with camping. One person was cited for Illegal Parking while several others were warned and left the area.

 

A Jackson County man was killed last weekend when he was ejected from a vehicle that crashed on West Diamond Lake Highway. The Oregon State Police reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the single-vehicle accident on Highway 230 near milepost 10 in Douglas County on Sunday at 8 a.m.. State troopers said the preliminary investigation indicated a southbound Ford F-150 pickup driven by 24-year-old Jason Michael Ettenberger of Portland went off the shoulder of the highway on a left-hand turn. The driver overcorrected back across the highway before rolling the truck several times down an embankment where it came to rest on its passenger side. The passenger in the vehicle was ejected. According to OSP, the passenger -- 31-year-old Austin Cordell Belford of Eagle Point -- was declared deceased at the scene. He did not appear to have worn a seatbelt during the crash. Ettenberger sustained injuries and was transported to an area hospital. Highway 230 was impacted for approximately 4-1/2 hours during the on-scene investigation. Speed and occupant safety are considered the primary causes of the fatal crash. OSP was assisted by Diamond Lake Resort First Responders, Umpqua Valley Ambulance and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for roughing up a woman and threatening two of her children at a south Grants Pass home last weekend. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies were alerted to a domestic disturbance at a residence in the 100-block of Wilmar Avenue on Sunday at 8:29 p.m.. Deputies said a young woman called 9-1-1 to report that her mother had been punched in the face and pushed to the ground by a 37-year-old man with whom she lives. The caller advised there were multiple children in the home, adding that a 15-year-old female had been hit in the face and a 9-year-old boy had been pushed to the ground as well. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries reported. According to the report, there had been a prior domestic violence incident at that address in 2012. The female victim was trying to collect her personal items and leave, but the male suspect was preventing her escape. The caller was not there, but told dispatchers she witnessed the altercation via Facetime. Upon arrival, deputies interviewed the involved parties and then placed the suspect into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Attempted Assault and two counts of Menacing. He was being held without bail. The Oregon Department of Human Services was notified about the incident.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for threatening a motel employee with a knife last weekend. The Police Department reports officers responded to a disturbance at Motel 6 on NE 7th Street on Sunday around 4:25 p.m.. Police said a 66-year-old male subject got into a verbal altercation with a motel employee in the parking lot. They said he removed a pocket knife from his pocket, opened the blade, pointed it at the worker and threatened to kill him. The suspect fled the location on foot and was located a short time later at Tractor Supply. He was found to be in possession of a black folding knife that contained a spring-assisted opening feature. A records check showed he was a convicted felon prohibited from possessing any weapons. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon and Menacing. He was being held without bail. The knife was seized as evidence.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested three motorists for impaired driving in Josephine County last weekend -- all of them in the Illinois Valley. OSP reports the first incident occurred on Friday at 8:13 p.m. when state troopers pulled over a Mazda MZ6 driven by a 29-year-old Selma woman at the intersection of Caves Highway and White School House Road. Troopers said they stopped the driver for failing to maintain her lane and she displayed signs of impairment. The second incident happened on Sunday at 12:43 a.m. when troopers pulled over a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by a 21-year-old Cave Junction woman at Highway 199 and East River Street in Cave Junction. Troopers said they stopped the driver for a traffic violation and she showed signs of impairment. The third incident took place on Sunday at 2 a.m. when troopers pulled over a Nissan Armada driven by a 33-year-old Grants Pass man near the intersection of Caves Highway and Caves Avenue in Cave Junction. Troopers said they stopped the driver for speeding and he exhibited signs of impairment.

 

Investigators believe malfunctioning lawn equipment caused a small grass fire in the Wonder area last night. Rural Metro Fire Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry responded to the reported fire on Elliott Creek Road on Monday at about 6:20 p.m.. Rural Metro Engine 7504 from the Wilderville Station arrived to find a 1/10th of an acre grass fire and quickly extinguished it before it could spread any further. Quick action by the property owner also kept the fire from growing any larger as they were able to utilize buckets of water that they had kept readily available. Units from Rural Metro and ODF Southwest completed mop-up of the incident. ODF was handling the investigation, but preliminary findings show a malfunction of lawn equipment may be the cause. Rural Metro would like to remind everyone that fire season is here and to be alert of any sparks or embers when using equipment.

 

The Grants Pass Parks Department is conducting regular playground inspections to ensure safety and functionality. Recently, parks staff identified a malfunctioning component on the teeter-totter at Reinhart Volunteer Park. Swift action allowed the department to get a replacement part from the local playground manufacturer, restoring this feature for children. Staff have been working hard to cut tall grass and manage blackberry growth in undeveloped areas across the city parks system. They've also pruned trees to enhance clearance around trails and parking areas. A commitment to consistent irrigation repairs ensures optimal park conditions. As the City of Grants Pass prepares for the upcoming swimming season, the parks team is diligently working on Caveman Pool. Tasks have included repainting the shallow end of the pool and installing a refurbished ADA lift along with new electronic components. The public swimming pool is expected to open next Monday.