Local News

A Grants Pass Police Department investigation into an armed robbery last week has resulted in the arrest of a young man and two juveniles. Last Thursday evening, Grants Pass police officers were dispatched to a reported robbery with a knife in the 1200-block of Rogue River Highway. Officers arrived to find a 15-year-old victim who stated an adult and two juveniles had used a knife to take clothing items he had been trying to sell through Facebook Marketplace. A 14-year-old suspect held a knife to the victim's throat and punched him across the face while the 20-year-old and 15-year-old suspects took the clothing. All three suspects fled the scene on foot. Detectives said 20-year-old Aiden Steven McCarroll of Grants Pass was arrested and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on felony charges of 1st-Degree Robbery, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and 3rd-Degree Assault plus a misdemeanor charge of 2nd-Degree Theft. The two juveniles -- whose names are being withheld by GPPD due to their ages -- were lodged at the Josephine County Juvenile Justice Center on the same charges. The case will be prosecuted by the Josephine County District Attorney's Office.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for assaulting a woman and preventing her from calling for help in the North Valley area this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at a house inside a mini-storage facility on San Francisco Street on Monday. Deputies said 46-year-old Neil Frederick Morris prevented the female victim from calling 9-1-1 after he threatened to get a gun and shoot himself. They said he bear-hugged the woman from behind and took her phone away. He also threw the victim to the ground at least twice during the incident. The victim's juvenile daughter heard the commotion, jumped out of her bedroom window and hid in a porta-potty before calling 9-1-1. She told dispatchers Morris was throwing her mother around and that he had been drinking alcohol. Upon arrival, deputies discovered that the victim had fled the house and was at Rural Metro Fire Department's Monument Drive Station. She refused medical treatment and was advised to seek help from the Women's Crisis Support Team. Morris was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 4th-Degree Domestic Assault and Interfering with Making a 9-1-1 Call. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local felony warrant after he caused a disturbance at the downtown Safeway this week. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident in the parking lot at the supermarket on SE 7th Street late Monday afternoon. Police said 42-year-old Gabriel Feliciano generated numerous calls for service by trespassing, yelling at customers and throwing rocks at staff. Store managers did not wish to pursue any charges, but they wanted him trespassed from the business. Officers contacted Feliciano and discovered that he was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for 2nd-Degree Burglary and 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief. He had given them a false name, but they were able to determine his true identity. Feliciano was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus new charges of Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a woman on a local felony warrant this week after performing a welfare check in the Jerome Prairie area. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to the incident in the 2700-block of Midway Avenue on Monday evening. Deputies said concerned citizens reported a female subject was standing in the middle of the road, screaming, crying and yelling for help. Some of the callers advised the woman appeared to be under the influence of intoxicants. Upon arrival, deputies contacted 36-year-old Jessica Allison Fox and discovered that she was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. She was arrested without incident. Fox was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and she was being held on $25,000.

 

Firefighters got a quick handle on a grass fire that broke out yesterday just west of Grants Pass. On Tuesday at 12:20 p.m., Rural Metro Fire Department and Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to the reported fire in the 1400-block of Boundary Lane. The fire -- which was stopped at approximately 3/4 of an acre -- was reported as an open burn that sparked to life after it was believed to be out by the property owner. The pile had been buried by dirt, but crept out and ignited a grass field after daytime temperatures rose and an afternoon breeze picked up. As the Southwest Oregon region braces for the start of the 2025 fire season on Sunday, property owners attempting to complete yard clean-up projects using fire are urged to use extreme caution. This includes making sure burn piles are cold to the touch after applying large amounts of water. Rural Metro officials said dirt -- if not applied correctly as an extinguishing agent -- can actually serve as an insulator, allowing fire to pop up days or weeks later.

 

With warm weather upon us, heading down to the Rogue, Illinois or Applegate rivers becomes a popular activity in Josephine County. However, Rural Metro Fire Department's Water Rescue Team warns citizens that the rivers -- especially the Rogue -- remain cold and deceptively swift. Nearly every year, drownings occur with both adults and children who don't recognize or respect the potential hazard. In most cases, the proper use of a life jacket while in the water will prevent a tragedy.

 

Ashland Police Chief Tighe O'Meara arrested former City Councilor Eric Navickas during a council meeting last week, moments after Navickas allegedly objected to the chief's claim that Navickas' earlier public comments were "racist." The Oregonian reports Navickas had spoken at the council meeting to denounce a proposal that would allow police to ban people from specially designated parts of the city if they've been charged, but not convicted, with certain violations -- a measure he characterized as "a draconian infringement of civil rights." In his comments, Navickas appeared to ask councilors to consider how the ordinance might be abused. Minutes later, Navickas and O'Meara were leaving the council chambers -- the chief trailing behind -- when O'Meara told him the comment had been racist. Once in the lobby, just outside the chamber doors, Navickas turned and shoved the chief with both hands, accusing him of calling him a racist, O'Meara said. The chief then arrested Navickas, with help from a deputy chief who was nearby. The scuffle could be heard in the chambers, interrupting the meeting, footage of the meeting shows. Navickas could not be reached for comment. He served on the city council for one term from 2006 to 2010. He was an unsuccessful candidate for council in the 2024 election.

 

Applications are still be accepted for seven positions on the new Grants Pass Development Code Review Task Force. An eighth position is being filled by a member of the Urban Area Planning Commission. Appointments are for the duration of the task force, which is anticipated to be no more than 12 months from the date of appointments. The purpose of the new task force is to review and evaluate the Grants Pass Development Code to help simplify and streamline the City's land use process and various development standards. The desired outcome is a written recommendation to the City Council containing specific actions to modernize the code to reduce ambiguities and barriers to new construction investment and development projects within the Grants Pass Urban Growth Boundary. Special qualifications and experience for these positions includes a licensed engineer or architect, local builder, residential developer, commercial developer, land use attorney, real estate agent/broker and an at-large citizen representative. Applications are available at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, June 27th.

 

Nonprofits tackling Southern Oregon's most pressing challenges are receiving a boost. The Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) has distributed new grants to organizations making progress on housing, child care, hunger, substance abuse, arts and culture, and those serving immigrants, refugees and others. The new investments come from two funding sources at OCF. The Reed and Carolee Walker Fund has supported 71 Southern Oregon organizations with $2.3 million. Each of the grants is given in memory of Bill Thorndike, a Southern Oregon business and community leader who passed away in February. In addition, OCF's 2025 Spring Cycle of Community Grants is distributing $516,000 to support the work of 26 Southern Oregon nonprofits. Funding is flexible, allowing organizations to invest the money where it is needed most. One organization that is receiving funding from both programs is Freedom Farms, which uses the therapeutic experience of gardening, farming and land conservation management to help men and women re-enter local communities following incarceration.