KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

GPPD is Committed to Helping All Community Members with New Campsite Rules

With the upcoming permanent closure of the SE J Street homeless campsite and new resting rules at the NE 7th Street site, the Grants Pass Police Department says it's committed to helping all community members. On January 7th, the Grants Pass City Council held a special meeting when it voted to close the J Street camp and limit use of the 7th Street camp from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily. The closure of the J Street camp goes into effect at midnight tonight. In preparation to meet the Council's adopted resolution, GPPD Chief Warren Hensman said his officers have been working with community partners to ensure the transition was fairly implemented and that those impacted had access to local resources. Hensman said these efforts included working behind the scenes with stakeholders such as MINT, PATH, U-Turn for Christ, HWAM, Mid Rogue Foundation, UCAN, ADAPT, Options for Southern Oregon, Grants Pass Sobering Center, Maslow Project, WCST, Gospel Rescue Mission, Dove Ministries, On-Track and Veterans Affairs. Grants Pass police officers communicated the upcoming changes repeatedly over the past two weeks so that those utilizing the resting sites had ample awareness of the resolution.

Posted on 1/23/25 5:46AM by Sam Marsh

Board of Commissioners Rejects Collective Bargaining Agreement with AFSCME

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners yesterday rejected a collective bargaining agreement with a union representing hundreds of county employees. The Board voted 2-1 against the agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) that was nine months in the making. Board Vice-Chair Chris Barnett made a motion to approve the agreement, but he was outvoted by his colleagues who said they were very concerned about the budget implications of increasing salaries and benefit packages in tough economic times. In other business, the Commissioners unanimously approved personal service contracts with M&M Services, LLC, and Wally Schmidt Electric, Inc., for the installation of a new fuel station at Josephine County Public Works. The contract with M&M is for just over $191,000 and the contract with Wally Schmidt is for just under $63,000. Public Works Director Rob Brandes said the transition will occur under state Department of Environmental Quality and federal Environmental Protection Agency guidelines.

Posted on 1/23/25 5:38AM by Sam Marsh

Board of Commissioners Rejects Collective Bargaining Agreement with AFSCME

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners this morning rejected a collective bargaining agreement with a union representing hundreds of county employees. The Board voted 2-1 against the agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees that was nine months in the making. Board Vice-Chair Chris Barnett made a motion to approve the agreement, but he was outvoted by his colleagues who said they were very concerned about the budget implications of increasing salaries and benefit packages in tough economic times. In other business, the Commissioners unanimously approved personal service contracts with M&M Services, LLC, and Wally Schmidt Electric, Inc., for the installation of a new fuel station at Josephine County Public Works. The contract with M&M is for just over $191,000 and the contract with Wally Schmidt is for just under $63,000. Public Works Director Rob Brandes said the old fuel pumps and tanks are beyond their useful lives and need to be replaced. He said the transition will occur under state Department of Environmental Quality and federal Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. He testified he was unsure if there had been any leakage or soil contamination. As part of the Consent Calendar, the Board unanimously approved plat maps for Phase 2 of Hazel Hill Estates and the Westralia Estates subdivision. During the public comment period, there was strong support for the Josephine Community Library District lease based on the County Charter, but recalled former Board Chair John West testified that the "community library is no longer a county library" and not subject to the guidelines of the Charter.

Posted on 1/22/25 11:37AM by Sam Marsh

Sheriff's Office Investigation Led to Arrest of GP Man for Felony Assault & More

A Josephine County Sheriff's Office investigation resulted in the arrest of a Grants Pass man for felony assault and another crime early yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies arrested 40-year-old Richard Michael Espinoza in the 1400-block of SE M Street on Tuesday at 8:46 a.m.. Deputies released no details about the arrest, but stated Espinoza was wanted for probable cause due to a criminal investigation. Espinoza was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a felony charge of 2nd-Degree Assault and a misdemeanor charge of Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 1/22/25 11:36AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Snared Man on State Warrant in Remote Transient Camp Investigation

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant yesterday while investigating a transient camp west of Wolf Creek. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 44-year-old Richard Wallace Carlyle, II, at a camp in the 11,000-block of Lower Grave Creek Road on Tuesday around 2:15 p.m.. Deputies said Carlyle was contacted at the second of two transient camps in that area and he was found to be wanted on an Oregon State Parole Board warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a conviction for Felony Attempt to Elude Police. Carlyle was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 1/22/25 11:35AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man on Two Warrants after He Surrendered at Corrections

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on two outstanding warrants yesterday after he turned himself in at Josephine County Community Corrections. According to the Police Department, officers placed 42-year-old Brandon John Berry into custody at the corrections office on NW 4th Street at 1:55 p.m. Tuesday. Police said Berry's corrections officer called in to report his client was in the lobby and wanted to surrender himself to law enforcement. He was wanted on a Medford Police Department warrant for Probation Violation related to Attempted Felony Assault and a Josephine County warrant for Probation Violation related to 1st-Degree Burglary. After the warrants were confirmed, Berry was lodged at the Josephine County Jail where he was being held on $117,500 bail.

Posted on 1/22/25 11:33AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Arrested Man for Violating Court Order at GP Area Mobile Home Park

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for violating a court order at a local mobile home park last night. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a disturbance in the 100-block of Briarwood Way at Roguelea Estates on Tuesday at about 10:40 p.m.. Deputies said a female caller reported a 66-year-old male subject was acting in an inappropriate manner and that he had hit her a few times. A guest of the woman wanted him trespassed from the residence. Upon arrival, deputies contacted both parties and they denied a physical altercation or injuries had occurred. However, there was an active stalking order in place prohibiting the man from physically contacting the woman. He was subsequently placed into custody. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Contempt of Court-Stalking Order Violation and he was being held without bail.

Posted on 1/22/25 11:31AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Cited Motorist for Driving Too Fast around School Buses on Azalea Drive

The Oregon State Police cited a Grants Pass motorist for driving too fast around school buses near Merlin early yesterday. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Chevrolet Camaro driven by 35-year-old Dixie Nicole Suthann near the corner of Azalea Drive and Ewe Creek Road on Tuesday at 8:15 a.m.. Troopers said they stopped the Camaro for speeding on Azalea Drive during freezing conditions with school buses actively picking up children in the area. Suthann admitted to not having any insurance on her vehicle. She was cited for Speeding and No Insurance, and her vehicle was impounded by Caveman Towing.

Posted on 1/22/25 11:30AM by Sam Marsh

Marine Board Slated to Make Ruling on Upper Rogue River Boat Operations

The Oregon State Marine Board is expected to make a ruling tomorrow on new rules that will govern boat operations on the Upper Rogue River. The Marine Board is holding its quarterly meeting at the agency's office in Salem on Thursday at 8:30 a.m.. The meeting agenda includes "Upper Rogue River Rulemaking Action: Board Vote." The Board can either approve new rules, modify proposed rules or take no action. In October, the Marine Board held a work session at Rogue Community College's Riverside Campus in Medford to consider boat operations on the Rogue between the former Gold Ray Dam and Lost Creek Reservoir. The meeting format included presentations and public testimony in which many citizens requested a ban on jetboats along with slower speed limits on that section of the Rogue River.

Posted on 1/22/25 11:29AM by Sam Marsh

Medford Man Jailed for Road Rage Incident with Firearm on Crater Lake Avenue

A Medford man was jailed following a road rage incident that occurred last week on the east side of that city. Last Thursday at about 8:30 p.m., Medford police officers responded to the 2100-block of Crater Lake Avenue following reports of a road rage incident involving a handgun. The victims reported that a man had threatened them with a firearm before leaving the area. Officers obtained detailed statements and began searching for the suspect. About 30 minutes later, the victim contacted police again to report that the same man had returned. Following a verbal exchange, the suspect fired a gun from his vehicle as he left the scene, but no one was hurt. The victim was able to provide a description of the vehicle and a photo of the license plate. Through their investigation, officers identified the suspect as 34-year-old Brandon Blackwell of Medford, who was determined to be a convicted felon. On Friday morning, officers located Blackwell at a property on Gilman Road in Medford. After surrounding the location and making announcements, Blackwell exited the building and was placed into custody without incident. Blackwell was lodged at the Jackson County Jail on charges of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Menacing. The firearm believed to have been used in the incident was located and seized. The case will be prosecuted by the Jackson County District Attorney's Office.

Posted on 1/22/25 6:45AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed Man for Stealing Items from CJ Resident and Then Selling Them

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for stealing property from a Cave Junction resident and then selling it to others. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 29-year-old Luke Wyatt Mulligan at the Taco Bell on NE Terry Lane in Grants Pass on Monday afternoon. Deputies said a Cave Junction woman reported that her 2019 Dodge Caravan had been stolen from her home in the 200-block of West River Street. She advised that she found items taken from the stolen vehicle posted on Facebook Marketplace -- one of the items stolen was a BMX bicycle. According to the report, a friend of the victim had video footage of the theft and it was shared with law enforcement. Based on the video, one of the suspects was identified as Mulligan and deputies searched the area before finding him in Grants Pass. He was not in possession of the stolen vehicle when he was placed into custody, but admitted to selling some of the stolen items and was found to be in possession of methamphetamine. Mulligan was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on three outstanding warrants for Probation Violation related to arrests for Identity Theft and Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants as well as failing to appear in court for DUII. He was additionally charged with Felony 1st-Degree Theft, Felony Theft-by-Receiving and Meth Possession. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 1/22/25 6:43AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Collared Man on Outstanding Warrant in Early Morning Traffic Stop

Grants Pass Police arrested a man on an outstanding warrant during an early morning traffic stop in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers pulled over an older model Ford pickup pulling a flatbed trailer near the corner of SE 6th and L street on Tuesday at 2:40 a.m.. Police said 32-year-old Clinton James Woody was stopped for making an improper right turn at 7th and M streets. They said Woody was found to be driving with a suspended license and no insurance, with no emergent reason to be doing so. A routine records check revealed that Woody was wanted on a Douglas County warrant for failing to appear in court for Possession of Dangerous Drugs. Woody was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and he was cited for the traffic violations. His pickup and trailer were impounded.

Posted on 1/22/25 6:41AM by Sam Marsh

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