KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

GP Police Jailed Missing Man for Bizarre Series of Events on Rogue River Hwy.

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for a bizarre series of events that happened at businesses on Rogue River Highway yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 38-year-old man they identified as "Jimmy Dean Couch" near the Bottle Drop Center at the corner of Highway 99 and Parkdale Drive on Monday at 12:45 p.m.. Police said Couch was the subject of three separate calls for service. First, he was reported shouting at passing vehicles. Second, he entered private property and was cutting branches off a tree. Third, he was screaming at customers at U-Save Gas & Tackle while pretending to shoot people with his hand shaped like a gun. Officers located Couch at the Bottle Drop Center and told him he was under arrest. He began to walk away, so one officer grabbed his left arm and another officer grabbed his right arm. He actively resisted by tightening his muscles and pulling his arms upward. He was then taken in a controlled manner to the ground where he continued to resist and kicked an officer, causing minor pain but no serious injury. Couch was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Assault on a Public Safety Officer, Resisting Arrest, Escape and Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail. Upon booking, it was discovered that Couch was reported as a missing person in Jackson County. GPPD contacted the Jackson County Sheriff's Office to let them know he had been located.

Posted on 9/10/24 10:40AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Young Motorist for DUII after Numerous Traffic Complaints

Grants Pass Police arrested a young man for impaired driving last night after receiving numerous traffic complaints near the downtown area. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a red Jeep Cherokee driven by a 19-year-old male subject in the 1300-block of SW Foundry Street on Monday at 7:20 p.m.. Police said the driver was first called in as a complaint at NW B and Fry streets where he was reportedly doing burnouts and traveling at a high rate of speed. He almost hit some pedestrians, was fish-tailing and allegedly pulled a gun on one witness. Officers pulled him over after observing several moving violations. Upon contact, officers said the young man displayed indicators of impairment. He asked for legal counsel, so a search warrant was obtained and he was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented impairment. The young suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. It was unclear if his vehicle was impounded. Police said there was a Remington shotgun located inside the SUV.

Posted on 9/10/24 10:39AM by Sam Marsh

Homeless Man Cited for Setting Up Campsite at GP DMV Office on NE Beacon

Not all members of the unhoused population in Grants Pass are willing to reside in the city's designated campsites on SE J Street and 6th & A streets. Late Sunday afternoon, Grants Pass Police discovered that a man had erected a tarp and pipe-framed structure on a sidewalk near the corner of NE Beacon Drive and the Parkway where he was sleeping. Officers contacted the man and moved the structure off the sidewalk in the front of the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles office across from Fred Meyer. They said there was visible trash including tools, personal property and soda cans next to his impromptu campsite. The trash detracted from the natural beauty of the area. The male subject whom GPPD identified as "Jerry L. Lee" was cited for Scattering Rubbish, Sleeping on a Public Sidewalk and Blocking a Public Sidewalk. He was ordered to appear in court and advised of the two urban campgrounds available for the unhoused population.

Posted on 9/10/24 10:37AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Issued Citations for Ordinance Violations at Park and J Street Camp

Grants Pass Police cited one person for an ordinance violation at a city park and two people for ordinance violations at a designated urban campground yesterday. The first incident occurred shortly after 10 a.m. when officers performed a patrol check at Morrison Centennial Park on Rogue River Highway. That's where they contacted a woman who was found to be in possession of marijuana. She was cited to appear in court and trespassed from the park for 30 days. During a 3:04 p.m. check of the SE J Street urban campground, officers cited a man for tying a tarp to a fence after being warned several times. They also cited a woman for Unlawful Utilization of Open Space after she was previously warned.

Posted on 9/10/24 10:36AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Man for Stealing Vehicle from Powderhorn Cafe Back Parking Lot

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for stealing a vehicle from the parking lot of a downtown restaurant last weekend. The Police Department reports officers arrested a 28-year-old male subject they identified as "Brandon James Bledsoe" at Quality Used Cars on NE 7th Street on Sunday at 3:10 p.m.. Police said Bledsoe stole a woman's Mazda 3 from the back parking lot of the Powderhorn Cafe on NE 6th Street. They said the vehicle was recovered at the Super 8 Motel on NE 7th Street. The suspect was identified via video surveillance and he was located at Carl's Jr., but he fled on foot and a foot chase followed. With help from citizens, officers located Bledsoe at the used car lot and he was placed into custody. He was found to be in possession of a forged bill of sale and claimed to have purchased the vehicle. However, the registered owner proved his claim was false. The stolen car was returned to its owner. Bledsoe was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, 2nd-Degree Forgery and 3rd-Degree Escape. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 9/10/24 6:09AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Collared Pair for Outstanding Warrants after Motel Trespass Complaint

Grants Pass Police apprehended two people wanted on outstanding warrants while investigating a weekend trespassing complaint at a north-city motel. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at the Grants Pass Travelodge on NW Vine Street on Sunday around 6:20 p.m.. Police said a motel employee reported that a 39-year-old female subject's stay had expired and she had drug paraphernalia in her room. They said she was in the room with two of her adult children and a 37-year-old male subject. Upon arrival, officers discovered that not only had the woman overstayed her welcome by several days, but both she and the 37-year-old man had warrants for their arrests. She was wanted on a Jackson County warrant for failing to appear in court for Heroin Possession while he was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Parole Violation related to a Strangulation conviction plus a Grants Pass felony warrant for Identity Theft and 2nd-Degree Theft. Both subjects were lodged in the Josephine County Jail on their warrants. Drug paraphernalia in the room could not be ascribed to any particular person, so it was logged into evidence for destruction.

Posted on 9/10/24 6:02AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Nabbed Motorcyclist for Reckless Driving after Shopping Center Crash

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorcyclist for driving recklessly and hitting a sport utility vehicle in the Williams Highway Shopping Plaza last weekend. The Police Department reports officers responded to the two-vehicle crash in the 1600-block of Highway 238 on Sunday shortly after 4 p.m.. Police said a 40-year-old male subject was riding a Kawasaki motorcycle at a high rate of speed through the Safeway parking lot when he struck a Honda CRV, which caused him to be launched from the bike into a field behind Abby's Pizza. Numerous witnesses stated and video evidence showed the man's driving behavior was reckless and had the potential to put bystanders in danger. One witness said they saw the motorcycle traveling at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour near Allen Creek Road a short time before the crash occurred. The suspect initially refused to be transported by AMR ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center, so he was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Reckless Driving and Reckless Endangerment. Jail deputies later gave the man a medical release to go to the hospital for treatment, but not before he was cited to appear in court. The crash resulted in well over $2,500 in damage.

Posted on 9/10/24 6:01AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Woman for Bad Behavior near Allen Creek Shopping Center

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for bad behavior after she generated multiple complaints in a southwest neighborhood last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident involving a 43-year-old female subject at a home on SW Otis Lane on Sunday at 3:26 p.m.. Police said a caller reported there was a "crazy woman" in front of their house. The neighbor said the woman was screaming about her husband being murdered at her house that day. They offered her some water before calling 9-1-1 and locking their doors. The woman continued onto Schutzwohl Lane and Allen Creek Road where she was yelling at other residents and acting in an aggressive manner. Responding officers located the woman in the Albertson's parking lot a short time later and placed her into custody. She reportedly exposed herself to passing drivers before heading into the residential area. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct. She was being held without bail.

Posted on 9/10/24 5:59AM by Sam Marsh

First Responders Worked Together to Get Woman Out of Tree in Downtown CJ

First responders worked together to get a woman out of a tree in downtown Cave Junction last weekend. The Illinois Valley Fire District, American Medical Response, Oregon State Police and Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to the incident in the 100-block of South Redwood Highway on Sunday shortly after 1 a.m.. Arriving units were dispatched by law enforcement to assist getting a 28-year-old woman down from a tree at that location. Command requested Grants Pass Fire & Rescue respond with their ladder truck to assist with the rescue. After several hours, the woman was removed from the tree unharmed. During the incident, she assaulted multiple officers, was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for crimes including Felony Attempt to Assault a Police Officer, Physical Harassment, Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct.

Posted on 9/10/24 5:57AM by Sam Marsh

GP Announces Riverside & Morrison Centennial Spray Parks Closing Today

Those who want one last turn of summer cooling at Grants Pass city parks have just one more opportunity. The Grants Pass Parks Department has announced that today will be the final day the spray parks will operate at Riverside and Morrison Centennial parks. The forecast for today is 86 degrees, with temperatures dropping to the 80s and 70s the rest of the week and beyond. Parks workers will start the process of winterizing the spray parks on Wednesday.

Posted on 9/10/24 5:54AM by Sam Marsh

SafeOregon & OSP Announce Availability of School Safety Tip Line in 2024-25

SafeOregon and the Oregon State Police are reminding students, parents, staff and community members that everyone plays a role in school safety. SafeOregon is a school safety tip line to report potential threats against students and schools confidentially or anonymously. SafeOregon receives tips focused on safety threats; violence or threats of violence; fights; drugs, alcohol or weapons on campus; bullying, harassment or intimidation; cyberbullying; and friends or peers discussing self-harm or suicide. SafeOregon asks that if you see or hear something concerning to let someone know. Tips may be submitted 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call or text 1-(844)-472-3367, email "tip@safeoregon.com," visit "safeoregon.com" or download the mobile app. All tips are immediately received by a tip line technician and they are forwarded to designated school personnel or law enforcement to respond to reported incidents. Always call 9-1-1 for situations requiring an immediate emergency response. It is a violation of Oregon law to make false reports to SafeOregon. For more information, visit "safeoregon.com."

Posted on 9/10/24 5:51AM by Sam Marsh

ODHS & ODE Extend Summer EBT Application Deadline until End of September

The Oregon Department of Human Services has announced that the application deadline for the new Summer EBT program has been extended to midnight on September 30th. The program offers $120 per child to help cover grocery costs when school food programs are not as easy to access. Eligible families should act now. Thousands of families may be unaware that they qualify for this essential benefit. Oregon DHS and the Oregon Department of Education urge families to check their eligibility and apply before the extended deadline. Once Summer EBT benefits are received, they must be used within 122 days. Most eligible children received their benefits automatically on June 28th. Children in foster care also automatically received Summer EBT. However, families who did not receive benefits automatically -- particularly those with children who were eligible for the National School Lunch or Breakfast Programs -- should still apply to determine their eligibility. Families are encouraged to visit "sebt.oregon.gov" or contact the Summer EBT Call Center to verify their eligibility and apply.

Posted on 9/10/24 5:49AM by Sam Marsh

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