Local News

A woman walking alongside a stopped train and refusing to leave the tracks garnered a response from Grants Pass Police late Monday night.

At 11:37 p.m., an employee with Pacific Railroad had called to report the train had stopped at an undisclosed location because of the woman, and that she was attempting to get inside the train. The employee later called back to say they had lost sight of the suspect.

Officers arrived and were unable to locate the woman, but did contact Frank Ross at the scene. He was known to have an active warrant out for his arrest for meth possession.

Ross's identity was confirmed, he was taken into custody, and lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

 

The City of Grants Pass will be conducting smoke testing from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow the 22nd along NE A and Wharton streets between 9th and 10th streets. The purpose of the testing is to determine the condition of sewer laterals and identify any illegal residential connections to the system. The following information will be placed on the doors of all residents in the test area: "These tests will assist us in locating breaks and defects in the sewer system. During the test, you may see smoke coming from vent stacks on buildings or from holes in the ground. Don’t be alarmed. The smoke has no odor, is non-toxic, non-staining, does not create a fire hazard, and will dissipate in a few minutes." Before the smoke test is conducted, those in the testing area are being asked to please pour water into their basement floor drains and into any unused sinks. This will seal the drain traps so that smoke will not enter the building through the drain. If smoke should enter your building during the test, it could mean that there are defects in the plumbing that could allow dangerous sewer gas to enter. Note the location of the smoke and call (541) 450-6115 to arrange a meeting with the City's inspector. Open doors and windows to ventilate any smoke that enters the building.

 

Oregon State Police responded to a vehicle versus bicycle crash on Highway 140, near milepost 4, in Jackson County Saturday afternoon. On October 18 at 2:44 p.m., the preliminary investigation indicated an eastbound Freightliner recreational vehicle operated by Richard Fay McCoy, 57, of Central Point, struck a bicyclist, Wesley Mad Olngellel, 37, of Central Point, who was in the eastbound lane of travel. The operator of the bicycle, Olngellel, was declared deceased at the scene. The operator of the Freightliner was uninjured. The highway was impacted for approximately two hours during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is under investigation. OSP was assisted by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.

 

The Grants Pass City Council will move forward with Pathways to Stability's Addressing Homelessness Grant Program Application. The special workshop began with a presentation on parameters for the Addressing Homelessness Grant Program Application Review. Requirements for the proposed sites included being located within the Urban Growth Boundary, be fully operational within 6 months, have 24/7 managed shelter services with a capacity for 150 people, and meet ADA requirements. Mandatory disqualifiers were Failure to Meet Program Requirements, Unacceptable Location based on code compliance, Missing Application Deadlines, and Improper Communication. After discussion, none of the three applicants were disqualified. Diversion by Design presented their application to the council first, describing their goal to build 150 private, low barrier, micro shelters, each costing $467. With voluntary entry and exit and mandatory adherence to their zero-tolerance safety policy, plus a six step path to independence, the potential site cost would be $1.2 million.

 

WinCo Loss Prevention detained a woman after she attempted to steal goods from the store Sunday night.

At 8:54 p.m., a caller reported the suspect, later identified as Dawn Cruz, was contacted by loss prevention at the 231 NE Terry Lane grocery store. She had passed all points of sale without paying for goods worth over $7.

Following a brief struggle, Cruz conceded to being detained by loss prevention. Grants Pass Police officers arrived, identified Cruz, and found she had been warned for trespassing from WinCo on October 4th.

Cruz was taken into custody, and officers lodged her in the Josephine County Jail for Second Degree Trespass, and Third Degree Theft and Robbery.

 

Oregon State Police apprehended a man for drug possession and other charges following a traffic stop Sunday morning.

At 9:32 a.m., troopers pulled over a silver Ford Fusion on US Highway 199 near milepost 32. Upon investigation, the driver was found to be suspended and had common burglary tools in plain sight.

The suspect driver, Luke Mulligan, was detained and he admitted to having methamphetamine in the cup holder. The passenger was told to exit the vehicle, and she also admitted to being in possession of meth.

The passenger was detained as well, and troopers conducted a search of the vehicle. They located a knife in the center console, and additional drug paraphernalia was found and placed into evidence for destruction.

Mulligan was placed into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Felon in Possession of a Weapon, Possession of Meth, and Driving While Suspended.

The passenger was given a criminal citation for Meth Possession, and the vehicle was towed from the scene.

 

A rollover accident occurred on Redwood Highway at Briggs Valley Road in Wilderville this morning.

Emergency services, including the Illinois Valley Fire District, AMR-Josephine County, and the Oregon State Police, were dispatched to the reported incident.

A Josephine County Animal Control Officer provided initial support at the scene, assisting the self-extricated patient. The driver was assessed by AMR personnel and did not require transportation to a medical facility.

The Oregon State Police is managing the ongoing investigation, and Jerry's Towing was contracted for vehicle removal.

 

Grants Pass Police officers were called out to a reported theft at the Pinnacle 365 Sunday afternoon.

At 1:46 p.m., an employee of the 1044 NW 6th Street service station alerted dispatch to a man that was refusing to leave after having been in the store for about an hour.

The suspect was damaging merchandise and putting items for sale in his pockets. He was also wearing a hat from the store he hadn't purchased. The employee requested the man be trespassed.

Officers arrived on the scene and contacted the suspect, Thomas Wilson, after he had bypassed all points of sale with almost $41 worth of merchandise.

Wilson was taken into custody and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Second Degree Criminal Mischief and Third Degree Theft.

 

Josephine County Sheriff's Deputies apprehended a man after a reported disturbance Saturday afternoon.

Dispatch received a call at 2:53 p.m. The caller was screaming for help saying his son was attacking him and had punched him in the face.

At one point, the suspect grabbed a knife and forced the caller and his wife outside of the house in the 2000 block of Robinson Road.

Deputies arrived and contacted the suspect walking toward Redwood Highway. He was being verbally uncooperative while deputies held him at Taser point and restrained him.

The suspect was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on charges of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing, Fourth Degree Assault, and Cocaine Possession.