Local News

A woman wanted on a warrant with multiple charges was taken into custody by Grants Pass Police Thursday.

An officer recognized Marissa Winters at the corner of NE 7th Street and NE Evelyn Avenue around 1:51 p.m. She was known to have a felony warrant out for her arrest from the Police Department, and was cooperative while being taken into custody in the parking lot across from 7th and Mead Streets.

Winter's warrant charged her with Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree, Resisting Arrest, two counts of Aggravated Harassment, and Assaulting a Public Safety Officer.

She was positively identified by law enforcement, then promptly transported to the Josephine County Jail where she was lodged on her warrant.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man with a weapon offense warrant out of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office.

The suspect, Brian Stack, was located at Resting Site 6 South Thursday at 1:07 p.m. Officers contacted Stack at the 704 NW 6th Street site, where he was then taken into custody for his warrant.

Stack was charged with a Parole Violation for a Weapon Offense, and he was transported to the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility where he was subsequently lodged.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department arrested two suspects from Resting Site 7 Thursday in separate incidents.

Law enforcement arrived at the 712 NE 7th Street location around 1:54 p.m. Michelle Richardson was contacted and taken into custody for a Second Degree Trespass charge. She was issued a 90 day exclusion, and transported to the Josephine County Jail.

Two men on site were also contacted and trespassed from the resting site for 30 days. Both were cited for exceeding footprint and scattering rubbish, with one of the men being issued an additional citation for exceeding stay.

Officers returned to the resting site that evening at 6:31 and contacted Lori Signs. It was found she was wanted on an active warrant from the Grants Pass Police Department charging her with Possession of Methamphetamine.

Signs had also been previously trespassed from the site for 90 days, so an additional charge of Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree was added. Law enforcement transported Signs to jail where she was lodged.

 

Grants Pass Police lodged a man in the Josephine County Jail on two Methamphetamine Possession warrants.

Officers recognized the suspect, Dakota Ree, as he was walking on A Street Thursday afternoon around 12:42. He attempted to cut through the Grants Pass High School property in order to avoid contact, but officers quickly detained him.

Ree was known to be wanted on two Grants Pass Police Department warrants charging him with Possession of Meth. Law enforcement took him into custody after a positive identification, and transported him to the Adult Jail Facility.

Officers lodged Ree on his two warrants. He was also trespassed from both the 830 NE 9th Street school, and Fred Meyer at 1101 Grants Pass Parkway per a previous case.

 

City Council moved to postpone a decision to award a non-bargaining salary and compensation study proposal.

During Wednesday's meeting, proposals had been received following a request to conduct a comprehensive salary and compensation study for all non-bargaining employee classifications.

A motion to get references and examples of work, and to postpone the award to a later date passed 6-1, with Councilor Indra Nicholas abstaining.

The council was unanimous in a motion to readopt the city's Investment Policy, and approved a request from the Chamber of Commerce to allow commercial activity and grant a waiver of Riverside Park reservation fees for Concerts in the Park.

A motion to retain at least $3 million in local banks from the form of certificates of deposit passed 7-0, while a motion to keep the Government Portfolio Advisors Corporate Approved List as is passed 6-1 with Nicholas dissenting.

Council adopted and approved all consent agenda items including a resolution authorizing City Manager Aaron Cubic to execute Amendment #1 to an intergovernmental agreement with the Oregon Department of Transportation for the 6th and 7th Street Multimodal Corridor Study.

Before adjourning at 8:18 p.m., council approved a motion to reconsider entering into an agreement with the Josephine County Visitors Association including the addition of Downtown Welcome Center operations.

 

The Pacific Power Foundation is recognizing organizations throughout Oregon, Washington, and California for their commitment to the safety and wellness of their communities by awarding 115 grants totaling $344,002.

According to Pacific Power, the grants will support a variety of programs, including those that provide meals for individuals experiencing food insecurity, offer shelter for the unhoused and facilitate healthcare for underserved communities.

The Pacific Power Foundation’s Safety and Wellness grant cycle is one of four cycles throughout the year. In Josephine County, Crossing Bridges Therapeutic Riding Center and Siskiyou Community Health Center will receive grants.

The foundation is also providing grants to Butte Falls Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Cascade Girl, and La Clinica in Jackson County.

Director of the Pacific Power Foundation and president of Pacific Power, Ryan Flynn, emphasized these organization's vital roles in their respective regions, providing for the needs of individuals and families.

 

Troopers with Oregon State Police pulled over and arrested a man for a bench warrant.

A green Ford Explorer was stopped by law enforcement Wednesday at 5:37 p.m. The driver pulled over at milepost 4 eastbound of Highway 238 after troopers observed multiple traffic violations.

The driver, identified as William St. Clair, was contacted and found to be driving with suspended privileges. He was also wanted on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant.

According to the police report, St. Clair was subsequently arrested on his warrant. The vehicle was released to his girlfriend, the owner of the vehicle.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners concluded their Open and Executive Sessions with motions regarding the Information Technology and Emergency Management Director, and Airports Manager.

After meeting in Executive Session this morning, Commissioner Gary Richardson moved to dismiss Michael Sellers and direct staff to prepare a due process hearing. The motion passed 3-0.

Richardson again motioned to return Michael Crisafulli off administrative leave with a performance improvement plan, which passed 2-1. Commissioner Ron Smith was the lone dissenting vote.

 

The Oregon Department of Justice’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, along with the Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team (SOCET) served a search warrant yesterday morning in South Ashland. Investigators served the warrant Wednesday at a residence on Neil Creek Road in Ashland after discovering Child Sexual Abuse Material images were uploaded from the address. Investigators interviewed possible witnesses and involved parties, and investigations are ongoing. Law enforcement began their investigation after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children which led to subpoenas, followed by the search warrant at the residence. Investigators seized digital devices which will be forensically examined by ODOJ Forensics for further evidence of child exploitation. No further details will be released at this time.