Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's assistance in a missing person case. David Wendell Potter, 68, was reported missing today around 9 a.m. He was last seen Thursday at 1:30 p.m. walking south on Monument Drive in Merlin. David was wearing a blue checkered sweater, blue pants, black shoes, and a black hat at the time of his disappearance. David is described as a 5'11" white male weighing 200 pounds with grey hair and blue eyes. He currently has a long beard. If you have any information on David's whereabouts, please contact the Josephine County Sheriff's Office at 541-474-5123.

 

Officers with Grants Pass Police conducted a traffic stop early this morning, leading to a man's arrest for Meth Possession.

At 3:50 a.m., law enforcement pulled over a silver Honda Pilot driven by Tung-Ming Chen at the corner of SE 8th Street and SE H Street. He was being stopped for failure to obey a traffic control device, but officers found Chen was driving while suspended, without insurance, and with expired, out of state tags.

Chen was advised his vehicle would be impounded. During an inventory search, officers found a glass pipe in plain view. Chen was taken into custody for Possession of Methamphetamine. His passengers were identified and allowed to leave. The Honda was towed from the scene.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man after he tried to flee on his bicycle Thursday afternoon.

Officers attempted to take Justis Cory into custody after locating him at Resting Site 6 North. He then began heading northbound from the 714 NW 6th Street site on his bike.

Cory was stopped and taken into custody, despite his resistance and attempts to escape. Officers conducted a consent search and found a baggie with residue that tested presumptive positive for meth. A charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance was referred to the District Attorney's Office.

Cory was transported to the Josephine County Jail, where he was lodged for Escape in the Third Degree, Resisting Arrest, and a warrant charging him with Third Degree Theft. His bike was logged for safekeeping.

 

A man causing a disturbance downtown was apprehended by Grants Pass Police.

On Thursday at 3:01 p.m., officers located the suspect, Jeremy Scrape, at the corner of NW 6th Street and NE E Street. He was obstructing traffic in the area.. Scrape was held at taser point before being taken into custody.

Officers transported Scrape to the Josephine County Jail. He was lodged for Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree. His belongings were logged for safekeeping.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man known to have an active warrant out for his arrest Thursday.

At 11:11 a.m., officers detained James Hall after recognizing him at the Newman United Methodist Church at 132 NE B Street. He was wanted on a warrant charging him with Second Degree Criminal Trespass. Hall was read his rights, after which he then admitted to possessing methamphetamine.

A consent search of Hall's person and property was conducted. Officers located loose meth, as well as a glass pipe that field tested positive for the presumptive presence of meth.

After contacting Hall's Parole Officer, a detainer was requested. Officers transported and lodged Hall in the Josephine County Jail for his warrant, the detainer, and a Meth Possession charge.

 

Around 7 a.m. this morning, Medford Fire Department responded to a garage fire at a residence in the 3500 block of Juanipero Way.

Thanks to quick actions by neighbors and the rapid response from MFD, the fire was quickly knocked down, helping limit further damage. One patient was transported by Mercy Flights, and firefighters were able to safely remove two family pets without injury.

Deputy Fire Marshals remained on the scene and are working to determine the origin and cause of the fire. There were no traffic impacts, and units cleared the scene.

 

The Grants Pass City Council will meet Monday morning for their workshop, beginning with interviews of Budget Committee candidates.

The next item on the agenda is reaffirm budget policy and future financial outlook. The council will then appoint a Councilor to the First Forty Feet Citizen Advisory Committee.

Following an agenda review, including Parks Advisory Committee motions, business meetings, and the calendar, the workshop will adjourn.

The City Council Workshop will begin at 11:45 a.m. in Council Chambers, 101 NW A Street, and will be streamed at grantspassoregon.gov.

 

The Temporary Board of Other Elective Administrative Officers met for the first time this afternoon at 1:30 p.m. Comprised of Sheriff Dave Daniel, Surveyor Peter Allen, Clerk Rhiannon Henkels, Treasurer Dustin Calvo, Legal Counsel Wally Hicks, and Assessor Chris Parton, the board selected Calvo as the chair. Discussion of the process for appointing the two vacancies to the Board of County Commissioners followed. Hicks recommended appointing both positions based on the transferal of authority to appoint following the lack of quorum. Position 2 would be appointed first, followed by Position 1, with the Temporary Board drawing from the same pool of applicants. Human Resources will open applications through NEOGOV online Friday, January 30th, and advertise in the paper as soon as possible. The application period will run through until Sunday, February 8th at midnight. Hicks volunteered to approve the vacancy postings, which was unanimously favored. Aspects the Temporary Board will look for in applicants are work experience, leadership, communication, collaboration, computer skills, teamwork, and an educational background. Applications sent in by February 5th will be emailed to the Temporary Board members for review that day, followed by the remaining applications sent to the board by February 9th.

 

Oregon State Police troopers responded to a single vehicle crash on Highway 260 at milepost 21 Wednesday night.

A black Chevy Cobalt was traveling westbound at about 45 miles per hour when a deer entered the travel lane. The driver swerved to avoid the deer, but lost control and struck a large boulder on the right side of the roadway.

Troopers arrived at the scene around 10:57 p.m. The vehicle was found to have front end damage and was towed. The driver sustained minor injuries and was transported by AMR to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment.