Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a man trespassed from the downtown area Sunday morning.

During a proactive check of the 5th Street overlook, Isaac Whaley was contacted and found to be excluded from the downtown area until Friday, September 11th. He confirmed to law enforcement that he was aware of his exclusion, and that he wasn't in the area for a valid reason.

Officers took Whaley into custody and gave him a 90 day trespass order. He was transported to the Josephine County Jail and lodged for Second Degree Trespassing. He was later released on his own recognizance.

 

A man reported to be dancing in his underwear outside the Downtown Welcome Center Sunday was apprehended by Grants Pass Police following a welfare check.

Dispatch was notified that the suspect was walking around and pointing towards the sky at 198 SW 6th Street before heading towards the downtown Papa Johns at 4:29 a.m. A welfare check was requested, and officers contacted the suspect outside the U.S. Bank.

He was taken into custody, but while in the patrol vehicle, the suspect began kicking and standing up, trying to get out of the seat. He unbuckled himself and attempted to exit the vehicle. Officers subsequently took him to the ground and applied a wrap.

The suspect, identified in the police report as John Doe, was successfully transported to jail and lodged for Resisting Arrest.

 

Emergency crews responded to an illegal open burn and traffic accident over the weekend.

Friday at 7:30 p.m., an incident involving an open burn was reported in the 6200 block of Deer Creek Road in Selma.

The Illinois Valley Fire District and the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District promptly responded to the incident. After successfully extinguishing the fire, crews gave the property owner a citation in connection with the incident. Crews remind the public that open burning is currently prohibited.

IVFD was then dispatched, along with American Medical Response and the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, to a traffic accident Saturday at 6:28 p.m.

The incident occurred at the intersection of N Old Stage Road and Caves Highway in Cave Junction. One individual sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was subsequently transported for medical attention.

Sheriff's Office personnel conducted the official investigation.

 

White smoke was observed emanating from 900 E Park Street, to which Grants Pass firefighters and police officers responded.

Units soon located the cause of the smoke, a warming fire set by Ryan Velasquez. He had been previously trespassed from the Texas property, and was advised he was under arrest. The fire was extinguished by firefighters.

While being placed under arrest, Velasquez attempted to discard a glass pipe with a white, crystalline residue inside. The pipe field tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine.

Law enforcement lodged Velasquez in jail for Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree, and Possession of Meth.

 

After conducting a traffic stop, Grants Pass Police lodged the driver and passenger for Criminal Conspiracy and Methamphetamine Possession charges respectively.

Thursday around 8:09 p.m., the suspect vehicle was identified heading northbound on Interstate 5. Officers pursued and eventually pulled the vehicle over near the Big 5 Sporting Goods by utilizing a pinch technique.

The two suspects, Michael Denson and Jennifer Fulmer were both detained. Officers found Fulmer was wanted on a Police Department warrant for Possession of Meth. Her warrant was cleared, and the suspect vehicle was towed from the scene.

Both suspects were transported to the Josephine County Jail, with Fulmer being lodged on her warrant, and Denson for a charge of Conspiracy Delivery of a Controlled Substance.

 

Josephine County Sheriff's deputies arrested a man wanted on an out-of-county warrant Thursday afternoon.

Law enforcement detained the suspect, Brad Witherell, in the 1800 block of Coyote Creek Road at 2:56 p.m. He was wanted on a warrant out of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office for Misdemeanor Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine and Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree.

Witherell's vehicle was towed from the scene and impounded. He was given an additional charge of Felony Meth Possession, and lodged in jail.

 

Officers with Grants Pass Police apprehended a woman wanted on theft charges following an incident at Grocery Outlet.

The manager of the 350 NE Agness Avenue grocer requested the suspect be trespassed after reporting it was possible she concealed items on her person before heading towards the nearby Cricket Wireless and Subway.

The suspect was soon contacted and detained by police, who identified her as Ruby Yamoona, despite her providing officers with a false name. She had two warrants out of the Grants Pass Police Department charging her with Second and Third Degree Theft and Identity Theft.

Officers trespassed Yamoona from the Grocery Outlet, and took her into custody. She was transported to the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility where she was lodged.

 

A man was arrested after attempting to steal Walmart merchandise and fleeing the scene of the crime before officer's arrival.

Thursday at 2:28 p.m., loss prevention at the 135 NE Terry Lane store detained the cooperative suspect after he stole food and a vacuum valued at about $190 in total. Grants Pass Police were alerted to the situation, then informed the suspect was fleeing the scene at 2:35 p.m.

He was reported to be driving a dark gray Dodge Neon and heading towards Agness Avenue. The vehicle was observed by law enforcement, who quickly initiated a traffic stop. The suspect, Gabriel Suiter, was found to be driving while suspended, and had a parole board warrant out for his arrest.

His identity was confirmed by police, and he was taken into custody. He was lodged in the Adult Jail Facility for Second Degree Theft, Misdemeanor Driving While Suspended, and his warrant for Robbery in the Third Degree. His vehicle was towed from the scene to be impounded.

 

A man was trespassed from Debo Park and arrested for an active, serviceable warrant Thursday morning.

An officer with the Grants Pass Police Department recognized the suspect, Larry Knight, after he was observed in the 510 SW G Street park area. He had been previously trespassed from the location for 30 days, and law enforcement knew he was wanted out of the Police Department.

Knight's warrant charged him with Second Degree Criminal Trespass, and he was taken into custody. Law enforcement transported and lodged Knight in the Josephine County Jail for his warrant and another charge of Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree. He was also lodged on a detainer per his parole officer.

Knight's property was submitted into safekeeping, and he was trespassed from the park for 90 days.