KAJO 99.7FM - News Story

Woman Arrested by GP Police after Reports of Disorderly Conduct, Littering

Dispatch received calls regarding the same woman due to her disorderly behavior downtown.

One call to 911 reported a woman that appeared to be under the influence walking in the street. She didn't appear to be aware of her surroundings and was going through trash on 6th and I Street. The caller requested a welfare check.

Another call reported the same woman banging on the glass at NAPA Auto Parts at 229 SW H Street. She didn't cause any damage but spread trash around the parking lot, blocking vehicle access. She then fled the scene towards the railroad tracks

A trespass request was made, and Grants Pass Police officers were able to locate her in the Grasshopper Lot. The suspect, Cierra Powers, was taken into custody. Her parole officer was contacted, and a detainer was issued.

While officers transported Powers to the Josephine County Jail, she began intentionally hitting her head against the cage in the patrol vehicle. She was lodged on her detainer, and charges of Offensive Littering, and Second Degree Disorderly Conduct.

Posted on 3/23/26 12:24PM by Alex Bauer

Inn Vandal Lodged for Trespass, Criminal Mischief, Escape, Meth Charges

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department were alerted to a man causing damage at the Redwood Garden Inn.

On Sunday at 7:13 p.m., an employee of the 815 NE 6th Street inn reported a man walked into a vacant room. He was described as being in his mid-30s with a full black beard, beanie, and tan clothing. He was not currently a guest, and the employee didn't believe he had been trespassed before.

Officers learned the suspect, later identified as Matthew Barnett, had been coming onto the property, entering vacant rooms, and causing damage. In one instance he had broken into the pool house, and fallen through the roof into the break room.

Staff had told Barnett not to come back multiple times prior to Sunday's call for service, and earlier attempts to locate him had been unsuccessful.

Officers arrived and made announcements at the door of the room Barnett had entered. He was told he was going to be placed under arrest, and he attempted to escape by running out the back door. Law enforcement stopped Barnett at taser point.

Barnett was taken into custody while officers checked the hotel room. It was messy, and empty syringes that tested positive for methamphetamine were located in a trash bin. Barnett was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Possession of Meth, First Degree Criminal Trespass, Third Degree Criminal Mischief, and Escape in the Third Degree.

His parole officer was contacted, and a detainer was also placed on Barnett. He was trespassed from the inn.

Posted on 3/23/26 11:33AM by Alex Bauer

JoCo Sheriff's Office Apprehended Three Suspects following Two Vehicle Chases

Josephine County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested three suspects following two separate vehicle chases.

On March 12th, deputies attempted a traffic stop near the Obrien area. The vehicle immediately failed to stop and began eluding deputies. The two occupants were identified as James Patterson, 39, driving, and Breanna Vineyard, 29, as passenger, both of which had active felony warrants.

The vehicle turned onto a Forest Service Road and began to slow down. Vineyard then jumped out and ran into the woods. Patterson continued to elude in the vehicle into a rural wooded area where he eventually fled on foot as well.

Oregon State Police assisted with Air Patrol along with Sheriff’s Office K-9, Yana, but Patterson was not located. On March 17th, another traffic stop was attempted where Patterson was the driver and Vineyard was the passenger. Patterson again eluded deputies and drove recklessly at a high rate of speed on U.S. Highway 199.

Deputies terminated the pursuit after it continued into California and became dangerous to the public as it entered the Smith River Canyon on the highway. On March 20th, the Sheriff’s Office received information regarding the whereabouts of Patterson and Vineyard.

Deputies, with the assistance of Parole and Probation, and K-9 Yana, were able to set a perimeter around the location, and give commands for both to surrender. At approximately 11:38 a.m., Patterson and Vineyard complied with commands and were taken into custody without incident. Aaron Geiger, 54, was also located and taken into custody.

All three were lodged at the Josephine County Jail. Patterson was lodged on three counts of Attempt to Elude, two counts of Reckless Driving, two counts of Meth Possession, Escape, and a Probation Violation. He and Vineyard were charged with a Post-Prison Supervision sanction, and she was also charged with Meth Possession. Geiger was charged with a Probation Violation.

Posted on 3/23/26 10:50AM by Alex Bauer

OSP Assisted in Locating Two Missing Individuals Saturday

Oregon State Police were able to locate two missing persons over the weekend.

On Saturday around 12:24 p.m., troopers responded to a suspicious person call on Interstate 5 near milepost 59 northbound. The individual was contacted, and identified as Roger Lewis, 72, of Sherwood.

Troopers learned Lewis had been entered as a missing person out of Washington County, so they remained on the scene with him until his family arrived. A white Dodge Dakota was towed from the scene.

Later that same day at 1:43 p.m., troopers were asked to assist the Josephine County Sheriff's Office with locating a missing four-year-old. She had gone missing from her home in Selma. Through the efforts of both law enforcement agencies, the child was found following a two hour search.

Posted on 3/23/26 10:28AM by Alex Bauer

BCC Meeting for City Collaboration, Workshop to Cover Dimmick Property

The Board of County Commissioners will meet for a general discussion regarding the collaboration of the city and county Tuesday morning.

The City and County Monthly Update meeting will take place in the BCC Conference Room at 11 a.m., followed later by the boards County Administration Workshop.

Scheduled to commence at 1:30 p.m., Legal Counsel will begin the meeting by presenting the board with two purchase and sale agreements for Dimmick properties. Also on the agenda are orders for the transfer of property to Cave Junction, and news media attendance.

Other Legal Counsel business includes Evergreen Federal Bank v. Josephine County and 2 Guys, 1 Truck, a 2025 Budget Officer Contract, and the annual Records Disposition Process.

Other business will be presented by departments, including Forestry's Extension of Suspension regarding the acceptance of applications for Mineral Exploration and Mining Leases, and Community Justice's Opioid Settlement Funding Report.

Board business includes an invoice from Dunn Carney LLP and Advisory Committee Applications, after which the meeting will adjourn pending other topics.

Before Tuesday's meetings, Commissioners Ron Smith, Colene Martin, and Gary Richardson will appear on KAJO's Tuesday Talk Show, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Posted on 3/23/26 10:00AM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Arrested Suspect in Possession of Meth and Taser on Warrant

An officer with Grants Pass Police apprehended a convicted felon in possession of a taser Saturday.

While driving up 7th Street, the officer observed the suspect, Bobby Swearingen, around 10:31 p.m. He was seen riding a bluish purple mountain bike near the North Safeway at 115 SE 7th Street. After searching the area, the same bike was located in front of River City Grill.

Swearingen, who was known to have an active and serviceable warrant from the Oregon State Parole Board, attempted to flee out the back door of the building until he was eventually cornered. The officer held him at taser point and took him into custody without further incident.

During a consent search of Swearingen's person, the officer found a white powdery substance that tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine. Swearingen was arrested and transported to the Josephine County Jail.

He was also found to be in possession of a taser. Being a convicted felon, Swearingen is prohibited from possessing such an item. He was lodged for his Parole Violation warrant, Possession of Meth, and Possession of a Restricted Weapon.

Posted on 3/23/26 6:41AM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Apprehended Suspect in Restraining Order Violation Report

Grants Pass Police officers responded to a restraining order violation Saturday night.

A call to 911 reported Alan Curtis, the respondent of a restraining order between he and the caller, had attempted to make contact via phone. The caller did not pick up the phone when he called around 9:12 p.m. and 9:17 p.m., and alerted dispatch to the violation at 11:30 p.m.

The restraining order between the two was confirmed, and officers were able to locate and arrest Curtis. According to the police report, between Saturday night and Sunday morning, Curtis attempted to contact the victim four times.

Officers transported and lodged Curtis in the Josephine County Jail on four counts of Contempt of Court.

Posted on 3/23/26 4:40AM by Alex Bauer

Intoxicated Woman Lying in Elmer's Lobby Arrested after Resisting GP Police

The manager of Elmer's Restaurant reported a highly intoxicated woman on the premises, leading to an arrest by Grants Pass Police.

Saturday night around 7:58, dispatch was notified that a woman was lying on the ground in the lounge area of the 175 NE Agness Avenue restaurant. She was reportedly highly intoxicated and refusing offers from the staff for a ride home.

The manager said she wanted to ride a motorized scooter, but she reportedly couldn't stand upright and kept falling while attempting to get on the scooter.

Officers arrived and contacted the woman, Angelina James, saying she would be put under arrest for the sobering center. She again tried to leave the location saying she wouldn't go with law enforcement, so officers attempted to take her into custody.

James actively pushed against officers and attempted to kick them while she was being put in the patrol vehicle. Once secured, she was transported to the Adult Jail Facility for Second Degree Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest. She was further trespassed from the Elmer's per the manager's request.

Posted on 3/23/26 4:40AM by Alex Bauer

Fatal Two-Vehicle Crash Claims Life of GP Resident, OSP, ODOT Responded

Oregon State Police responded to a fatal two-vehicle crash on Highway 97 near milepost 236 in Klamath County March 17th at 7:49 p.m. The preliminary investigation indicated a red Dodge Ram pulling a trailer, operated by Sue Anne Evans, 76, of Grants Pass, was traveling northbound on Highway 97 near Chiloquin when it crossed into the southbound lane for an unknown reason. The Dodge Ram collided head-on with a southbound gray Ford F550 towing a trailer and forklift, operated by Chad Everett Hayes, 44, of Walla Walla, Washington. Evans was pronounced deceased at the scene, and Hayes had reported minor injuries. He was subsequently transported to an area hospital. The highway was impacted for approximately six hours during the on-scene investigation. OSP was assisted by the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Posted on 3/20/26 12:01PM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Arrested Armed Suspect that Threatened Roommate

A call to 911 reported a man threatening his roommate with a gun Thursday, leading to his arrest by Grants Pass Police.

The caller reported at 6 p.m. that her roommate, Mathew Scriber, pulled a gun on and threatened to kill her. After displaying the weapon, he proceeded to leave the residence and continued yelling threats outside.

There were reportedly two children and four adults in the house, and upon arrival, officers were able to detain and take Scribner into custody without incident. Witnesses told law enforcement they had observed Scribner raise the firearm at the residence while continuing his verbal threats.

Officers found the Glock 22 handgun in Scribner's possession had an extended magazine but no ammunition loaded. He was transported to the Adult Jail Facility where he was lodged for Menacing and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. The firearm was logged into evidence.

Posted on 3/20/26 11:39AM by Alex Bauer

JoCo Sheriff's Deputies Arrested Armed Goose Egg Vandal

Deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man after he egged his neighbor's mobile home, then pointed a gun at the neighbor's son.

Dispatch was alerted to the incident at 6:15 Thursday evening. The caller said their neighbor, Joseph Evans, propped a ladder against their mobile home in the 300 block of Bandy Way, and was breaking goose eggs.

The caller's son was walking over to the home when he saw Evans, and they got into a verbal argument. It was then reported Evans went back to his home and returned with a hand gun, pointing it at the son and trying to hit him with it.

Evans proceeded to walk around the area before going back inside. Upon arrival, deputies met with the caller, who confirmed with a photo that Evans had a gun. When attempting to contact him, law enforcement heard banging sounds and movement inside.

Evans was soon contacted and charged with Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Third Degree Criminal Mischief, and Pointing a Firearm at Another. Deputies transported and lodged him in the Josephine County Jail

Posted on 3/20/26 10:59AM by Alex Bauer

Man Called in For Alleged Unlawful Motor Vehicle Entry, Arrested on Warrants

A man attempting to enter a vehicle was arrested by Grants Pass Police officers for two warrants.

At 6:54 a.m. Thursday, a call to 911 reported suspicious activity that occurred 10 minutes prior. The caller said it looked like someone was breaking into a red or orange Hummer and taking its bike rack on a property in the 800 block of SE 8th Street.

The suspect was reportedly wearing a headlamp and carrying a tote with bags and cans. The Hummer's passenger side door was open and it looked like the suspect was trying to reach the back of the vehicle.

Officers arrived, identified the suspect as William Jensen, and confirmed he had lawful access to the vehicle. He was, however, wanted on two warrants out of the Police Department.

Jensen was arrested for his warrants charging him with Possession of Methamphetamine. Officers transported him to the Josephine County Jail for his warrants. He was lodged, but later had to be released due to a lack of resources.

Posted on 3/20/26 10:37AM by Alex Bauer

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