Texas Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiring to Commit Armed Pot Robbery

Two San Antonio men were sentenced to federal prison last week for conspiring to travel from Texas to Southern Oregon to commit an armed robbery while disguised as agents from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The US Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon reports 24-year-old Jose Manuel Lopez was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison and 23-year-old Juan Carlos Conchas was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison. Both men were also sentenced to four years of supervised release and must pay restitution to the victim. Court documents show that on March 12, 2022, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to a residence on Pyle Drive after receiving reports of an armed robbery in progress. Deputies found a residence with a closed gate and two empty vehicles with Texas license plates in the driveway with their doors open. Deputies saw several people running toward the back of the property and found victims inside the house. The victims reported that armed individuals dressed in what appeared to be DEA attire and wearing body armor arrived at the property and used zip ties and duct tape to restrain them. Deputies searched the property and found large plastic totes containing packaged marijuana in the buildings and vehicles. They also found body armor, firearms, ammunition, shell casings and DEA badges along the path the defendants used to flee the property. ...Read more

GP Police and Firefighters Endured Extreme Heat while Protecting Community

Grants Pass police officers and firefighters endured extreme heat while protecting the community last week. According to the Weekly Report filed by Grants Pass City Manager Aaron Cubic, police officers responded to a total of 633 calls for service along with 260 officer-initiated calls last week that resulted in 39 arrests, 14 citations, 38 warnings and nine highly-intoxicated people being lodged at the Sobering Center. Cubic also reported that officers conducted a total of 47 traffic stops in the city and they made 18 referrals to the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS). The GPPD Community Response Team (CRT) made contact with a total of 62 potential troublemakers while arresting 18 people, citing 23 more and warning 29 others. The CRT unit also trespassed 24 individuals and made 66 park checks. Grants Pass Fire & Rescue responded to a total of 118 calls last week including 38 for emergency medical service, nine reports of fire or smoke, 16 lift assists, 27 rescue situations, 18 assists to other agencies and seven false alarms. The Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center fielded a total of 1,418 emergency calls last week. ...Read more

Grants Pass Begins Process of Removing Homeless People from All City Parks

Grants Pass has begun the process of removing homeless people from all city parks. Josephine County Circuit Judge Sarah McGlaughlin on Friday issued a General Judgement of Dismissal resulting in the Disability Rights Oregon versus City of Grants Pass case being dismissed with prejudice and the preliminary injunction being dissolved. Over the weekend, the Grants Pass Police Department started noticing parks occupants they will have 72 hours to remove their belongings. The existing ordinance prohibiting overnight camping in city parks can now be enforced. The downtown resting sites on NW 5th Street, NW 6th Street and NE 7th Street will remain open, but the 96-hour length-of-stay restrictions can now be enforced unless an ADA accommodation is necessary. As part of the settlement, Grants Pass must provide resting sites for a minimum of 150 people for at least one year. ...Read more