KLDR - Local News

RCC Hosting "2024 Oregon Transfer Days" at Medford and GP Campuses This Week

For students considering transferring to a four-year university, Rogue Community College and TRIO are hosting Oregon Transfer Days in Medford and Grants Pass. The college transfer days will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the Riverside Campus Higher Education Center in Medford and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday at the Redwood Campus Student Center in Grants Pass. Oregon Transfer Days is an important event for university-bound students. There will be several colleges and universities in attendance to answer questions and provide guidance regarding their transfer processes. Guests will have the chance to meet recruiters and talk about various options and available resources. Advisors and faculty are also encouraged to attend so they may learn about potential transfer opportunities for their students. For more information about Oregon Transfer Days, contact Pam Green at (541)-956-747 or e-mail "pgreen@roguecc.edu."

Posted on 1/24/24 6:12AM by Sam Marsh

BCC to Consider Supplemental Budget and Bargaining Agreement with Workers

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on a supplemental budget for the current fiscal year and consider a collective bargaining agreement with certain employees during its weekly business session tomorrow. The Board is expected to approve a resolution adopting a supplemental budget and making appropriations and budget adjustments for Fiscal Year 2023-24. There are no major changes to the current budget, only adjustments to ensure it is balanced. As part of Administration Actions, the Commissioners will consider a collective bargaining agreement with the Laborers' International Union of North America Local 737 as well as the publishing of the Annual Financial Report. Following Requests and Comments from Citizens, the Consent Calendar contains various minutes from recent meetings, a plan of action letter to the Oregon Secretary of State and Participation in Federal Planning Coordination Letters. Wednesday's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 1/23/24 11:32AM by Sam Marsh

DA Eastman Says Police Shooting that Killed GP Murder Suspect Last Month was Justified

The Josephine County District Attorney has concluded that an officer-involved shooting that killed a murder suspect last month was justified by Oregon law. District Attorney Josh Eastman announced this morning that he has concluded his review of the officer-involved shooting that occurred just after noon on December 15th near the intersection of Redwood Highway and Allen Creek Road. Eastman said officers from all three local law enforcement agencies -- the Grants Pass Police Department, Josephine County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State Police -- were actively looking for Kelly Lynn Mason who was wanted on a nationwide warrant for Murder, Assault, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Robbery and Burglary stemming from a November 21st homicide on Rogue River Highway. Officers from the local agencies had attended briefings to inform them about what vehicle Mason was driving, where he was most likely staying, that he was likely in possession of firearms, that he had said "goodbye" to a family member on day prior to the incident and had made statements about "shooting it out with police." On December 15th, a deputy spotted the suspect vehicle heading toward Grants Pass on Redwood Highway. The deputy began following the vehicle but did not try to pull it over because he had been instructed to wait for additional units. A high risk traffic stop was attempted on Highway 199 near Dowell Road, but Mason accelerated and began weaving in and out of traffic using the shoulder. After a successful PIT maneuver brought the chase to a halt, the suspect started firing gunshots at law enforcement, hitting two Sheriff's Office patrol vehicles and causing minor injuries to a Corporal who was struck with glass and projectiles. Because Mason was shooting at them, seven officers returned fire and eventually killed the suspect who was armed with an AR-15 style rifle and ammunition while wearing body armor.

Posted on 1/23/24 10:44AM by Sam Marsh

Community Corrections Assists GP Police with Apprehension of Local Fugitive

With assistance from Josephine County Community Corrections, Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a local felony warrant yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 43-year-old Peter Anthony Rivera at the Community Corrections Office on NW 4th Street on Monday at 1:52 p.m.. Police said Rivera's corrections officer notified them that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a previous conviction for 2nd-Degree Assault and 1st-Degree Rape. The suspect has been arrested numerous times since April 2023 for crimes including Parole Violation, Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon, Falsifying a Drug Test, Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Trespass. Peter Rivera was placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged on the outstanding warrant. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 1/23/24 10:42AM by Sam Marsh

Troopers Collared Motorist on Local Felony Warrant after South GP Traffic Stop

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist on an outstanding felony warrant late yesterday after a traffic stop in south Grants Pass. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Subaru WRX driven by 52-year-old Rachelle Kirtland near the intersection of Williams and Redwood highways on Monday at 4:30 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped Kirtland for a traffic violation and discovered that her driving privileges had been suspended and she had no automobile insurance. It was also learned that she was wanted on a local bench warrant for failing to appear in court for Felon in Possession of a Weapon, Unlawful Possession and Delivery of Marijuana, and Unlawful Manufacture of a Marijuana Item. Rachelle Kirtland was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. Because of the traffic violations, her Subaru was impounded.

Posted on 1/23/24 10:41AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Incarcerated Woman on Felony Warrant after Early Morning Contact

Grants Pass Police incarcerated a woman on a felony warrant after a patrol check at a gas station/convenience store in the north part of the city early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 29-year-old Carly Brooke Jensen at the 76 Station/Pinnacle 365 on NE 6th Street on Monday at 4:35 a.m.. Police said they were on patrol when they spotted Jensen at the station. A routine records check revealed that she was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation related to convictions for Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle, Resisting Arrest, Escape, Disorderly Conduct and Public Indecency. Carly Jensen was placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where she was booked on the no-bail warrant. Her personal property was logged into evidence for safekeeping.

Posted on 1/23/24 10:40AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Man for Stealing Package Off Porch and Drug Possession

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for stealing a package off the front porch of a residence in the northwest part of the city last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a "porch pirating" incident involving 23-year-old Calvin Mathew Bertik in the 100-block of NW Manzanita Avenue on Sunday morning. The incident happened on Saturday. Police said Bertik stole an Amazon package valued at $35 off the front porch of the residence. They said he was captured stealing the package on a surveillance camera and positively identified. He allowed officers to search his residence to check for stolen property and a man identified as "Nick Rasmussen" was hiding in a closet. A large chunk of a crystal substance which Bertik identified as methamphetamine was in plain sight in the residence. There was also an open case which contained a scale, packaging material and a small amount of colorful chunks Bertik identified as fentanyl. The drug items were seized and Bertik admitted to the porch theft. Calvin Bertik was placed into custody and booked into the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft and the narcotics violations. A search of the area for Nick Rasmussen was unsuccessful.

Posted on 1/23/24 10:39AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Nabbed Three Motorists for Impaired Driving after Weekend Stops in GP

The Oregon State Police arrested three other motorists for impaired driving last weekend following traffic stops in the Grants Pass area. According to OSP, the first incident occurred on Saturday at 10:58 a.m. when state troopers pulled over a Dodge Ram 3500 driven by 28-year-old Jordan Moore near milepost 2 of Redwood Highway. Troopers said they stopped Moore for traffic violations, found him to have an active felony warrant and -- after a search of the vehicle -- found him with a criminal amount of marijuana. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis, Reckless Driving, Felony Possession of Marijuana and the outstanding warrant. The second incident happened on Sunday at 12:04 a.m. when troopers pulled over a Mazda sedan driven by 28-year-old Zechariah Iwamizu near the corner of SE N Street and Camelot Drive. Troopers said they stopped Iwamizu for multiple traffic violations and he displayed signs of impairment. He performed poorly in field sobriety tests and provided a urine sample at the Sobering Center before being lodged for DUII-Alcohol and Cannabis. The third incident took place on Sunday at 12:46 a.m. when troopers pulled over a GMC pickup driven by 21-year-old Benjamin Clark near the corner of NE 7th and A Streets. Troopers said they stopped Clark for a traffic violation and he showed signs of impairment. He performed poorly in sobriety tests and provided a breath sample that exceeded the legal driving limit. He was cited to appear in court for DUII-Alcohol and Reckless Driving.

Posted on 1/23/24 10:37AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Trespassed 8 Campers from 3 City Parks in Monday Patrol Checks

Grants Pass Police evicted a total of eight people from three city parks during patrol checks performed early yesterday. During a patrol check at Westholm Park, John and Ashley Hansen were issued citations for Illegal Camping and trespassed from the park for 30 days due to it being their second violation. Aaron Storms was cited for Illegal Camping and Scattering Rubbish. He was also issued a 30-day exclusion. During a patrol check at Morrison Centennial Park, Kyle Palomino and Joseph Wilder were cited for Illegal Camping and Scattering Rubbish. Both were issued 30-day exclusions. Dakota Ree was cited for Buffer Zone Violation and Scattering Rubbish before being trespassed for 30 days. Samantha Brown was cited for Illegal Camping after she failed to leave after getting a 72-hour notice last week. During a patrol check at Baker Park, Marilynn Humphrey was cited for Illegal Camping after she failed to remove her campsite after being given a 72-hour notice. She was trespassed from the park for 30 days.

Posted on 1/23/24 10:36AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Captured Out-of-State Fugitive while Investigating Squatting Complaint

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office captured an out-of-state fugitive while performing a weekend patrol check on land managed by the US Forest Service. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 35-year-old Lars Christian Depriest on Forest Service land in an unspecified location on Saturday. Deputies said they were investigating reports of an older model motorhome parked in a remote area when they contacted Depriest and discovered that he was wanted on a felony warrant issued by the Ozark County Sheriff's Office in Missouri. The warrant dated back to 2019, but the charges against the suspect were not disclosed. After the extradition warrant was confirmed, Depriest was arrested. He had been flagged for possible violence against law enforcement, but he was placed into custody without incident. Lars Depriest was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail. He was being held without bail pending extradition proceedings that will send him back to Missouri.

Posted on 1/23/24 6:26AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Collared Man on Four Outstanding Warrants in Restaurant Encounter

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man on four outstanding warrants -- three of them outside of Josephine County -- during a weekend encounter at an east-side restaurant. The Police Department reports officers contacted a man who identified himself as "Jeremiah Ballard" in a vehicle at Shari's Café & Pies on NE Agness Avenue on Sunday at 8:47 p.m.. A woman in the car identified herself as "Shanae Cleveland." Police said it was determined that "Ballard" was a false name for 44-year-old Christopher Donald MacPherson who had multiple warrants for his arrest. He was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Probation Violation related to a conviction for 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief, a Marion County felony warrant for Aggravated Assault and Resisting Arrest, a Marion County felony warrant for Attempt to Elude Police and a Yamhill County felony warrant for Probation Violation related to Theft. MacPherson bolted from the vehicle and ran away, but he was located a short time later hiding in some bushes. He was placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was booked on the warrants as well as Furnishing False Information to Police.

Posted on 1/23/24 6:18AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Jailed Man for Crimes & Warrants after He Fled from Elk Lane Crash

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for multiple crimes and outstanding warrants after he crashed his vehicle into a fence and tried to flee. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to the incident at the end of Elk Lane on Saturday night. Deputies said a property owner in the 2700-block of Elk Lane called 9-1-1 to report hearing a motor vehicle accident. The caller investigated and discovered a 1950s-model pickup tangled in their fence, causing at least $500 in damage. The driver -- later identified as 37-year-old Christopher Michael Anthony -- attempted to drive away and then took off running down the road. Anthony was Tased and placed into custody a short time later. That's when it was discovered that he was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for failing to appear in court for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and 1st-Degree Theft as well as a Medford felony warrant listing crimes of Kidnapping, Robbery, Assault and Strangulation. Christopher Anthony was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrants plus new charges of Felony and Misdemeanor Attempt to Elude Police, Resisting Arrest, Reckless Driving and Hit-and-Run Causing Property Damage. His pickup was towed to the impound yard.

Posted on 1/23/24 6:16AM by Sam Marsh