Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for allegedly threatening others with a gun during an ongoing dispute between neighbors near Grants Pass. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 22-year-old Jackie Pearson Paul Willis for the incident in the 1100-block of Plumtree Lane on Wednesday around 11:45 a.m.. Deputies said a man called 9-1-1 and reported that Willis and another man were "shooting at them and threatening them" while waving a sawed-off shotgun in his face. At one point, the caller advised the suspect told him, "You are all dead" and shot at him with the shotgun. There were no injuries reported, but the caller said the suspects were up all night stealing his property. The other suspect was not identified. According to the report, Willis and the other man fled the scene in a Nissan Pathfinder which deputies located and pulled over in the 1500-block of Pinecrest Drive. Both men were detained, but only Willis was placed into custody. Jackie Willis was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for three counts Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, three counts of Menacing and one count of Pointing a Firearm at Another. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for threatening his ex-girlfriend and her cousin at a residence near the downtown area yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 22-year-old Raymond Robert Lee Amos for the domestic disturbance in the 1300-block of SW Foundry Street at 12:16 p.m. Wednesday. Police said a woman called 9-1-1 to report that her ex-boyfriend -- Amos -- came to her house on foot and hit her vehicle with a crutch, placing her and her cousin in fear of imminent serious physical injury. The caller told dispatchers that the suspect threatened to kill her. According to the report, Amos and the woman were in a previous relationship and Amos believes his ex-girlfriend's five-month-old daughter is his. Upon arrival, officers placed Raymond Amos into custody and then lodged him at the Josephine County Jail for two counts of Domestic Menacing and one count of Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail.

 

The Oregon State Police jailed a Grants Pass man for multiple crimes including impaired driving and drug possession following a traffic stop on Rogue River Highway late yesterday. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Ford F-350 driven by 42-year-old Jason Lee Amundson on Highway 99 near Clara Avenue on Wednesday at 5:22 p.m.. Troopers said Amundson was the subject of a driving complaint and -- upon locating the vehicle -- they observed poor driving behavior. Signs of impairment were displayed, but the suspect refused to participate in field sobriety tests and he had to be physically extracted from the truck. During a search of the vehicle, a large amount of methamphetamine and money were located. The drugs and currency were seized as evidence. Amundson was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented impairment by both alcohol and drugs. He was lodged in jail for two counts of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving, Resisting Arrest and Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance. Based on the large quantity of meth found in the stop near Fruitdale Elementary School, a charge of Delivery of Meth within 1,000 Feet of a School was referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration. The truck was impounded.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for leading officers on a pursuit in the north part of the city yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers attempted to pull over a Lincoln Navigator driven by 28-year-old Kayla Marie Sandgren at the intersection of NE 7th Street and Hillcrest Drive on Wednesday at 12:26 p.m.. Police said Sandgren failed to yield and led them on a chase up NE 7th Street to Morgan Lane to Hawthorne Avenue back to Morgan and then Highland Avenue. They said the suspect ran through the stop sign at Highland and finally stopped near the corner of Pleasant View and Black Oak drives. Kayla Sandgren was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Attempt to Elude Police. She was interviewed at the jail for her possible involvement in another unrelated crime. Her vehicle was parked and secured.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a young man for causing a disturbance at a downtown supermarket early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers arrested 18-year-old Justis Ivan Cory at the Safeway store on SE 7th Street shortly after midnight on Wednesday. Police said Cory returned to Safeway after being trespassed from the store earlier this year. They said store workers reported that he was screaming and cursing at them while trying to get them to fight him. According to the report, Cory took off on a bicycle before the arrival of officers -- but he was contacted and placed into custody a short time later either at or near City Plywood on NE F Street. Justis Cory was booked into the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass.

 

Grants Pass Police evicted three campers from city parks located south of the Rogue River during patrol checks on Wednesday. At Fruitdale Park on Hamilton Lane, officers cited Robert Sanders for Inoperable Vehicle and Scattering Rubbish. He was trespassed from the park and given one hour to clean up his mess and leave or he would be arrested for trespassing. Lori Signs was cited for Buffer Zone Violation and Scattering Rubbish at Fruitdale Park. She was also given one hour to remove herself from the park. Earlier in the day, officers cited Mark Lyon for Scattering Rubbish and Open Fire at Baker Park. He was told to clean up his mess and was trespassed from the park for 30 days.

 

A Grants Pass motorist was cited for two violations after she caused a crash in the north part of the city early yesterday. Grants Pass Police and emergency personnel responded to the two-vehicle wreck at the intersection of NW 6th Street and Manzanita Avenue shortly after 9 a.m. on Wednesday. The involved vehicles were a GMC Yukon and a Toyota sedan. Police said an investigation indicates Kyle Fenn was driving south on 6th Street and Ava Elder was driving east on Manzanita when she ran through a stop sign and collided with the side of Fenn's vehicle, which he had just purchased on Tuesday. Fenn's 15-year-old son complained of pain, but he refused medical transport to the hospital. At least one of the vehicles had to be towed from the crash scene. Following the investigation, Elder was cited for Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device and No Insurance.

 

The Oregon State Police cited a young motorist yesterday for causing a collision on Redwood Highway near Selma. According to OSP, troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle crash on US Highway 199 near milepost 19 on Wednesday at 1:10 p.m.. State troopers said 19-year-old Samantha Marie Flinders was driving a Ford F-150 pickup when she ran into the back of a Ford F-500 that had slowed to avoid a crash with a Jeep. No injuries were reported. The F-500 was towed to Cave Junction. The northbound travel lane of Redwood Highway was closed for about one hour. Following an investigation, Flinders was cited for Following Too Closely.

 

Southern Oregon travelers planning a trip to the coast may want to leave early Friday or wait until Sunday. The National Weather Service has posted a Flash Flood Watch for US Highway 199 through the Smith River Complex burn scar area from Friday evening through Saturday afternoon. A period of heavy rainfall is expected during that time period across the burn scar, which stretches from the Oregon border to Gasquet, California. Flash flooding or debris flows caused by excessive precipitation are possible. Possible thunderstorm activity will yield enhanced rainfall rates and an increased threat of debris flows. The NWS station in Medford said heavy rainfall has a low probability of triggering flash flooding and debris flows on the Oregon side of the Smith River Complex. Travelers should monitor weather forecasts and be prepared to take action if a Flash Flood Warning is issued. Residents living near the burn scar should prepare for potential flooding and/or rock slide impacts.