Local News

The Oregon State Police arrested a man for stealing a vehicle out of California during a traffic stop in the Glendale area late last night. OSP reports troopers were notified about a recently-stolen Landrover from California that was passing through Grants Pass on Interstate 5 on Wednesday shortly after 11 p.m.. State troopers said they later located the Landrover on I-5 in Glendale and it was occupied by a man they identified as 52-year-old Nicholas Reiner. They said the suspect had caused more than $1,000 to the interior of the vehicle while stealing it. Reiner was placed into custody, transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief and Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle. According to OSP, the Landrover had been stolen from a 51-year-old male victim in an unspecified part of California. It was towed to Grants Pass and the owner was notified.

 

Grants Pass Police apprehended a woman wanted on a statewide felony warrant during a city park patrol check that occurred late last night. The Police Department reports officers arrested 47-year-old Rose Marie McLaughlin at Riverside Park on Wednesday at 10:54 p.m.. Police said McLaughlin was contacted in the park after its open hours. They said dispatchers determined she was wanted on an Oregon State warrant for Felony Parole Violation related to a weapon conviction. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer. McLaughlin and a man identified as "McCool" were both warned for park hours. Jail records show McLaughlin has been arrested 11 times for violating her post-prison supervision since September of last year.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a felon for violating his post-prison supervision after investigating a trespassing complaint at a southeast-city market early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 33-year-old Luke Adam Boger at the M Street Market on SE M Street on Wednesday at 9:25 a.m.. Police said they responded to reports of a male subject yelling and throwing a skateboard around at the neighborhood store. They said he had been trespassed from the market before, so they placed him into custody. During a consent search, Boger was found to be in possession of a clear pipe with methamphetamine residue. He was also found to be the subject of another recent trespassing case. Boger was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Meth Possession, two counts of 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show Boger has been arrested four times for violating his post-prison supervision since October of last year.

 

A trespassing complaint at a Grants Pass home improvement store early yesterday led to the arrest of a felon for violating his post-prison supervision. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 56-year-old Matthew Carl Montgomery at Home Depot on NE Mill Street on Wednesday shortly after 9 a.m.. Police said the Home Depot manager called 9-1-1 to report illegal campers who had been in the store parking lot overnight. The caller advised one man and some women had tarped over their pickup, set up a barbecue and were dumping urine in the flower beds. According to the report, the license plates on the black Dodge pickup belonged to a 2006 Ford Explorer. Upon arrival, officers contacted Montgomery and found him to be in possession of methamphetamine. It was seized for destruction and the subject's corrections officer was contacted. Montgomery was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Meth Possession and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show Montgomery has been arrested four times for violating his post-prison supervision since March of this year.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested two people yesterday for stealing merchandise from local retailers. The Police Department reports the first incident occurred on Wednesday at 1:10 p.m. when officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at Rite Aid in the Grants Pass Shopping Center. Police said 19-year-old Alexandria Millwood walked out of Rite Aid without paying for $28 worth of cosmetics. Officers searched the area and found her on NE D Street. She was lodged in jail for 3rd-Degree Theft and the stolen cosmetics were returned. She was also trespassed from the store. The second incident happened on Wednesday at 3:35 p.m. when officers responded to a shoplifting call at WinCo Foods on NE Terry Lane. Police said 31-year-old Mason Kukuczka pushed a shopping cart full of groceries out of the store without paying. Video surveillance captured the man passing all points of sale and exiting the store before being confronted by loss prevention. He was found to be hiding additional items under his hat and in his underwear. Officers contacted Kukuzcka and placed him into custody. He was lodged in jail for 2nd-Degree Theft. More than $375 worth of groceries were returned to WinCo.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man and his wife for driving and drug violations during a traffic stop on the east side of the city early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers pulled over a white Ford pickup with bicycles in the back in the 400-block of NE Sovereign Avenue on Wednesday around 3:20 a.m.. Police said they stopped the pickup after reports of "suspicious activity" in the area of NE Terry Lane and the Grants Pass Parkway. The license plates on the vehicle were expired and the driver -- identified as "Jesse Houston" -- was found to be driving with a suspended license with a required ignition interlock device not installed. He was cited to appear in court and the pickup was impounded. While assisting with the traffic stop, officers observed a drug tooter in open view. It was tested, but did not come back positive for narcotics. However, a woman identified as "Esther Houston" consented to a search which revealed more drug paraphernalia that tested positive for methamphetamine. She was also cited.

 

Community service officers (CSOs) and patrol officers from the Grants Pass Police Department cleaned up the homeless encampment on SE J Street early yesterday. According to GPPD, the cleanup of the designated campsite was accomplished by filling a large dump trailer to the top along with two CSO trucks. While waiting for the trailer to be dumped, officers cited a woman for Illegal Camping and Utilization of Space. She was trespassed from the campground for 30 days.

 

The Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) arrested three men while raiding an illegal marijuana growing operation in Azalea this week. On Tuesday, DINT -- with assistance from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office -- served a search warrant at a residence in the 700-block of Yeust Road. During execution of the warrant, detectives located more than 1,200 marijuana plants in various stages of growth along with about 20 pounds of processed pot and nine pounds of cannabis extract, commonly referred to as BHO (butane honey oil). They also found lots of evidence of illegal marijuana production and distribution. Detectives located several other drugs including psilocybin mushrooms, Xanax, Oxycodone, Tramadol and anabolic steroids. They found numerous firearms, some of them strategically placed around the growing operation as presumed protection. There were also code and water use violations that are being addressed by those respective agencies. DINT reports 46-year-old Michael Long of Azalea was arrested at the scene and charged with Unlawful Manufacture, Possession and Delivery of Marijuana; Unlawful Possession and Delivery of Schedule 1 Controlled Substances, and Unlawful Possession of Schedule 3 Controlled Substances. Two other Azalea men -- 59-year-old Daniel Roy and 24-year-old Angel Ortega -- were also arrested. Roy was charged with Unlawful Manufacture, Possession and Delivery of Marijuana while Ortega was charged with Unlawful Possession of Marijuana.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a woman for attacking a man who accused her of stealing his wallet and cell phone this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 30-year-old Kristina Rose Barker on Tuesday morning for the incident that occurred at a home on SE M Street. Police said they contacted a man at his residence regarding the theft of his wallet and cell phone valued at more than $100. During the investigation, officers found the man had severe swelling around his neck. The victim advised Barker came up from behind him and strangled him with his own shirt. According to the report, Barker displayed extreme indifference to the value of the man's life, stating "I don't care if you die. I am going to kill you." The victim said he could not escape because the woman's knees were on his chest, preventing him from being able to move. The initial call came in around 5:45 a.m., but Barker left before the arrival of law enforcement. She returned as officers were interviewing the victim and that's when they placed her into custody. She admitted to her actions and reported that she broke her thumb while physically assaulting the victim. Barker was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 2nd-Degree Assault, Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Strangulation, Menacing and 2nd-Degree Theft. She was being held without bail.