Local News

UPDATE: Nevaeh and Albert have both been located safely.
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is still seeking the public's help in the search for two missing kids. Nevaeh and Albert Bungart were last seen leaving the Cave Junction area on foot Wednesday August 26th at approximately 8:30pm. Their direction of travel is uncertain. Nevaeh was wearing a gray shirt with lettering, and black pants when she left. Nevaeh has a nose ring and pierced ears. She is described as a 5'6" 15-year-old weighing 105 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Albert was wearing a white shirt with black or grey shorts on. He's described as a 5'6" 13-year-old with brown hair, blue eyes, and weighing 110 pounds. Both were also carrying backpacks. If you have any information, contact the Josephine County Sheriff's Office at 541-474-5123.

 

An officer recognized a man wanted on a warrant out of the Grants Pass Police Department Thursday morning.

The suspect was observed behind Cash Connection around 6:53 a.m. The officer recognized him as Daniel Hall, and knew he was wanted on a warrant for Trespassing.

Hall's identity was confirmed, his warrant was faxed to the Josephine County Jail, and he was taken into custody at the scene to then be transported and lodged.

 

A proposed fee increase of 20% for the District Attorney's office was approved to move forward without objection by the Board of Commissioners.

During their 1 p.m. workshop, the potential $20 to $24 increase, the first since 2016, will be published September 2nd in the paper and on the County website, with a second publication September 9th.

The request will then go to the Weekly Business Session September 16th, where a public hearing will be held for potential adoption of the second order of the request. The fees would then go into effect September 21st.

Board Business was next, with consideration of the Troutbeck Townhomes Middle Housing Land Division Map. After having been available to view by the public, the map was approved 3-0 following a motion.

After looking at the original COCONUT department efficiency presentation, Commissioner Colene Martin said she felt County departments needed to modernize at their own speed rather than being forced to, and didn't want to turn confidential department data over to an outside organization. The board echoed similar sentiments.

 

The Board of County Commissioners and City Council are scheduled to finish the month with a Land Use Hearing and Workshop respectively. Monday the 31st at 10 a.m., the board will convene in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium for a continued discussion regarding a Dick George Road Property. A request for an appeal objecting to a decision approving a cannabis processing facility with access off the property will be considered. Then, at 11:45 a.m., the City Council Workshop will be held in Council Chambers concerning Police Headquarters refinancing, and Level of Service and Budget consideration. Following a review of Wednesday's meeting agenda, council will adjourn. The Land Use Hearing can be streamed at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream, while the workshop is available for viewing at www.grantspassoregon.gov.

 

Grants Pass Police conducted a welfare check on a man convulsing on the ground, later to the arrest him for Offensive Littering and Disorderly Conduct charges.

A call to 911 at 4:07 this morning reported the suspect on the ground near the U-Turn for Christ charity shop. The caller stated it looked like the man was huddled up and shaking on the sidewalk with objects near him.

He had already begun walking away from the scene upon arrival of officers, and left behind a large pile of trash. Police advised him to stop and that he wasn't free to leave, but he walked into the middle of the intersection and began resisting.

Officers were soon able to detain the suspect, Jeromie Wharregard, around 4:15 a.m. He was taken into custody for his Littering and Second Degree Disorderly Conduct charges, and lodged in the Adult Jail Facility.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department arrested a woman contacted after hours in Baker Park.

Thursday at 10:45 p.m., police located the suspect in the 760 E Park Street location, as well as two others who were eventually cited for being in the park after hours, per the police report.

Riddle was arrested by law enforcement and issued a 180 Day Exclusion Order from the park. She was transported to and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for a charge of Second Degree Criminal Trespass. According to jail logs, Riddle was later released on her own recognizance.

 

A man mooning and flipping people off was arrested by Grants Pass Police Thursday night.

Dispatch was notified that a man in a green shirt was screaming outside Plaza Liquor at 1638 Williams Highway. Other calls to 911 regarding the same suspect reported he was flipping people off, exposing himself, and yelling at patrons and customers of various nearby businesses.

The manager of the nearby Safeway wanted the suspect trespassed. It had also been requested he be trespassed from the liquor store. An arriving officer located the suspect, identifying him as Sean McDowell. He was warned for Second Degree Disorderly Conduct, but upon release, he began yelling at others again, threatening to fight them.

McDowell was then taken into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail. While en route, he began spitting and kicking the partition in the patrol vehicle. He was subsequently lodged for Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree, Public Indecency, and Third Degree Criminal Mischief.

 

A woman running around the Walmart parking lot was reported to dispatch Thursday around 5:28 p.m.

The manager of the 135 NE Terry Lane store said the suspect almost got hit by vehicles while outside, before she entered the store. She appeared to be under the influence, and left the building towards the Grocery Outlet while holding a makeshift broom.

It was requested she be trespassed and that a welfare check be conducted. Officers arrived to find the suspect, Tesla Jinks, in an unplated vehicle, and contacted her. It was learned she had thrown a rock under a moving car at one point, and officers took Jinks into custody.

While being detained, she resisted arrest and spit in one of the officer's eyes. She was transported to jail for numerous charges including Second Degree Criminal Trespass, Aggravated Harassment, Resisting Arrest, two counts of Second Degree Disorderly Conduct, and a warrant out of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office for Theft and Burglary charges.

Officers also trespassed Jinks from the Walmart and the Humane Society.

 

Grants Pass Police officers apprehended a woman Thursday after she stole items from Bi-Mart.

The suspect, Braylyn McElmurry, was reported to dispatch around 1:14 p.m. after she stole almost $10 worth of merchandise from the 230 Redwood Highway store. She had passed all points of sale before being apprehended by staff, with whom she was cooperative.

A police response was requested, and upon arrival, officers took McElmurry into custody. Her parole officer was contacted, and a detainer was requested. Following transport to the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility, McElmurry was lodged for her detainer, and a charge of Third Degree Theft.