KLDR - Local News

Tire Slashing Suspect Located, Arrested by GP Police

A woman reported to dispatch that a man had come up to her vehicle and slashed the passenger side tire, while she was still sitting inside the car.

On Sunday at 9:48 p.m., immediately after the incident occurred in the Safeway parking lot at 1640 Williams Highway, the woman described the suspect as a white man wearing dark clothes, black sweats, and a blue draw string bag. He was last seen going by the nearby Abby's Legendary Pizza.

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department located the man, identified as Brian Steffen, trying to hide near the Options building. He matched the description given, and was also bleeding.

A knife was found in a nearby trashcan. Officers took Steffen into custody for Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree. After being cleared for his injuries at Three Rivers Medical Center, Steffen was transported to the Josephine County Jail where he was lodged.

Posted on 2/2/26 8:38AM by Alex Bauer

Woman Wanted on Two Warrants Arrested at 76 Gas Station

Josephine County Sheriff's deputies arrested a woman wanted on two warrants at a 76 gas station Sunday.

At 10:20 a.m., the suspect, Diana Keehnen, was contacted inside a silver Acura Sedan at the 112 S Redwood Highway station. She had two warrants out for her arrest from the Grants Pass Police Department and the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.

Keehnen's warrants charged her with two counts of felony Identity Theft, and First Degree Trespassing. Deputies took her into custody and lodged her in the Josephine County Jail. Her vehicle was towed, and her male passenger left the scene.

Posted on 2/2/26 5:36AM by Alex Bauer

Three Candidates to Interview for Eagle Point School District Board of Directors

The Eagle Point School District Board of Directors has selected three candidates to interview for the superintendent position.

The candidates selected for interviews are James Helmen, Superintendent of the Vernonia School District, Heather Marinucci, Principal of Eagle Point High School, and Dr. Josh Middleton, Director of Human Resources, Facilities, and Transportation at J.O. Combs Unified School District in San Tan Valley, Arizona.

Interviews are scheduled for Friday, February 6. Several stakeholder groups will have the opportunity to meet the final candidates and provide input to the board about each of them. At 6 p.m. in the Eagle Point High School Large Group Room, there will be a moderated, all-candidate question-and-answer public session with all three candidates participating. The public, all staff, and students are invited to attend.

The board intends to make its selection shortly after the interviews. The Eagle Point School District retained the services of McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C., to assist in conducting the search.

Posted on 2/2/26 5:12AM by Alex Bauer

JoCo Sheriff's Deputies Arrested Woman for Attempting to Steal Pry Bar

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to a theft report Wednesday.

At 3:01 a.m., a man called 911 to report the suspect, Kyleea Wolford, had walked off with his red Craftsman pry bar in the 100 block of Triller Lane.

He told dispatch that he had video footage of the theft, showing Wolford go through a pile of his tools next to his truck, and take the pry bar.

Deputies arrived and contacted Wolford, who stated she did take the tool from the pile after the man told her it was his and she couldn't take it. Wolford was lodged in the Josephine County Jail for a charge of Theft in the Third Degree.

Posted on 1/30/26 1:40PM by Alex Bauer

OSP Arrested Suspect Flagging Down Interstate Traffic on Two Warrants

Oregon State Police conducted a welfare check on a man flagging down traffic Thursday.

At 4:32 p.m., the suspect, Timothy Cooper, 66, of Grants Pass, was contacted by a trooper on Interstate 5 at milepost 55. It was found that Cooper had two warrants out for his arrest from both Douglas and Jackson Counties.

His charges were DUII, and Probation Violation. Both warrants were cleared, and the trooper took Cooper into custody. He was subsequently lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

Posted on 1/30/26 1:19PM by Alex Bauer

Resting Site 7 Suspect Apprehended for Failure to Register, Meth Charges

A man called 911 requesting to speak to an officer this morning after rambling incoherent things to dispatch.

Grants Pass Police located the caller, identified as Beau Beard, at Resting Site 7 in a lime green tent. After speaking with him at the 712 NE 7th Street site, it was discovered Beard was out of compliance with his sex offender registration.

The officer learned, after further investigation, that Beard had been out of compliance for over a year, so he was promptly arrested. Drug paraphernalia was located with Beard, including a pipe that tested positive for the presumptive presence of methamphetamine.

Law enforcement transported and lodged Beard in the Josephine County Jail for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, and Meth Possession. He was provided with a park exclusion form and trespassed from Resting Site 7 for 30 days.

Posted on 1/30/26 12:58PM by Alex Bauer

JoCo Sheriff's Office Searching for Missing Man

UPDATE: David has been located safely.
The Josephine County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's assistance in a missing person case. David Wendell Potter, 68, was reported missing today around 9 a.m. He was last seen Thursday at 1:30 p.m. walking south on Monument Drive in Merlin. David was wearing a blue checkered sweater, blue pants, black shoes, and a black hat at the time of his disappearance. David is described as a 5'11" white male weighing 200 pounds with grey hair and blue eyes. He currently has a long beard. If you have any information on David's whereabouts, please contact the Josephine County Sheriff's Office at 541-474-5123.

Posted on 1/30/26 12:28PM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Apprehended Suspect for Meth Possession Following Traffic Stop

Officers with Grants Pass Police conducted a traffic stop early this morning, leading to a man's arrest for Meth Possession.

At 3:50 a.m., law enforcement pulled over a silver Honda Pilot driven by Tung-Ming Chen at the corner of SE 8th Street and SE H Street. He was being stopped for failure to obey a traffic control device, but officers found Chen was driving while suspended, without insurance, and with expired, out of state tags.

Chen was advised his vehicle would be impounded. During an inventory search, officers found a glass pipe in plain view. Chen was taken into custody for Possession of Methamphetamine. His passengers were identified and allowed to leave. The Honda was towed from the scene.

Posted on 1/30/26 11:56AM by Alex Bauer

Suspect Attempts to Flee on Bike, Arrested for Warrant, Escape, Resisting Arrest

Grants Pass Police arrested a man after he tried to flee on his bicycle Thursday afternoon.

Officers attempted to take Justis Cory into custody after locating him at Resting Site 6 North. He then began heading northbound from the 714 NW 6th Street site on his bike.

Cory was stopped and taken into custody, despite his resistance and attempts to escape. Officers conducted a consent search and found a baggie with residue that tested presumptive positive for meth. A charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance was referred to the District Attorney's Office.

Cory was transported to the Josephine County Jail, where he was lodged for Escape in the Third Degree, Resisting Arrest, and a warrant charging him with Third Degree Theft. His bike was logged for safekeeping.

Posted on 1/30/26 11:39AM by Alex Bauer

GP Police Arrested Man for Obstructing Traffic in Downtown GP

A man causing a disturbance downtown was apprehended by Grants Pass Police.

On Thursday at 3:01 p.m., officers located the suspect, Jeremy Scrape, at the corner of NW 6th Street and NE E Street. He was obstructing traffic in the area.. Scrape was held at taser point before being taken into custody.

Officers transported Scrape to the Josephine County Jail. He was lodged for Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree. His belongings were logged for safekeeping.

Posted on 1/30/26 11:10AM by Alex Bauer

Man Wanted for Trespassing Arrested on Parole Detainer, Meth Possession Charge

Grants Pass Police arrested a man known to have an active warrant out for his arrest Thursday.

At 11:11 a.m., officers detained James Hall after recognizing him at the Newman United Methodist Church at 132 NE B Street. He was wanted on a warrant charging him with Second Degree Criminal Trespass. Hall was read his rights, after which he then admitted to possessing methamphetamine.

A consent search of Hall's person and property was conducted. Officers located loose meth, as well as a glass pipe that field tested positive for the presumptive presence of meth.

After contacting Hall's Parole Officer, a detainer was requested. Officers transported and lodged Hall in the Josephine County Jail for his warrant, the detainer, and a Meth Possession charge.

Posted on 1/30/26 10:50AM by Alex Bauer

Medford Fire Department Tackles Garage Fire

Around 7 a.m. this morning, Medford Fire Department responded to a garage fire at a residence in the 3500 block of Juanipero Way.

Thanks to quick actions by neighbors and the rapid response from MFD, the fire was quickly knocked down, helping limit further damage. One patient was transported by Mercy Flights, and firefighters were able to safely remove two family pets without injury.

Deputy Fire Marshals remained on the scene and are working to determine the origin and cause of the fire. There were no traffic impacts, and units cleared the scene.

Posted on 1/30/26 10:41AM by Alex Bauer