Local News

Medford Police officers responded at approximately 1:50 a.m. Wednesday to a report of shots fired at an apartment complex in the 800-block of Swing Lane. Officers arrived at the scene and discovered the apartment had been struck by multiple rounds. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and officers were able to identify a possible suspect and a vehicle believed to be involved in the incident. Utilizing Automated License Plate Reader technology, investigators located the suspect vehicle around 9:45 a.m. in the parking lot of the South Walmart Supercenter. A drone was deployed to assist with surveillance and it observed the suspect exiting his vehicle and walking toward the store. The individual, 33-year-old Bryce W. Kleinhanz, was safely taken into custody before reaching the store and was arrested without incident. He was transported to the Medford Police Department for an interview while detectives executed a search warrant on his vehicle, recovering evidence in this case. Kleinhanz was later lodged at the Jackson County Jail on charges of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Assault in the First Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, and Recklessly Endangering another Person.

 

During Wednesday night's meeting, City Council moved that the complaint regarding the current agreement between Republic Services and businesses 2 Guys, 1 Truck LLC, and Thrift Right Here is moot. Republic Services and Southern Oregon Sanitation had met with business owner Konnor Kirkpatrick to try and resolve the Franchise Agreement issue prior to the council meeting. His businesses will be allowed access to their transfer stations so long as his activities comply with specific agreement exemptions. The public hearing continued after the Customer Dispute Resolution with discussion of an ordinance annexing property on Hieglen Loop into the city limits. Both motions to adopt the ordinance annexing the property were unanimous. A Dollar Mountain ordinance prohibiting the use of motorized vehicles with the exemption of authorized vehicles was approved by the council, with violators being charged the maximum fine of $720 and restitutions.

 

The parole officer of a man identified by police requested a detainer, leading to an arrest Tuesday.

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department contacted the suspect, Jonathan Bull, after he was seen wearing a Carhartt-type jacket and heading eastbound near the corner of NW A Street and NW 6th Street.

Bull was taken into custody by law enforcement and was detained for a parole violation. Upon contact, officers found he was in possession of Methamphetamine. He was subsequently transported to the Josephine County Jail and lodged for both the detainer and the meth charge.

 

A man and woman were camping at the former Denny's when one of them was arrested by Grants Pass Police.

Dispatch was notified around 7:19 a.m. that a homeless encampment was set up at the 115 NE Morgan Lane property next to the building. The reporting party wasn't at the scene at the time of the call and wasn't sure how many people were camping, but it was requested everyone on the property be trespassed.

Officers arrived and contacted the two suspects, Jeffrey Madden and Cierra Powers. Madden had been previously warned for trespassing, so officers updated his warning. Powers was also trespassed from the scene, but was then found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia.

A field test proved the presence of meth, so Powers was taken into custody. Officers lodged her in jail for the charge of Methamphetamine Possession and for Offensive Littering, as she had spread trash over a 10 foot radius on the property.

 

Officers with the Grants Pass Police Department lodged two separate suspects for active warrants, with one charged for Failure to Report as a Sex Offender.

Tuesday morning at 9:26, the first suspect, Nicholas Morris, was in the lobby of the Josephine County Community Corrections Department with his parole officer. Morris had a dog with him at the time and was slumped over.

Officers arrested him for his secret indictment warrant out of the agency charging him with Felony Assault in the Fourth Degree, Domestic Violence, Endangering a Person protected by a Family Abuse Protection Act Order, and First Degree Criminal Trespass. Morris was lodged in the Josephine County Jail.

Later that night at 10:31, officers were conducting a proactive check of Morrison Centennial Park after hours when they contacted Michael Runyan. He was inside his camper van and, after being run through dispatch, was found to have a serviceable warrant and a citation out of Sweet Home.

The warrant out of the Sweet Home Police Department charged him with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. Runyan, a registered sex offender, then admitted to law enforcement that he had been staying at multiple different locations.

Officers were advised of Runyan's registered address, which differed from the address on his registry. He was subsequently taken into custody at the 1187 Rogue River Highway park. Officers lodged him in the Josephine County Adult Jail Facility for his warrant and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

 

A woman went straight to the Grants Pass Police Department to report an assault.

On Tuesday, she entered the lobby at 10:10 a.m. and reported she was assaulted at Resting Site 6 North. The victim reported she was talking to someone when the suspect, later identified as Stephani Fuentes, jumped out and started hitting her.

Blood was coming from the victim's wound, and she requested an officer's response. Law enforcement and the victim arrived at the 714 NW 6th Street site and contacted Fuentes, who was observed on camera striking the victim multiple times in an unprovoked attack.

The victim requested not to pursue Assault charges. Officers then took Fuentes into custody for Second Degree Disorderly Conduct and issued a 30 day trespass from the resting site. Fuentes was lodged in the Adult Jail Facility.

 

Grants Pass Police identified a woman that had probable cause for her arrest Tuesday evening.

The suspect, Heather Easom, was seen heading northbound on 6th street near the post office. She was described as wearing a camo hat, white sweater, and flower leggings.

According to the police report, Easom was next seen at No Name Park sitting on a bench with a man before she was contacted and detained by officers. She was transported and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for a charge of First Degree Theft.

 

The Rogue Community College Dental Hygiene Clinic is recruiting patients to receive a free dental hygiene screening during the first week of spring term, March 30th through April 4th.

Located on the Table Rock Campus in White City, the clinic is open to the public and provides free screenings and low-cost dental hygiene services throughout the school year. Evening and Saturday appointments are available.

According to a release from the college, all services are performed by students in RCC’s dental hygiene and dental assisting programs under the supervision of licensed dental professionals. The screenings are a key component of students’ clinical training, helping prepare them for successful careers.

Screenings may include an evaluation of oral health, preventive care recommendations and education on maintaining good oral hygiene practices. Patients who participate may also be eligible for additional low-cost services offered later in the term.

Throughout the school year, the clinic provides affordable preventive dental services, including X-rays, sealants, and fluoride and whitening treatments. Appointments are required and can be scheduled by calling 541-955-7577 or by emailing dentalinfo@roguecc.edu.

 

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley is proud to announce the purchase of a new building set to become their dedicated Teen Center. The organization said in a release that doors are expected to open in the fall of 2026. This milestone reflects the organization’s continued commitment to ensuring teens have a safe, supportive space to learn, grow, and prepare for their futures. With the opening of the new Teen Center, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley will double their capacity to serve local teens in Grants Pass, significantly expanding access to high-impact programs designed specifically for middle and high school students. All teen programming at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley is completely free to attend, ensuring there are no financial barriers to participation. This expansion was made possible by the generosity of a donor. Renovations are already underway, with construction and program development progressing throughout the spring and summer in preparation for a fall opening. The organization plans to host a community ribbon-cutting once the facility is complete.