KLDR - Local News

Deputies Jailed Man for Crashing Stolen Pickup and Injuring Female Passenger

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for multiple crimes after he crashed a stolen vehicle in the Sunny Valley area and injured his female passenger. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 31-year-old Daniel Thomas Crisel for the incident on Angora Creek Road near the 7700-block of Lower Grave Creek Road on Monday afternoon. Deputies said an investigation determined that Crisel was driving a Toyota pickup when the vehicle went off the roadway and struck a tree. It took emergency first responders 30 minutes to reach the remote location that had no cell phone service. A third occupant in the crumpled truck was able to use text messaging to alert the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center. Upon arrival, deputies and medical personnel found a female passenger bleeding from the head and going in and out of consciousness. She was rushed by American Medical Response ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center where the trauma system was activated. Crisel was not seriously hurt. The investigation determined that the 1991 Toyota pickup he was driving had been reported stolen by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. He was placed into custody and transported to Grants Pass. Crisel was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 3rd-Degree Assault, Felony Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering and Driving While Suspended. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 8/6/25 6:40AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Snared Man for Breaking into CJ Home, Assaulting Woman and Theft

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for breaking into a Cave Junction residence and assaulting a woman while stealing tools and other items. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a disturbance at a home in the 300-block of Stevenson Street on Monday morning. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report a man she identified as 62-year-old Donald Ray McIntosh went into her garden and ripped plants out of the ground before illegally entering her house. Once inside, the suspect allegedly grabbed her by the face and slammed her into the floor. She declined medical attention. According to the report, the victim told dispatchers she was missing tools and other miscellaneous items from her property. Upon arrival, deputies interviewed the woman, located McIntosh and placed him into custody. He was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Burglary, Felony 1st-Degree Theft and 4th-Degree Assault. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 8/6/25 6:30AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Couple Involved in Domestic Disturbance on Cloverlawn Drive

Grants Pass Police jailed a man and woman who were involved in a domestic disturbance in the southeast part of the city this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 33-year-old Nestor Salazar and 29-year-old Erica Maria Chavez after responding to the incident on Cloverlawn Drive late Monday night. Police said an investigation determined Salazar subjected his girlfriend -- Sanchez -- to unwanted physical contact and was placed into custody. The suspect then intentionally caused damage to the interior door of a patrol vehicle with his knees and feet. Several large dents and other damage will cost more than $500 to repair. Salazar was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Domestic Harassment and 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was being held without bail. During the investigation, officers discovered that Sanchez was wanted on a Multnomah County felony warrant for Unlawful Use of a Weapon. She was placed into custody and lodged in jail without bail.

Posted on 8/6/25 6:29AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Arrested Felon for Parole Violation after He Returned to GP Home

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a felon for multiple crimes after he returned to a south Grants Pass property from which he had been trespassed. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 3100-block of Williams Highway on Monday. Deputies said the property owner called 9-1-1 to report that 46-year-old Dallas Lee Silva had been evicted a couple of months ago, but he returned and was watching the main house. The man had a pit bull dog with him, so the caller and a family member were not comfortable getting out of their vehicle. A records check showed that Silva was evicted by the Sheriff's Office in March, served time in prison and was back on the property without permission. He was placed into custody and found to be in possession of methamphetamine. Silva was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass, Meth Possession and Driving While Suspended plus Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 8/6/25 6:19AM by Sam Marsh

IVFD & ODF Crews Extinguished Small Fire along Redwood Highway near CJ

The Illinois Valley Fire District and Oregon Department of Forestry extinguished a small vegetation fire near Cave Junction early yesterday. On Tuesday at 10:34 a.m., IVFD and ODF crews were dispatched to the incident in the 25,800-block of Redwood Highway just outside Kerby. Arriving units discovered a small area along the highway was burning. The fire was quickly contained and extinguished at approximately 1/100th of an acre. IVFD officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

Posted on 8/6/25 6:17AM by Sam Marsh

Library Hosts Program in Partnership with GP Astronomer Joe Stodola

Citizens of all ages are invited to join local astronomer Joe Stodola from the Grants Pass Astronomers Club this week for a program at the branches of Josephine Community Library. The program will cover the basics of astronomy, the wonders of the Moon and the science of Earth-crossing asteroids. Are these asteroids truly a threat? How are they tracked? Discover the science behind the headlines in this informative and captivating session. Following a program held Tuesday in Williams, the schedule is 4 to 5 p.m. today at the Grants Pass branch, noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at the Illinois Valley branch and noon to 1 p.m. Friday at the Wolf Creek branch. "Among the Stars" is part of the 2025 Summer Reading Program. The theme is "Level Up at Your Library." It's sponsored by Evergreen Federal Bank, Josephine Community Library Foundation, Oregon Pacific Financial Advisors and the State Library of Oregon. For more information about the Summer Reading Program, other library programs and services, visit "josephinelibrary.org," email "info@josephinelibrary.org" or call (541)-476-0571.

Posted on 8/6/25 6:16AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Seeks Information about Vandalism and Salmon Theft at Cole Rivers Hatchery

The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is seeking public assistance in identifying persons of interest in the vandalism of a cellular trail camera and the taking of salmon from a fish trap at the Cole Rivers Fish Hatchery near Trail. OSP reports two individuals were first spotted by a trail camera at the hatchery on August 12, 2024, and they returned three days later wearing motorcycle helmets when they entered the stream around the fish trap, attempting to spear salmon. Trail camera photos showed one individual operating a red Harley Davidson or similar motorcycle and the second operating a black sport bike. The subjects were accompanied by a black German shepherd. On July 5th of this year at about 5 a.m., two masked individuals matching the description and builds of the two subjects in 2024 were captured on a trail camera approaching the outflow fish trap. They were again accompanied by a black German shepherd. One individual waded across the river and ripped the antenna off the cellular camera while the second individual remained on shore holding what looked like a large salmon net. The following day, OSP game troopers found the broken antenna and the trail camera pushed to the side. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife found the lock to the fish trap had been cut to gain access to the fish. An unknown number of salmon were netted from the trap.

Posted on 8/6/25 6:13AM by Sam Marsh

Grants Pass Police Warn Residents Old Scam Re-Emerging on Area Telephones

If you receive a telephone call from someone claiming to be from the Grants Pass Police Department or any other law enforcement agency and demanding payment over the internet or phone, please hang up immediately. GPPD does not process payments in this manner and will not call you to collect money for fines, warrants, the policeman's ball or anything else. Another elaborate scam is hitting the Grants Pass community where the caller claims to be "Sergeant Moore" or "Lieutenant Lee" and demands that you need to immediately pay off fines -- using bitcoin -- or face being arrested. The caller then sends a QR code for you to use to pay the money. Please do not fall for this scam. If you get a similar call and are concerned it might actually be an officer, hang up and call the number for GPPD. The non-emergency number is (541)-450-6260. Do not call the number the caller gives you. They will spoof our local area code, making it appear to be a local call when it is not. Unfortunately, a member of the Grants Pass community fell victim to this scam earlier this week and lost $3,500 that she will never be able to recover.

Posted on 8/6/25 6:12AM by Sam Marsh

GP Library Friends Encourages Supporters to Attend August 14th Meeting of BCC

Grants Pass Friends of the Library is encouraging its supporters to attend the August 14th meeting of the Josephine County Board of Commissioners. As the Board liaison, Commissioner Chris Barnett and leaders of the Josephine Community Library District had agreed on a draft lease agreement for the Grants Pass branch. Library supporters understood that the lease would be voted on by the Board of Commissioners on August 14th. But in two separate meetings last week, Board Chair Andreas Blech surprised everyone by "setting the expectation" that the lease would not be voted on at the August 14th weekly business session. The postponed vote has given library leaders many reasons to be wary. The lease was canceled with no warning over seven months ago, but overwhelming citizen support for the library made the Commissioners back down. Since then, they said there's been a pattern of "evasion and double speak." If the lease is not resolved soon, the library district will enter the fall months with possible eviction looming in December.

Posted on 8/6/25 6:10AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Snared Man for Breaking into CJ Home, Assaulting Woman and Theft

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a man for breaking into a Cave Junction residence and assaulting a woman while stealing tools and other items early yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a disturbance at a home in the 300-block of Stevenson Street on Monday around 3 a.m.. Deputies said a woman called 9-1-1 to report a man she identified as 62-year-old Donald Ray McIntosh went into her garden and ripped plants out of the ground before illegally entering her house. Once inside, the suspect allegedly grabbed her by the face and slammed her into the floor. She declined medical attention. According to the report, the victim told dispatchers she was missing tools and other miscellaneous items from her property. Upon arrival, deputies interviewed the woman, located McIntosh and placed him into custody. He was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Burglary, Felony 1st-Degree Theft and 4th-Degree Assault. He was being held without bail.

Posted on 8/5/25 11:19AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Jailed Couple Involved in Domestic Disturbance on Cloverlawn Drive

Grants Pass Police jailed a man and woman who were involved in a domestic disturbance in the southeast part of the city late last night. The Police Department reports officers arrested 33-year-old Nestor Salazar and 29-year-old Erica Maria Chavez after responding to the incident on Cloverlawn Drive on Monday just after 11 p.m.. Police said an investigation determined Salazar subjected his girlfriend -- Sanchez -- to unwanted physical contact and was placed into custody. The suspect then intentionally caused damage to the interior door of a patrol vehicle with his knees and feet. Several large dents and other damage will cost more than $500 to repair. Salazar was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Domestic Harassment and 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was being held without bail. During the investigation, officers discovered that Sanchez was wanted on a Multnomah County felony warrant for Unlawful Use of a Weapon. She was placed into custody and lodged in jail without bail.

Posted on 8/5/25 11:16AM by Sam Marsh

Deputies Nabbed Felon for Parole Violation after He Returned to South GP Home

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a felon for multiple crimes after he returned to a south Grants Pass property from which he had been trespassed. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a trespassing complaint in the 3100-block of Williams Highway on Monday shortly after 10 a.m.. Deputies said the property owner called 9-1-1 to report that 46-year-old Dallas Lee Silva had been evicted a couple of months ago, but he returned and was watching the main house. The man had a pit bull dog with him, so the caller and a family member were not comfortable getting out of their vehicle. A records check showed that Silva was evicted by the Sheriff's Office in March, served time in prison and was back on the property without permission. He was placed into custody and found to be in possession of methamphetamine. Silva was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass, Meth Possession and Driving While Suspended plus Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 8/5/25 11:15AM by Sam Marsh