Local News

Grants Pass Police evicted a man from a downtown resting site yesterday after he was found to have violated two city ordinances. Police said they contacted Clint Palomino at the 6th and A Street resting site on Wednesday around 12:15 p.m.. Officers said Palomino had an oversized tent at the site surrounded by a box of blankets, miscellaneous clothing, a bicycle and a broken filing cabinet. He was cited for Scattering Rubbish and Buffer Zone Violation before being issued a 30-day park exclusion notice. Another man -- identified only as "Paul" -- was angry over not having water and he began yelling and throwing rocks on his tent. Paul eventually calmed down and he was warned for Disorderly Conduct and Scattering Rubbish.

 

The Oregon State Police cited two motorists involved in an Interstate 5 crash in northern Josephine County yesterday. According to OSP, troopers and emergency crews responded to the two-vehicle collision in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 80 on Wednesday at 12:21 p.m.. Troopers said the crash occurred between a commercial vehicle driven by a 30-year-old Live Oak, California, man and a Toyota Camry driven by an 80-year-old Glendale man. No one was hurt and neither vehicle required towing. Following the investigation, the truck driver was cited for Unlawful Lane Change and the Glendale man was cited for Driving While Suspended.

 

Authorities are investigating a fatality that occurred last week after an outdoor debris burn escaped near Merlin. Last Friday afternoon, Rural Metro Fire Department responded to a grass fire in the 500-block of Highland Ranch Road. Firefighters from the Azalea Drive Station arrived within five minutes and contained the fire to approximately 1/4-acre. Rural Metro officials said evidence at the scene indicated the fire originated from an escaped open burn. During suppression efforts, an adult male was found deceased within the perimeter of the fire. It is believed he died while attempting to fight the fire or trying to escape from the flames. He has been identified as an occupant of the property. Next of kin has been notified and his name is being withheld at this time. The Oregon State Fire Marshal has taken over the investigation. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office and Southern Oregon Public Safety Chaplains assisted at the scene of the fatal incident.

 

Grants Pass Police captured a man on a local felony warrant containing a total of 21 charges including 20 allegations of child sexual abuse at a city park this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 41-year-old Emitt Johnathan Kling at Morrison Centennial Park on Rogue River Highway on Tuesday night. Police said they located Kling after the Oregon State Police sent out a bulletin. He was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant containing 10 counts each of 1st- and 2nd-Degree Encouraging Child Sex Abuse plus one count of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine. No details about the allegations were disclosed. Kling was transported to GPPD headquarters for an interview before being lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the outstanding warrant. His scheduled bail was set at $100,000.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for felony drug possession and an outstanding warrant in a neighborhood near the downtown area this week. According to the Police Department, officers were handling an unrelated call for service late Tuesday night when they observed 56-year-old John Daniel Iker near the corner of NE 8th and B streets. Police said Iker was unconscious with his legs hanging out of parked vehicle near the intersection. They made contact and observed him holding a tooter and piece of foil with burnt residue of a narcotic substance later determined to be fentanyl. Further investigation revealed that Iker was wanted on an outstanding Grants Pass warrant for failing to appear in court for Felony Possession of Fentanyl and Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon. The dangerous narcotic and associated paraphernalia were seized for destruction. Iker was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Possession of Fentanyl and the warrant. He was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for obstructing traffic on Williams Highway and trying to run away from law enforcement this week. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident involving 50-year-old Angelica Lane in the 2400-block of Highway 238 on Tuesday evening. Police said multiple callers reported a female subject crossing the highway outside a crosswalk and obstructing traffic. An officer activated his overhead lights and siren, exited the patrol car and advised the woman she was under arrest. Lane attempted to escape arrest by fleeing on foot into traffic and causing multiple vehicles to stop in the middle of the highway. She was eventually placed into custody. Lane was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct, Escape and the resulting Probation Violation. She was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving this week following a traffic stop just southwest of Grants Pass. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies pulled over a Ford pickup driven by 26-year-old Griffin Ferrara in the 300-block of Arbor Ridge Drive on Tuesday night. Deputies said they stopped Ferrara for speeding on Redwood Highway near Midway Avenue. They said he displayed signs of impairment and performed poorly in field sobriety tests before they detained him. Ferrara was transported to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that exceeded the legal driving limit. He was lodged there for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His pickup was impounded. Two passengers were forced to find another way home.

 

Commencement for the Grants Pass High School Class of 2025 will necessitate a street closure on Friday afternoon and evening. The City of Grants Pass has announced that NE A Street between Dean Drive and 9th Street will be closed to through traffic tomorrow from 4 to 9 p.m. for the GPHS graduation ceremonies. A Street will also be barricaded at Flint Street. Detours will be in place. Motorists are advised to avoid the area during the street closure and find alternate routes. Emergency vehicles will be allowed through. For more information, contact the City of Grants Pass at (541)-450-6000.

 

The Oregon Department of Forestry will officially declare the start of the 2025 fire season in Josephine and Jackson counties on Sunday, June 1st, at 12:01 a.m.. According to ODF, the fire danger level in southwest Oregon will be "low" and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) will be "1". The declaration includes 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, city and Bureau of Land Management lands. Starting Sunday, all outdoor debris burning -- including burn barrels -- will be prohibited. No fireworks will be allowed on or within 1/8th of a mile of ODF-protected lands. Exploding targets and tracer ammunition or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base are prohibited. Campfires are allowed in designated campgrounds and on private land with the landowner's permission. Portable stoves using liquefied or bottled fuels may be used in areas free of vegetation. Smoking while traveling will only be allowed in enclosed vehicles on improved roads, in boats on the water and other designated locations. IFPL 1 regulates industrial and commercial operations. A Firewatch is required at this and all higher levels unless otherwise waived. For more information about fire season regulations, please call ODF's Grants Pass Office at (541)-474-3152 or their Medford Office at (541)-664-3328. Additional information can be found at "swofire.com."