Local News

Authorities are investigating a shooting incident that occurred last night on Rogue River Highway in southeast Grants Pass. The Grants Pass Police Department received multiple calls reporting shots being fired in the 1400-block of Highway 99 on Tuesday around 9:30 p.m.. Grants Pass police officers immediately responded to the scene and located several bullet casings in the parking lot of an apartment complex. The suspect or suspects had fled before the arrival of law enforcement. Due to the seriousness of the shooting, Grants Pass police detectives and the Chief Deputy District Attorney for Josephine County conducted the initial investigation. It was determined that multiple gunshots were fired at occupied apartments, but no persons were struck by bullets. The Oregon State Police Crime Lab collected numerous items of evidence from the scene. The investigation continues with additional assistance from the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, OSP, Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE), and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The suspect or suspects in this case should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information or video of this incident should contact the Grants Pass Police Department at (541)-450-6260.

 

The Josephine Board of Commissioners -- minus former Board Chair John West -- took care of a large number of items during its weekly business session this morning. Following a public hearing, the Board adopted a fee schedule for the Community Development Department that begins at the start of 2025. The new fee schedule was tabled on November 27th after the bulk of the new fees were approved, but a universal fee funding code enforcement and administration was questioned. Community Development Director Mark Stevenson testified that he was concerned about the elimination of the universal fee that had provided about $134,000 annually over the past eight years. Under Administrative Actions, the Board approved the Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund Project Plan for Josephine Community Transit for 2025-2027. Transit Director Scott Chancey said he will submit the plan to the state for funding. In other business, the Board approved a purchase and sale agreement with Ireland Investments for a county-owned property on Caves Camp Road, a personal service contract between Josephine County Community Corrections and Options for Southern Oregon, and an intergovernmental agreement with the Department of Corrections that will provide additional state funding for treatment services. After testimony from representatives of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the Board did not approve a collective bargaining agreement, a non-union policy decision or policy manual amendments for administration and personnel. Those issues will be decided in the near future. Outgoing Commissioners Herman Baertschiger and Andreas Blech closed the final meeting of 2024 by bidding farewell and stating that it has been honor to serve the citizens of Josephine County.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man early today for allegedly breaking into a northeast-city apartment and forcefully stealing a bicycle late last night. The Police Department reports officers arrested 45-year-old Jeffrey Brian Madden for the incident in the 100-block of NE A Street at 12:22 this morning. Police said the Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center received a call from the apartment around 11 p.m. Tuesday when dispatchers overhead a man and woman yelling at each other. A female voice was heard yelling to give back her items and a male voice was heard threatening to kick the woman. Dispatchers also heard things being slammed around the apartment along with pounding and grunting. Upon arrival, officers determined that Madden had used force to enter the unit by kicking down the door and causing about $800 in damage. Once inside, the suspect ransacked the apartment and stole a Schwinn bicycle valued at $1,000. The victim tried to stop the suspect who shoved him down and threatened to kill him. Police located Madden with the stolen bike a short time later and placed him into custody. Upon arrival at the Josephine County Jail, officers located a pipe in the patrol car with white crystal substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. Madden was lodged in jail on felony charges of 1st-Degree Burglary, 3rd-Degree Robbery and 1st-Degree Theft along with misdemeanor charges of 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief and Meth Possession. He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a woman yesterday for interfering with an American Medical Response technician who was attempting to help her elderly mother at a residence near Murphy. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 68-year-old Pamela LaVigne Borba at a home in the 5200-block of Williams Highway on Tuesday at 4:20 p.m.. Deputies said AMR had responded to assist an 85-year-old woman who had shown signs of severe illness early yesterday. Borba had reportedly left the residence and her mother called 9-1-1 while she was away. She returned and was combative. According to the report, Borba struck an AMR technician in the face and arms before fleeing the scene in a Honda Accord and then returning to the residence. Responding deputies contacted the woman and gathered enough evidence to develop probable cause for arresting her. Borba was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Attempted 3rd-Degree Assault. She was being held without bail.

 

Grants Pass Police assisted Josephine County Community Corrections with apprehending a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers arrested 46-year-old Michael Earl Tognoni in the 1400-block of Rogue River Highway on Tuesday at 12:06 p.m.. Police said they were summoned by corrections officers to place Tognoni into custody because he was wanted on an Oregon Department of Corrections warrant for Felony Parole Violation stemming from a previous strangulation conviction. Tognoni was placed into custody without incident and -- after the warrant was confirmed -- he was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass man for drugged driving yesterday after he caused a motor vehicle accident on Redwood Highway in Kerby. OSP reports troopers and emergency personnel responded to the two-vehicle crash on US Highway 199 near East 6th Street on Tuesday at about 3:15 p.m.. Troopers said a 37-year-old motorist was driving a vehicle north on the highway when he collided with a southbound vehicle. The unidentified driver of the second vehicle was transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. According to OSP, the Grants Pass man displayed signs of impairment at the scene, performed poorly in field sobriety tests and provided a negative breath sample. Impairment by narcotics was confirmed by a drug recognition specialist. The suspect was transported to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he was lodged for Driving Under the Influence of Controlled Substances. Both vehicles were damaged and towed to Cave Junction.

 

Two people were injured in a motor vehicle crash on Williams Highway near the Grants Pass Golf Course late yesterday. Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response and the Oregon State Police were dispatched to the two-vehicle collision on Highway 238 at Humberd Lane on Tuesday at 5:40 p.m.. An investigation by OSP determined a westbound vehicle collided with a vehicle that was making a left turn onto the highway from Humberd. State troopers said two occupants of the same vehicle were transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. The other driver was not hurt. Rural Metro officials said the crash resulted in a complete closure of the highway in order to provide rescue crews with a safe working area. Traffic was detoured at New Hope Road and Jaynes Drive while the scene was active. Both vehicles were heavily damaged and towed to Grants Pass. According to OSP, no citations were issued.

 

Rural Metro firefighters broke out their chainsaws last night to remove a tree that had fallen across a road in Sunny Valley. On Tuesday at 7:57 p.m., Rural Metro crews responded to the incident on Placer Road. Crews spent approximately one hour sawing up a tree that had fallen across the roadway. The downed tree had been hit by an motorist, but no one was injured. Rural Metro officials said it was unknown what caused the tree to fall, but Placer Road was temporarily shut down until the obstacle was removed.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Cave Junction man this week for taking a vehicle and gun from his family without their permission. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested 20-year-old Joshua James Polk at a home in the 1800-block of Laurel Road around midday Monday. Deputies said one of Polk's siblings called 9-1-1 to report that Polk took their mother's 2008 Ford Excursion without her consent. They said their brother took the keys from her purse early that morning and he does not have permission to drive it. The family called back when Polk returned to their home with the vehicle and they discovered that he had also taken a .45-caliber Hi Point pistol from the residence. Upon arrival, deputies detained Polk and interviewed the rest of the family who wished to press charges. Polk was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on felony charges of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and 1st-Degree Theft of a Firearm. He was being held without bail.