Local News

Fire restrictions went into effect for all Bureau of Land Management public lands throughout Oregon and Washington on May 15th. BLM leaders encourage all visitors to be aware of active restrictions and closures as warmer, drier weather is forecasted around the Pacific Northwest. Those who violate the prohibition may be fined up to $100,000 and/or imprisoned for up to 12 months. In addition, those found responsible for starting wildland fires on federal lands can be billed for the cost of fire suppression.
For the complete order and more information on seasonal fire restrictions and fire closures, please see www.blm.gov/orwafire.

 

A 34-year-old man is in the Josephine County Jail following an early Sunday morning motor vehicle crash. The Josephine County Sheriff’s log’s first note came at 12:58 a.m. requesting a DMV identity check and an indication the Deputy was with a driver for DUII testing. The Deputy was reporting the driver hit a guardrail in the area of the Redwood Highway and Riverbanks Road. Little to no damage was observed. The vehicle was towed. Jacob Pass was lodged for careless drive and DUII and remained in custody this morning,

 

The Grand Jury indicted two men on serious but separate charges last week. 24-year-old Christian Michael Loop turned himself in to the Grants Pass City Police last week following his indictment for 2nd degree murder. The charge stemmed from an April 23rd incident in which a man was stabbed during an argument in the 1700 block of Southwest G Street. The victim was eventually transported to the Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, but within days succumbed to the stab wound.
Loop remains incarcerated in the Josephine County Jail. The Grand Jury also indicted 33-year-old Adin Kimball who allegedly stabbed his mother with a butcher Knife on the morning of May 7th. 911 received a call from the mother who still had the 12-inch butcher knife impaled in her shoulder blade area. Kimball is facing a charge of attempted murder. Jail records do not show Kimball as being incarcerated as of this morning.

 

Adin Kimball, the adult son who allegedly stabbed his mother with a butcher knife, has been indicted by the grand jury for Attempted Murder. On the morning of May 7th at approximately 10:16 a.m., the Grants Pass 9-1-1 Center received a call from a mother who said her son had stabbed her in the back, and the knife was still impaled in her. Grants Pass Police officers, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue, and AMR medics expedited their response to the scene on SW Vicki Lane. Upon arrival, police officers arrested Adin Kimball, a 33-year-old male, and began first aid for the victim who still had an approximately 12-inch butcher knife sticking from her shoulder blade area. The arriving medics stabilized the victim and transported her to the Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment, where she remained in serious condition. Grants Pass Police Detectives assisted with the investigation, and Adin Kimball was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Assault in the first degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. A check of jail records Friday did not show Kimball to be incarcerated.

 

A man accused of 2nd degree murder turned himself in to the Grants Pass Police Thursday. 24-year-old Christian Michael Loop was lodged in the Josephine County Jail with an arraignment set for Friday.The charges stem from a crime that occurred April 23rd when an adult male was reported stabbed during an argument in the 1700 block of Southwest “G” Street. The victim was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center with life-threatening injuries and then taken to Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford for further lifesaving medical treatment. Within days the victim succumbed to his stab wound. The Grants Pass Police Major Crimes Unit continued their investigation that resulted in Christian Loop, a 24-year-old male, being indicted by the Grand Jury for Murder in the second degree. Yesterday Christian Loop turned himself in for arrest at the Grants Pass Police Department and was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the Murder warrant.

 

Fire restrictions went into effect for all Bureau of Land Management public lands throughout Oregon and Washington on May 15th. BLM leaders encourage all visitors to be aware of active restrictions and closures as warmer, drier weather is forecasted around the Pacific Northwest. These fire restrictions help reduce the risk of human-caused fires. The use of fireworks, exploding targets or metallic targets, steel component ammunition (core or jacket), tracer or incendiary devices, and sky lanterns will be prohibited. Grasses and other fuels dry out quickly in the summer months, making them highly susceptible to catching fire. It just takes one spark. Those who violate the prohibition may be fined up to $100,000 and/or imprisoned for up to 12 months. In addition, those found responsible for starting wildland fires on federal lands can be billed for the cost of fire suppression. For the complete order and more information on seasonal fire restrictions and fire closures, please see www.blm.gov/orwafir

 

A driver remains in the Josephine County Jail this morning after crashing his vehicle into a ditch early Thursday morning on Cedar Flat Road. A complaint was phoned to the Sheriff’s office at 12:15 a.m. reporting a vehicle hit a tree. The vehicle was reported to be skidding as it went by the caller’s house. The caller reported the driver had blood on his head but stated he didn’t want assistance and was reported to be unloading items from the vehicle. Josephine County Deputies arrived and found the single vehicle partially in the ditch with one lane of travel blocked. The driver was attempting to remove the vehicle. The next report in the Sheriff’s narrative was one resisting. Then one Tased and pepper sprayed. The driver, identified as William Miller, 30, continued to resist and additional help was requested to move Miller into the patrol vehicle. Miller was eventually controlled and after a trip to the hospital, was lodged in the County Jail facing charges of resisting arrest, reckless driving and driving under the influence.

 

Grants Pass’s City Manager reports Public Safety Divisions continue to respond to a high level of calls efficiently. City Police answered 571 calls for service in the last week that resulted in 370 officer-initiated contacts, 50 arrests, 44 citations, 66 warnings, 93 traffic stops, 28 referrals to DHS, six persons lodged in the sobering center and treated five overdoses. The Community Response Team conducted 17 contacts, issued eight warnings, six citations, trespassed three individuals and made three arrests. The Fire/Rescue Division responded to seven fires and five false alarms, conducted 15 lift assists, seven rescues, one public assist and four assists to other agencies. The Division inspected 29 businesses, installed one car seat, conducted six public education services and answered 25 medic level calls within the city.

 

The City of Grants Pass is hosting a Listening and Learning Session regarding HB 3115 in the Council Chambers at City Hall on Monday at 6 p.m. HB 3115 requires cities that wish to regulate the use of public property by people experiencing homelessness to enact “objectively reasonable” time, place, and manner restrictions. Unfortunately, making sense of what constitutes an “objectively reasonable” regulation is tricky. This session will provide an overview of where things stand legally with HB 3115, including insight into some recent circuit court decisions that have attempted to interpret “objectively reasonable.” There will be an opportunity for people to submit questions regarding this topic before the session begins, either in person or via email to kfrerk@grantspassoregon.gov. Some aspects of the forum are still developing, but here is some additional information.The listening session will be conducted by City Manager Aaron Cubic, and City Attorney Stephanie Nuttall will be available to provide information as well.All questions will be written and can be submitted during the presentation, not just before it begins.