Local News

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man for roughing up a woman at a home in Merlin yesterday. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies responded to a domestic disturbance in the 100-block of 3rd Street on Monday at about 3:30 p.m.. Deputies said a neighbor called 9-1-1 to report that it sounded like a male was beating up a female. The caller said the woman was screaming for the man to stop. According to the report, there was a history of domestic violence at the residence. Upon arrival, deputies interviewed both parties and placed the 31-year-old male subject into custody. There was evidence of domestic violence, but the woman was not seriously hurt. The subject was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Domestic Harassment and he was being held without bail.

 

The Oregon State Police apprehended a man wanted on an outside warrant during a traffic stop just south of Grants Pass late last night. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Honda CRV driven by a 64-year-old male subject near the corner of New Hope and Lonnon roads at 11:55 p.m. Monday. Troopers said they stopped the vehicle for an observed traffic violation and quickly discovered that the driver was wanted on a warrant for Reckless Endangering. The suspect was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and his vehicle was towed for "community caretaking" purposes.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for attempting to swindle Walmart out of some clothing last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a theft complaint at the store on NE Terry Lane on Sunday shortly after 2 p.m.. Police said a 43-year-old female subject was observed on camera skip-scanning about $42 in clothing items. They said she was stopped by loss prevention as she tried to leave the store and she later admitted to the crime. Walmart managers said the first-time offender was cooperative after being detained. She was lodged at the nearby Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a Grants Pass man for impaired driving and more last night after a traffic stop on Redwood Highway just west of the city. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Hyundai Accent driven by a 54-year-old male subject on US Highway 199 near Midway Avenue on Monday at 9:55 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped the vehicle for multiple traffic violations and the driver displayed strong signs of impairment. They said the driver -- who was operating the car with his 11-year-old son -- refused to participate in field sobriety tests, was told he was under arrest and refused to cooperate. When troopers tried to place the driver into custody, he resisted and had to be Tased multiple times. He was handcuffed and transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw after a search warrant was granted. Based on the results of the blood draw, the suspect was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering and Resisting Arrest. He was lodged in jail and his vehicle was impounded.

 

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving early yesterday after a traffic stop on Williams Highway. OSP reports troopers pulled over a Chevrolet Silverado pickup driven by a 25-year-old male subject on Highway 238 near Wagon Wheel Drive on Monday at about 12:30 a.m.. Troopers said they stopped the pickup for traffic violations and the driver showed signs of impairment by alcohol. They said he performed poorly in field sobriety tests and was taken to the Grants Pass Sobering Center where he provided a breath sample that was nearly twice the legal driving limit. The suspect was lodged at the Sobering Center for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His pickup was towed to a local impound yard.

 

No one was hurt when two vehicles collided near Cave Junction last weekend. On Sunday at 6:31 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to the crash at the intersection of Happy Camp and Takilma roads. IVFD officials said arriving units found all the occupants out of the vehicles that had crashed. They said the occupants exchanged information and arranged for their own tows. Officials said the cause of the wreck was under investigation.

 

Four local agencies responded to grass fires in the Redwood area of Grants Pass and near Cave Junction late yesterday. On Monday afternoon, Rural Metro Fire Department, Grants Pass Fire & Rescue and the Oregon Department of Forestry responded to a grass fire in the area of Demaray Drive and Willow Lane. Rural Metro officials said the fire was contained to 1/4-acre and intervention by civilians was instrumental in controlling the blaze. The cause of the fire was under investigation. On Monday evening, the Illinois Valley Fire District and Oregon Department of Forestry responded to a grass fire in the 100-block of Patton Bar Road. IVFD and ODF crews extinguished the fire, keeping it away from a nearby home. Officials said the fire originated from a malfunctioning extension cord.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a man for using a collapsible baton to threaten another man in the downtown area. The Police Department reports officers arrested the 47-year-old male subject for the incident that occurred at NE 6th and D streets on Sunday around 1:45 p.m.. Police said the subject used the baton to threaten physical harm to the other man. The victim told officers the subject was following him and also threatened to burn down his tent. He was in fear of his safety and believed the other man intended to harm him. A third-party witness reported the man later identified as "David McDonald" was brandishing the baton in a threatening manner and making threatening statements toward the victim. McDonald was disarmed, placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing and Disorderly Conduct. He was being held without bail.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man wanted for crimes committed in northern California over the weekend in Cave Junction. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies arrested a 31-year-old male subject in the 1900-block of Laurel Road on Sunday at 5:44 p.m.. Deputies said they responded to a physical fight between two men at the home where one of them was armed with a gun and the other was armed with a knife. They said the two men are neighbors and no one was hurt after one of them was told by dispatchers to return to the inside of his house. Upon arrival, officers discovered that one of the combatants was wanted on a felony warrant issued by the Weed Police Department for failing to appear in court for Felon in Possession of Ammunition and Making a False Representation. After the warrant was confirmed, the man identified as "James Wilson" was placed into custody. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant and was being held pending extradition to Weed.