Local News

The Grants Pass Public Safety Advisory Committee will hold their very first meeting tomorrow morning. The newly-formed committee will meet on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Grants Pass Police Department Training Room, located at 726 NE 7th Street. Committee members include Tom Brandes, William Lovelace, Terry Hopkins, Alan Hartford, Jay Meredith and Matthew Rosen. Liaison members are Grants Pass Police Captain Tyler Lee and Grants Pass Fire Battalion Chief Joe Hyatt. The purpose of the committee is to advise the City Council on matters pertaining to community engagement, research and analysis, community facilitation and resource identification. The committee will help to facilitate communication between the public and the City about public safety planning matters. Action items for this first meeting include electing a Chair and Vice-Chair. There will also be a public comment period in which each speaker will be given three minutes to address the Committee.

 

The National Weather Service has posted a Wind Advisory for southwest Oregon. The Wind Advisory for Josephine, Jackson, eastern Curry and eastern Douglas counties runs from 10 a.m. today until 1 a.m. Tuesday. Southwest winds from 20 to 30 miles per hour, with gusts up to 45 miles per hour are expected. Stronger wind gusts are possible within thunderstorms during the late morning and afternoon hours today. Weather experts say gusty winds will blow around and damage unsecured objects. Tree damage is likely and power outages may occur as a result of downed limbs. Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles. Use extra caution during the advisory period. Secure light outdoor objects to prevent damage or loss.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a man wanted on statewide and local felony warrants last night. The Sheriff's Office reports 46-year-old Kayasith Johnny Thavisack arrived at the Josephine County Jail via prisoner transport on Thursday around 9 p.m.. Where he was he was arrested was not disclosed. Sheriff's officials said Thavisack was wanted on an Oregon State felony warrant for Parole Violation stemming from a burglary conviction. They said he was also wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for failing to appear in court for 1st-Degree Forgery and Methamphetamine Possession. Thavisack remains in custody today on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police jailed a felon for violating terms of his post-prison supervision after he caused public alarm and traffic delays on Rogue River Highway. The Police Department reports officers arrested 37-year-old Michael Wayne Cheek for the incident in the 500-block of Highway 99 on Thursday shortly before 7 a.m.. Police said Cheek was throwing items on the roadway, causing significant traffic delays on the highway in front of Farmers Market. They contacted him and said he was clearly under the influence of a narcotic stimulant. He was taken into custody. Once in custody, Cheek intentionally struck his own head on a push bumper and on the pavement while in a prone position. He was evaluated by medical personnel and placed in ankle restraints before being found to be in possession of a white crystal substance that field-tested positive as methamphetamine. According to the report, Cheek's corrections officer was contacted and the meth was seized for destruction. Cheek was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct, Meth Possession and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer. Jail records show he has been arrested for violating his parole at least four times since last March.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a felon for violating terms of his post-prison supervision by being in possession of narcotics in the north part of the city early yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to a trespassing call involving 48-year-old Gerald Ray Dollarhide near Udder's Ice Cream on NE 7th Street on Thursday at 10:24 a.m.. Police said the manager called 9-1-1 to report some subjects including Dollarhide appeared to be camping in two vehicles in the parking lot. They said the man was seen smoking from a glass pipe containing a white substance, which later field-tested positive as methamphetamine. Dollarhide initially denied smoking meth, but he eventually admitted to doing so and his corrections officer was contacted. Dollarhide was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Meth Possession and the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a well-known offender for causing a disturbance in the downtown historic district late last night. The Police Department reports officers responded to the incident near the corner of SW G and 4th streets on Thursday at 10:55 p.m.. Police said the complainant called 9-1-1 to report seeing a female subject in dark clothing walking in the middle of G Street, forcing three vehicles to maneuver around her to avoid a collision. The caller said the woman was almost hit twice. Officers arrived on scene and contacted 32-year-old Whitney Ann Word, who matched the description of the female suspect. They said she initially refused to provide her name and date of birth, but her identity was confirmed from previous photos in their computer data system. She has been arrested numerous times. Word was placed into custody and lodged in jail for Disorderly Conduct. She was being held without bail and was still in custody this morning.

 

The Oregon State Police was investigating a suspicious vehicle fire that occurred early today on Interstate 5 in northern Josephine County near Wolf Creek. OSP reports troopers and firefighters responded to the incident in the northbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 79 at 1:23 this morning. Troopers said the vehicle fire was quickly extinguished and no injuries occurred. They identified the burnt vehicle as a Nissan Altima and the victim as a 32-year-old Roseburg woman who was driving. The car belongs to a 54-year-old man. After a field interview with the victim, OSP identified the suspect as a 39-year-old Azalea man who was a passenger in the vehicle. The exact cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation. At the owner's request, the damaged car was towed to Grants Pass.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist on an outstanding warrant last night after a traffic stop in the north part of the city. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a dark-colored sedan driven by 46-year-old Elliott Ivan Thomas, Jr., near the corner of NE 6th and Savage streets on Thursday at 10:27 p.m.. Police said they stopped Elliott for a vehicle lighting violation and discovered that he was wanted on a Josephine County warrant for violating a court order related to an arrest for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants. Elliott was placed into custody and booked into the Josephine County Jail without incident.

 

Grants Pass Police cited a motorist for two violations following a traffic stop in the Redwood area late last night. According to the Police Department, officers pulled over a Chevrolet Trailblazer driven by a man they identified as "Jesse Vaughn-Silva" in the 1900-block of Redwood Avenue on Thursday at 11:50 p.m.. Police said they observed the muddy vehicle with unreadable license plates and registration stickers and stopped it as it was pulling into the T&C Market. They said Vaughn-Silva was driving with a suspended license and without a required ignition interlock device. Officers said Vaughn-Silva showed signs of impairment and there was an odor of alcohol and marijuana coming from his person. He admitted to taking a shot of whiskey and smoking pot two hours before the traffic stop. He was field-tested and the results were negative. Vaughn-Silva was cited to appear in court for Driving While Suspended and Failure to Install an Ignition Interlock Device. He was warned for Improper Display of Registration Stickers and told next time his vehicle would be towed.