Local News

GP Police Arrested Felon for Stealing Packages from Webster Road House
Grants Pass Police arrested a local felon for stealing packages off the front porch of a residence on the west side of the city yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers were alerted to the theft complaint in the 1600-block of Webster Road on Monday around 3:45 p.m.. There was video surveillance of the incident. Police said they watched the video and observed 48-year-old Dustin Troy Thatcher swipe two Amazon packages off the porch, depriving the victim of property valued at more than $54. They said the suspect then went into the restroom at Reinhart Volunteer Park and opened both packages. Upon realizing that he had stolen a phone case and hair gel, Thatcher returned the items and was confronted by the victim. Officers tracked him down and placed him into custody near Bi-Mart. His bicycle was logged into evidence for safekeeping. Thatcher was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 3rd-Degree Theft plus the resulting Felony Parole Violation. He was being held on a no-bail detainer.
Posted on 12/3/24 10:29AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Snared Man on 4 Local Warrants after Safeway Trespassing Call
Grants Pass Police arrested a local man on four outstanding warrants yesterday while investigating a trespassing complaint at the downtown Safeway store. The Police Department reports officers responded to the trespassing call involving 38-year-old Kelcey Edwin Cummings at the supermarket on SE 7th Street at about 2:20 p.m. Monday. Police said they arrived on scene and spotted Cummings who took off running. He was known from previous law enforcement encounters. He was also known to be wanted on four Grants Pass misdemeanor warrants containing criminal allegations including two counts each of 2nd-Degree Theft, 3rd-Degree Theft, Escape and Criminal Trespass plus a single count of Methamphetamine Possession. Officers tracked down Cummings and placed him into custody at the SE J Street campground. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail and was being held on $70,000 bail.
Posted on 12/3/24 10:27AM by Sam Marsh
 

OSP Nabbed Medford Man on Klamath County Warrants after I-5 Stop in GP
The Oregon State Police arrested a Medford man on outstanding warrants last night following a traffic stop on Interstate 5 in Grants Pass. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a GMC Acacia driven by 41-year-old Stephen Lamonte Jordan in the southbound lanes of I-5 near milepost 56 on Monday at 7:05 p.m.. Troopers said they stopped Jordan for a traffic violation and discovered that he was wanted on two Klamath County warrants for Criminal Mischief. He was placed into custody on the warrants and lodged at the Grants Pass jail facility. Jordan's vehicle was released to his 43-year-old female passenger.
Posted on 12/3/24 10:26AM by Sam Marsh
 

GP Police Arrested Transient for "Resting" in Bank's Handicap Parking Spot
Grants Pass Police arrested a male transient for camping out in a handicap parking space outside a downtown financial institution late yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers responded to a trespassing call at People's Bank on SE 7th Street on Monday around 4:25 p.m.. Police said a bank employee called 9-1-1 to report a male subject later identified as 56-year-old Richard Brian Peebles was occupying a handicap parking space with his cart and refusing to leave. Officers spoke with bank employees who advised they had asked the man to leave multiple times and he refused. Officers contacted Peebles who told them there had been a misunderstanding as bank staff said he could stay there until 11 p.m.. The bank manager refuted that claim and wanted to pursue charges. Peebles was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Trespass. He was being held without bail. His belongings were logged into evidence for safekeeping.
Posted on 12/3/24 10:24AM by Sam Marsh
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One Person Hurt in Fiery Motor Vehicle Crash in Illinois Valley near Selma
One person was injured in a fiery motor vehicle accident in the Illinois Valley near Selma yesterday. On Monday at 2:49 p.m., the Illinois Valley Fire District and American Medical Response were dispatched to the single-vehicle crash at the intersection of Illinois River Road and Squaw Creek Road. Upon arrival, emergency personnel discovered a vehicle that had been involved in an accident and was still on fire. After the fire was extinguished, a search of the vehicle and surrounding area was conducted to ensure that no other individuals were involved in the incident. No one else was found. IVFD officials said the occupant of the vehicle was located some distance away from the crash scene. The patient was transported by ambulance to an area hospital with unspecified injuries. The burnt vehicle was flagged for towing. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office did not respond, but was notified about the incident. It was unclear if there would be an investigation.
Posted on 12/3/24 6:48AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Jailed Woman for Erratic Behavior in Redwood Neighborhood
Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for her erratic behavior in the Redwood area of the city and on the way to the Josephine County Jail early yesterday. The Police Department reports officers responded to a disturbance in the 100-block of SW Jenn Way off Willow Lane and Redwood Avenue on Monday at 12:30 a.m.. Police said multiple callers reported a female subject screaming while trying to climb over a fence and enter a neighbor's house at that location. The callers advised the woman appeared to be under the influence of narcotics when she entered a parked vehicle and she was found sitting in the driver's seat. According to the report, 27-year-old Mari Anne Ortiz was placed into custody -- but she began kicking the patrol vehicle's holding compartment repeatedly and vigorously. She persisted despite numerous warnings and she was able to slip out of her handcuffs to flail around the interior of the patrol vehicle. She continued screaming, kicking and attempting to damage the vehicle. Upon arrival at the jail facility, Ortiz once again slipped out of her handcuffs and tried to lunge out of the patrol vehicle. She was eventually taken to the ground and subdued at Taser point. Ortiz was booked into jail for Disorderly Conduct and she was being held without bail.
Posted on 12/3/24 6:46AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Snared Man on Local Felony Warrant after Car Wash Contact
Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local felony warrant after he was contacted at the South Y Car Wash last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers were performing a patrol check in the area on Sunday morning when they spotted a group of people at the car wash in the 200-block of Redwood Highway. Police said they contacted 37-year-old Brian P. Stack after he was observed with a plastic drug tooter in his mouth. They did not find him with any illegal substances, but they discovered that he was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for failing to appear in court for three counts of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. Stack was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant. He was being held on $35,000 bail.
Posted on 12/3/24 6:44AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Nabbed Man on Local Felony Warrant after SW City Theft Call
Grants Pass Police arrested a man on a local felony warrant and for narcotics possession while investigating a weekend theft complaint in the southwest part of the city. The Police Department reports 31-year-old Dakota Alan Ree was placed into custody at Westholm Park on Sunday at about 12:30 p.m.. Police said a caller in the 1100-block of SW G Street reported a male subject wearing a black mask took a bag of recyclable cans off their porch and took off toward the city park. That's where Ree was located and arrested. Upon contact with Ree, officers discovered that he was wanted on a Grants Pass felony warrant for failing to appear in court for two counts of 1st-Degree Theft. They also found him to be in possession of a small baggy containing a white crystal substance that field-tested positive as methamphetamine. Ree was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the warrant plus a new charge of Meth Possession. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 12/3/24 6:42AM by Sam Marsh
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GP Police Incarcerated Man for Threatening Two Juveniles at Skate Park
Grants Pass Police arrested a man for his threatening behavior at the Skate Park last weekend. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at the Grants Pass Skate Park on SE M Street on Sunday at 10:20 a.m.. Police said 48-year-old Daniel Tomio Sasaki was called in by Skate Park patrons due to his violent behavior and yelling that he was going to kill people. They said he gestured that he had a weapon inside his jacket while yelling at two juveniles. According to the report, Sasaki admitted to "flexing" on the victims for what he called "educational purposes." He was placed into custody by officers due to his violent behavior causing public alarm. Sasaki was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and he was being held without bail.
Posted on 12/3/24 6:32AM by Sam Marsh
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GPPD Welcomes Newest Officer Who Served in US Air Force and as CNA
The Grants Pass Police Department is welcoming its newest officer who was sworn in last week by GPPD Chief Warren Hensman. Officer Peyton Collins was born and raised in the Rogue Valley where he graduated from Crater High School before enlisting in the US Air Force and becoming a member of the Security Forces. After being stationed at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia and serving nearly two years overseas, Collins was honorably discharged and relocated back to Medford where he became a CNA at Providence Medical Center. Officer Collins stated that he chose a career in law enforcement because it allows him to serve his community, make a tangible difference in people's lives and use his skills in observation, communication and empathy to bring safety and understanding to those in need. Congratulations Officer Collins! We look forward to the many successes and accomplishments in your policing future.
Posted on 12/3/24 6:19AM by Sam Marsh
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Applications Available for 2 Seats on Grants Pass Committee on Public Art
Applications are still being accepted for two positions on the Grants Pass Committee on Public Art, but time is running out. These are three-year positions and they will expire on January 1, 2028. The Committee on Public Art works to engage the community and enrich public spaces by placing original artwork and creating a unique sense of enjoyment and pride for all. Applications can be obtained in person at the City Administration Office at 101 NW A Street or online at "grantspassoregon.gov/committee-application." Completed applications must be received by 5 p.m. this Thursday, December 5th.
Posted on 12/3/24 6:17AM by Sam Marsh
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GP City Council Ready to Move Forward with New Water Plant at $113 Million Base Price
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The Grants Pass City Council appears ready to move forward with building a new water treatment plant in the coming year at a guaranteed maximum price of just over $113 million. During its Monday workshop session, Public Works Director Jason Canady said the guaranteed price of $113,124,314 is the base price for design and construction. However, that does not include some other factors that could eventually raise the final cost of the largest municipal project in city history substantially higher. Canady said the project team was able to lower the March 2023 base price of more than $117 million with design changes that make the new plant more efficient. For instance, there will be one main building instead of two which will lower costs for construction, pipelines and electricity. According to Canady, there is a "pretty high likelihood" that the City of Grants Pass will receive a $50 million BRIC grant for the project from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). However, the federal agency has some requirements that could raise the total cost to as much as $148 million. Financing partners for the project are Business Oregon and Oregon Emergency Management. The Oregon Health Authority's Drinking Water Program has given its initial approval for the project, but there are several small steps that need to take place before ground can be broken on the project next spring. There will be a total of 58 bid packages for the work and priority will be given to local contractors.
Posted on 12/3/24 6:15AM by Sam Marsh
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