Local News

Grants Pass Police arrested a man that smashed out a window at Affordable Truck and RV Tuesday.

An employee of Bi-Mart called 911 to report the incident at the 324 Redwood Highway business, saying someone was breaking windows and throwing things. Employees at the lot confronted the suspect before he ran off towards Paradise Auto.

Officers responded and contacted the suspect, David Dues, before calling Affordable to gather more information about the crime and see if employees wished to pursue charges. Dues reportedly caused about $200 in damages, and the general manager wanted him not only charged, but trespassed from the business.

Law enforcement took Dues into custody. He was transported to and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for charges including Second Degree Burglary, Second Degree Criminal Trespass, and Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree.

 

A fence-climbing burglary suspect was reported to 911, leading to her arrest by Grants Pass Police Tuesday night.

The 911 Dispatch Center was alerted to the woman attempting to jump a fence in the 1300 block of Rogue River Highway. The caller said the suspect was asking people to pass items over the fence.

An officer checked the area and observed the woman, later identified as Mary Chen, still inside the gated property, but she walked away behind cars when the patrol vehicle pulled up to the gate. It was reported to the officer that Chen wasn't supposed to be on the property.

Law enforcement learned Chen had entered a building on the property and proceeded to take clothing valued at about $100. She attempted to exit the property over the fence by using a ladder, but was unsuccessful. Security camera footage further confirmed the attempted theft.

Chen was taken into custody but was uncooperative. She was transported by police to the Adult Jail Facility where she was lodged for Second Degree charges of Burglary, Theft, and Criminal Trespass. She was further trespassed from the incident location and the Union Avenue Rogue Credit Union.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested two suspects in downtown resting sites, both who had been issued exclusion orders from the sites.

The first suspect, Joshua Smith, was located at Resting Site 6 North by law enforcement Tuesday around 9:36 a.m. He had been excluded from the 714 NW 6th Street site for 30 days by one of the responding officers, so he was taken into custody for Second Degree Trespass.

There was probable cause for Smith to be charged with First Degree Trespass and Theft in the Third Degree, and he was also trespassed from all A-1 Markets per a previous case. Officers lodged Smith in the Josephine County Jail on his three charges. He was also issued a 90-day exclusion order from the site.

That same day, around 12:23 p.m., officers responded to Resting Site Six North where Samantha Crutcher was located. She had been previously issued an exclusion order from the 704 NW 6th Street site, and was subsequently taken into custody.

Officers lodged Crutcher in the Josephine County Jail for Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree. She was also issued a 180 day exclusion from the site.

 

The Board of Commissioners met in Executive Session Tuesday and for their Weekly Business session today.

The session at 3:30 p.m. yesterday centered on the case of Robert Brandes vs. Josephine County and Andreas Blech. Following the session, the board received an update from Legal Counsel, and the meeting was adjourned at 4:37 p.m.

Today at 9 a.m., the board, with no administrative actions to consider, began their Weekly Business session with Public Comment. Topics included Memorial Day remembrance, health clinics at schools, Pipe Fork preservation, and business growth assistance.

A motion to approve the consent calendar passed 2-0, as Commissioner Ron Smith was absent. Commissioner Gary Richardson then addressed inspections he and Commissioner Colene Martin did on county facilities, saying they used the tools the law gives to work efficiently on behalf of the public.

He continued by asking each department to organize information for upcoming budget meeting presentations, and that Thursday's meeting will cover Public Works, Transit, Recreation, and the Airport presentations. He highlighted Grab-n-Go Binders, Pet Kits, Go Kits, and other emergency preparedness tools, and encouraged citizens to sign up for citizen alerts.

Commissioner Martin again highlighted remembrance for Memorial Day weekend, then adjourned the meeting.

 

The next round of unofficial results are in for the 2026 Primary Election in Josephine County as of 12:30 a.m. today. Current Commissioner Colene Martin and Former Commissioner John West had the highest numbers, 46.46% and 29.34% respectively, for County Commissioner Position 1. Chad Hansen and Mark Jones had the two highest voter numbers at 33.62% and 21.65% respectively for Commissioner Position 2. All four will progress to the November election. Dwayne Yunker won the majority vote for Republican State Representative with 62.44% against Councilman Seth Benham. Yunker will face off against Susan Fischer-Maki in November. County Clerk Rhiannon Henkels will continue in her current position with 64.22% of the vote, as will Legal Counsel Wally Hicks, who ran unopposed. Dustin Calvo had the highest number of votes for County Treasurer at 42.31%, with Simon Hare coming in at 37.73%. The two will move forward to the November election.

 

The first round of unofficial results are in for the 2026 Primary Election in Josephine County as of 8 p.m. Tuesday. Current Commissioner Colene Martin and Former Commissioner John West had the highest numbers, 47.89% and 28.73% respectively, for County Commissioner Position 1. Chad Hansen and Mark Jones had the two highest voter numbers at 32.42% and 22.42% respectively for Commissioner Position 2. All four will progress to the November election. County Clerk Rhiannon Henkels will continue in her current position with 65.85% of the vote, as will Legal Counsel Wally Hicks, who ran unopposed, as Legal Counsel. Dustin Calvo had the highest number of votes for County Treasurer at 43.15%, with Simon Hare coming in at 36.71%. The two will move forward to the November election.

 

County Commissioner Gary Richardson, at the end of the board's 1:30 p.m. workshop, stated he and Commissioner Colene Martin did legal, on-site inspections of county facilities Monday morning. This was in response to allegations of an illegal meeting of the board. Richardson stated Oregon law allows that meeting does not include any onsite inspection of any program or project, and that public meeting law does not apply as long as no deliberations or decisions take place. "If public officials have a clear legal right but refuse to use it, it's the same as not having the right at all," said Richardson. The board met at the start of the workshop to consider Department Business. A motion to approve the signing of Treasury's BMS Technologies Professional Services Agreement passed 3-0, as did a motion for Recreation's Table Rock Custom Masonry Contract. This would provide work and repairs for the fairground's commercial building.

 

Deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office apprehended a man out of compliance with his sex offender registry at Immanuel United Methodist Church.

A group of individuals were contacted by deputies at the 200 W Watkins Street church Monday at 10:39 p.m. Five people were identified, but one, identified initially as Jeremy Mauldin, was later determined to be Jordan Haas.

He was wanted out of the Sheriff's Office for a Post Prison Supervisory warrant charging him with Forgery, and a Grants Pass Police Department warrant for Methamphetamine Possession. Deputies additionally charged Haas with Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

He was promptly taken into custody at 10:53 p.m., and transported to the Adult Jail Facility for lodging.

 

Oregon State Police conducted a traffic stop and arrested the suspended driver for a warrant Monday afternoon.

Troopers pulled over a green Subaru Legacy heading northbound on Interstate-5 near milepost 57 around 5:54 p.m. The driver, Ryan Jantz, 51, of Grants Pass, was contacted and found to be driving while suspended.

He also had a warrant out for his arrest charging him with Menacing and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Without incident, troopers took Jantz into custody. He was further transported to and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for his warrant.