Local News

The Medford Police Department received multiple reports of a shooting near the Bear Creek Greenway in the area of 8th Street on Wednesday afternoon. An MPD community service officer was on the Greenway about one block away, heard the gunfire and quickly relayed information to responding officers. Officers arrived within minutes and located the adult male victim suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. MPD officers, Medford Fire personnel and Mercy Flights medics provided immediate life-saving aid. Based on witness accounts and the initial investigation, officers promptly obtained and broadcasted a description of the suspect. Within 15 minutes, an MPD detective located the suspect walking at the Medford Center near Tinseltown Theater. The suspect -- 38-year-old William K. Triplett -- was interviewed by detectives and then lodged at the Jackson County Jail for Felony 1st-Degree Assault. The victim was initially transported to a local hospital and then airlifted to Portland for advanced medical care. The man remains in critical condition and his name is being withheld at this time. Preliminary findings indicated that the suspect and victim were acquainted and had been involved in a verbal dispute, which escalated into a physical confrontation and ultimately led to the shooting. This remains an active investigation and anyone with information is encouraged to contact MPD.

 

The Grants Pass Police Department deployed its SWAT team to help end a three-hour standoff with a felony suspect at a residence near the high school. On Wednesday morning, the Grants Pass 9-1-1 Communications Center received a call regarding a disturbance at a home on NE 8th Street that led to a male suspect threatening to kill a woman with a knife, attempting to stab her and then spraying her with mace as he fled the scene. The female victim reported that the suspect -- 51-year-old Barney Adam Clem -- left on foot wearing a bright orange shirt. Officers arrived in the area and observed Clem walking on NE B Street. As officers called for him to stop, he quickly entered a B Street residence that is considered by GPPD to be a nuisance. Calls for Clem to exit the home went unanswered and officers received permission to search the residence. During the initial search, they found 36-year-old Bryan William Suthann hiding in a bedroom. Suthann was wanted for Probation Violation and was in possession of methamphetamine. He was lodged in jail. Sounds were heard inside the residence indicating someone was moving around, but Clem could not safely be located. Due to potential safety issues, GPPD SWAT was called to the scene. Following a lengthy search with numerous canisters of irritant being deployed in the attic and under the house, Clem finally emerged from the crawlspace and surrendered. Clem was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Unlawful Use of Pepper Spray and Escape plus a local warrant charging him with two counts of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and 1st-Degree Theft. The District Attorney's Office was asked to consider adding Attempted Assault charges.

 

An investigation into the fire that damaged the former Merlin Post Office building this week has turned into a large marijuana bust. Rural Metro Fire Department responded to a fire in an industrial building in the 300-block of Merlin Avenue on Monday morning. When firefighters arrived on scene, they discovered the commercial building was being used for an indoor marijuana grow. After the fire was extinguished, the Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) was called in and executed a search warrant for the premises. During execution of the warrant, over 1,300 marijuana plants were seized and destroyed while other evidence was found and photographed. The Oregon State Fire Marshal was also called in to investigate the exact origin and cause of the fire. Investigators determined the fire was caused by manipulation of the electrical service, bypassing the electrical meter to supply power to the grow illegally. So far no arrests have been made, but the investigation is continuing. Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact the JMET Tip Line at (541)-474-5252.

 

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office arrested a motorist for impaired driving after he crashed a vehicle near Selma this week. The Sheriff's Office reports deputies and emergency crews responded to the single-vehicle wreck in the 1900-block of Reeves Creek Road late Wednesday afternoon. Deputies said an investigation indicated that 42-year-old Rell Allen Baty was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Traverse when he went off the north side of the road. They said Baty displayed signs of impairment and was acting belligerent with emergency responders. According to the report, Baty performed poorly in field sobriety tests, a search warrant was obtained and he was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented a high level of impairment. He was lodged in jail for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Reckless Driving. His vehicle was impounded. Deputies noted that Baty threatened to kill them and their families after he was released from jail. He was flagged for threatening law enforcement.

 

The Illinois Valley Fire District was pressed into duty twice late yesterday with vegetation fires in the O'Brien and Selma areas. On Thursday at 5:59 p.m., IVFD crews were dispatched to a vegetation fire in the 100-block of East O'Brien Street. IVFD officials said the small blaze was controlled and mopped-up in short order. They said the fire's origin was determined to be an escaped open debris burn. On Thursday at 7:12 p.m., IVFD and Rural Metro Fire Department responded to a vegetation fire in the 400-block of Draper Valley Road. IVFD officials said neighboring residents had extinguished the fire prior to their arrival. They said their Battalion Chief confirmed the fire was completely out. It was also determined to be an escaped debris burn.

 

The Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District plans to conduct an 86-acre prescribed burn starting today and continuing through Saturday in the Ashland watershed. Ignitions are planned to begin around 10 a.m. and the burn will continue through the weekend. Smoke may be visible from Ashland and nearby areas. Residents in Ashland are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed to minimize smoke impacts, which are most likely to occur overnight and in the early morning hours. Please avoid using Lithia Loop Road and Hitt Road as well as the Wonder, Fell on Knee and Wasabi trails during the burning period for public and firefighter safety. Firefighters implement understory prescribed burning to reduce wildfire risk to communities. Prescribed burning reintroduces and maintains fire within the fire-dependent ecosystem by removing concentrations of vegetation and restoring forest health while increasing safety. Fire management officials work with Oregon Department of Forestry smoke specialists to plan prescribed burns, which are conducted when weather is most likely to move smoke up and away from communities.

 

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners opened its business session on Thursday by proclaiming May 11th-17th to be "National Police Week." All three Commissioners then signed the proclamation and presented it to Sheriff Dave Daniel and Grants Pass Police Chief Warren Hensman who thanked the Board and the community for their ongoing support. Next Tuesday, May 13th, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Grants Pass Police Department and Oregon State Police will honor the six local officers who made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives while on duty. The event will take place at 10 a.m. in front of the Courthouse in Grants Pass. The lone Administrative Action item on the agenda was an order defining the responsibilities of the County Road Official. The designated official is identified as Neil Burgess who is the Josephine County Engineer. Burgess's responsibilities include standing operating procedures such as Maintenance, Permitting Authority, Traffic and Safety Operations. They also include approving easements, street plug placement, removal and crossings, minor road closures and road inventory management as well as the release of liens and bonding.

 

The Josephine Community Library District is once again calling on the Board of Commissioners to renew the lease for the Grants Pass library building on NW C Street, the library's home since 1959. In a formal letter sent this week, the library district reiterated its request for a five-year extension at $1 per year -- identical to the terms submitted to the Board on March 25th. In the letter delivered by JCLD's legal counsel, the district stated that this modest lease renewal would satisfy the mandate under Section 14.5 of the County Charter to support and maintain the main library and its branches. Library Attorney Mark Bartholomew said the obligation applies to the library district just as much as now as when the library was a county department. The Board this week authorized Commissioner Chris Barnett to negotiate directly with the library district. The district is hopeful that this step will help move the lease renewal forward and bring an end to "this unnecessary and unfair saga." The Board voted to terminate the lease on January 6th with 30 days' notice and has failed to respond substantively or engage in direct negotiations.

 

Hearts with a Mission (HWAM) is pleased to announce it is expanding services in Josephine County to include its "Hearts for Seniors" program and is now accepting senior referrals and volunteer inquiries. "Hearts for Seniors" will be a support to seniors 65 and older who are living in isolation within their homes as they may not have family support or resources. Companion care is their primary service. Some secondary services may include a variety of practical helps such as weekly meal preparation, light housekeeping tasks, rides to appointments, and simply providing a listening and compassionate ear. Secondary services are provided subject to the availability and willingness of volunteers and are not guaranteed. The Hearts for Seniors program has been successful in Jackson County with nearly 100 seniors paired with volunteers who meet weekly, or who provide one-time services such as yard cleanup, small repair projects and installation of grab bars. Consider submitting a volunteer application or referring a senior community member today at "heartswithamission.org/hearts-for-seniors."