GP Police Jailed Man for Setting Fire near J Street Campsite & Damaging Semi
Grants Pass Police jailed a man last weekend for intentionally setting a fire near the former J Street homeless campground and damaging a commercial vehicle.
The Police Department reports officers arrested 47-year-old James Mattthew Brockmann for the incident near the corner of SE J and Mill streets on Sunday at 9:56 p.m..
Police said they initially contacted Brockmann for walking down the street with a lit Tiki torch. A short time later, they observed a large fire that was threatening a semi-truck parked along the road. Firefighters responded, evacuated the area and extinguished the fire, but not before it caused about $1,000 in damage to the semi.
Witnesses at the scene identified the man who started the fire as "Mud." Officers caught up to Brockmann as he was heading toward the 7th Street campsite after it was determined by video evidence that he started the fire. He admitted to setting the fire because he was frustrated with others for not watching his belongings.
Brockmann was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on felony charges of 2nd-Degree Arson and 1st-Degree Criminal Mischief. He was being held without bail.
Posted on 1/28/25 6:14AM by Sam Marsh
