Local News

Officers with Grants Pass Police apprehended a man fleeing in his underwear from Walmart Loss Prevention Sunday after an attempted theft.

A call to 911 by loss prevention reported the suspect stealing items from the 135 NE Terry Lane Store at 2:40 p.m. He passed all points of sale without paying, and was promptly confronted.

The suspect then dropped all the items and fled on foot towards the nearby Fred Meyer. Dispatch learned the suspect had a thin build, and was wearing a white beanie, gray tank top, gray backpack, and blue jeans. Loss Prevention also reported the suspect was wearing White Castle underwear, as he had started removing his clothing while fleeing.

Officers arrived and were able to locate the suspect based on the description provided. He was detained and identified as Darion Winkley. It was determined he had attempted to steal over $500 in products from the Walmart, and he was taken into custody for Second Degree Theft.

Officers transported Winkley to the Josephine County Jail. He was lodged on his charge, but soon released on his own recognizance.

 

A trespass report led Grants Pass Police to arrest a man drinking and causing a disturbance at an ARCO gas station Sunday.

Dispatch was notified by staff of the 190 NE Terry Lane station that the suspect was drinking alcohol on the premises around 7:39 p.m. He had purchased it from the station, then walked into the bathroom to drink it.

The suspect proceeded to start pulling items from the shelves and setting them elsewhere inside. Staff told him to leave the property multiple times, and he later complied after having previously refused. He exited the building and began to head towards the O'Reilly Auto Parts.

Officers located the suspect and identified him as Harwinder Singh. He was warned for trespassing at the ARCO, and taken into custody for Second Degree Criminal Trespass. Officers lodged Singh in the Adult Jail Facility.

 

Grants Pass Police contacted a man wanted on three separate warrants Sunday near the U-Save Gas and Tackle.

The suspect, William Asbery, was recognized by the officer at the 935 Rogue River Highway service station around 1:22 p.m. Upon contact, Asbery was confirmed to be wanted on three warrants out of the Grants Pass Police Department.

Charges against him included Possession of Fentanyl, Methamphetamine Possession, and Theft in the Second Degree. He was cooperative with law enforcement while being taken into custody.

The officer proceeded to transport Asbery to the Josephine County Jail where he was soon lodged on his three warrants.

 

Medford Police officers responded to the Crater Lake Highway In-N-Out on a report of shots fired Friday at 11:40 p.m. A 19-year-old male suffering from a gunshot wound was located by officers, along with three other individuals outside a vehicle that had crashed into a tree in a nearby parking lot. The preliminary investigation determined that the occupants of the vehicle had fled the area immediately following the shooting before losing control and colliding with the tree. The injured victim was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated and admitted for his injuries. During the investigation, officers located and detained a 21-year-old male suspect in the Target shopping center parking lot. Detectives and forensic personnel responded to the scene and assumed responsibility for the investigation. The suspect, Ivan Ortiz was arrested and lodged on charges of Assault in the First Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. The investigation remains active.

 

Firefighters with Rural Metro Fire, Grants Pass Fire and the Oregon Department of Forestry Southwest Oregon District responded to a grass fire in the 400 block of Ament Road, near Moon Mountain, Sunday at 4:40 p.m.

The fire was controlled and extinguished at 1.75 acres with no structural damages. Crews spent the majority of time mopping up the fire in a grass field, and a wood slash pile that was in the fire's path.

Crews investigated and determined the fire was caused by a mower that evidently hit something, causing a spark. The public is reminded that mowing is highly recommended in the morning when fuel moistures are at their peak.

 

The Grants Pass City Council is scheduled to meet today for a first quarter work plan update.

The workshop begins at 11:45 a.m. with the update, followed by a non-bargaining cost-of-living adjustment presentation and discussion. Council will hear about the Allenwood Development, then conclude the main meeting with an agenda review.

The workshop will adjourn, and the Council will immediately convene in Executive Session to consider real property transactions and/or negotiations.

The workshop and session will take place in Council Chambers, 101 NW A Street. The public may attend the workshop in person or online at www.grantspassoregon.gov.

 

Jamee Harrington, Rogue Community College’s vice president of People, Culture and Safety, chief human resources officer, and chief of staff, has been selected to serve a three-year term on the board of directors for the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources.

Harrington's term begins July 1st. She has been an active member of the association for several years. Most recently, she completed a three-year term on the association's Western Region Board of Directors, including service as chair-elect during the 2024–25 year.

At the national level, Harrington has served on the Public Policy and Creating Inclusive Communities committees and currently serves as a navigator for the association's Navigators program, mentoring chief human resources officers from colleges and universities across the country. She participated in the association's 2021–22 Emerging Leaders program.

Harrington said she is honored to represent both Rogue Community College and the community college sector through the appointment.

 

North Safeway Loss Prevention alerted Grants Pass Police to a theft suspect, leading to the woman's arrest Thursday.

She was described to dispatch as wearing a black sweatshirt over a pink hoodie, and that she was stuffing items into a bag around 1:35 p.m. Staff continued to watch the suspect, waiting until she began to leave to confront her.

She paid for some of the items in her bag, but was quickly stopped by Loss Prevention. Officers began to arrive and contacted the suspect, Milan Stewart. She had stolen about $60 worth of merchandise from the 115 SE 7th Street grocer, and was promptly taken into custody.

Officers trespassed Stewart from both Safeway locations and Albertsons, and transported her to the Josephine County Jail. She was lodged for Third Degree Theft, then released this morning on her own recognizance at 7:50 a.m.

 

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) last month warned that 6,948 people were at risk of having SNAP benefits close at the end of April due to federally directed changes to SNAP work rules. According to ODHS, those closures and reductions have now taken effect. The average SNAP benefit for affected cases was about $287 per month, money that would otherwise have been spent on groceries in local communities across Oregon. An additional 6,309 people are currently at risk of having SNAP benefits close or reduce at the end of May. Even if SNAP benefits stop and a person’s EBT card does not have June benefits on it, they may still be able to regain benefits by meeting work rules, qualifying for an exemption, or reporting a change in their situation. ODHS has been working to connect with people before benefits stop. Approximately 20,000 people were notified in March that their SNAP benefits could close if they did not meet work requirements or qualify for an exemption. People who need to meet work rules can receive free employment and training support through partnerships between ODHS, the Oregon Employment Department and WorkSource Oregon.