Local News

The Grants Pass Police Department were alerted to an impaired man yesterday.

Officers received a call Thursday morning from a man saying he was being followed. His parole officer was contacted, and it was determined the suspect would be detained if he was under the influence.

He was located in front of the courthouse and indicated signs of impairment. The man then admitted to using methamphetamine.

Officers took him into custody and lodged him at the Josephine County Jail on the Parole Violation Detainer.

 

Josephine County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a trespassing complaint last night.

A woman told officers her son was outside her property screaming, and that she had a restraining order against him. She wanted him trespassed from the property.

Officers arrived and were told the suspect was outside the back door and had a chainsaw. They contacted the man and charged him with Second Degree Criminal Trespass. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail.

 

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a fatal motor vehicle crash Tuesday on Highway 62 in Shady Cove. Dispatch received a call for a head-on collision at 2:18 p.m. involving multiple vehicles in the 20,000 block of Highway 62. Officers arrived along with Jackson County Fire District 4 and Mercy Flights to find one driver, John Steven Renfro, 72, of Shady Cove, deceased at the scene. Next-of-kin has been notified. Officers found another driver in serious condition. Mercy Flights transported the injured patient to a local hospital where they remain in stable condition. The Jackson County Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (STAR) Team and JCSO Medical Examiners responded to investigate. The preliminary investigation revealed a Toyota Tundra, operated by Renfro, was traveling northbound on Highway 62 near Cindy Way in Shady Cove. He crossed over the center line for unknown reasons, and struck a southbound Dodge Durango head on.

 

The Eagle Point Police Department responded to a potential bomb threat at Eagle Point Middle School made by a student. The School Resource Officer was able to verify that a threat was made about a possible device at the school. Out of an abundance of caution, school officials evacuated the building while additional resources were called to assist with the investigation. The student who made the threat was located, and officers were able to narrow down a possible location within the building for the alleged bomb. Assistance was requested from the Oregon State Police Explosives Unit to help determine if there was a valid device. Officers moved the students to Eagle Rock Elementary in order to ensure safety. Staff from Fire District 3 responded to provide support for potential fires or injuries in the event of an active device.

 

A bomb threat was made at a school in Eagle Point this afternoon. Eagle Point Police Officers were on scene today at the Eagle Point Middle School for a reported threat of an explosive device. The school was evacuated and students were moved to Eagle Rock Elementary. The Oregon State Police Explosives Unit verified there was no device in the building. The school is remaining closed until tomorrow, and will resume for normal school hours.

 

The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program could serve 20% fewer children this year due to budget cuts. According to The Daily Courier, the combined Rogue Valley CASA programs lost $68,000 after Oregon cut Victims of Crime Act funding. CASA's executive director of Josephine and Jackson County Jennifer Mylenek said this same cut happened years ago, but local programs helped gather governmental support to fill the gaps. CASA reached out at the state and federal level for financial assistance, but those options either didn't last, or couldn't provide necessary funds. In 2024, 616 children in the Rogue Valley were assigned a CASA, with 120 going to a wait list. This year, Mylenek says she expects they will be able to serve 510 children and placing everyone else on the wait list.

 

Grants Pass Police arrested a man in Morrison Park last night.

On Wednesday, officers contacted the suspect after hours. They noticed a blue glass pipe with a bulb near him. The pipe tested positive for methamphetamine.

Officers searched the suspect's other belongings, where they found a small clear bag with a crystalline substance that tested positive for meth as well.

He was issued a park exclusion order for Morrison Park, and then taken into custody. Officers lodged him at the Josephine County Jail for Meth Possession.

 

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a serial burglar in Shady Cove yesterday.

On September 10th, at 12:02 p.m., after a months-long investigation, JCSO Shady Cove deputies identified a suspect wanted for committing 18 burglaries to three businesses in the Shady Cove area.

The suspect, Justin David Teixeira, 38, of Shady Cove, is charged with 18 counts of second-degree burglary, 18 counts of second-degree criminal trespass, third-degree theft, first-degree criminal mischief, and possession of a burglary tool or theft device.

During the investigation, deputies identified Teixeira as the suspect and took him into custody while serving a search warrant at his residence in Shady Cove.

Teixeira was lodged in the Jackson County Jail for several hours yesterday until he was force released due to Oregon’s Senate Bill 48 guidelines. This case is open and ongoing with deputies following additional leads. No further information is available at this time.

 

Grants Pass Police responded to an altercation downtown Wednesday morning.

Officers arrived at 101 NW A Street yesterday where people were fighting in the street. They contacted a victim sitting on the ground as the crowd dispersed.

They discovered the victim was subjected to offensive physical contact by the suspect, being punched multiple times and sustaining a minor injury.

The suspect's violent actions caused public alarm. Officers contacted him and took him into custody. He told officers he fought the victim over his perception of words being said about his girlfriend.

The suspect was placed on a parole violation detainer, and was lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Disorderly Conduct and Harassment.