The latest news stories of interest in the Rogue Valley and around the state of Oregon from the digital home of Southern Oregon, Wynne Broadcasting’s RogueValleyMagazine.com
Monday, May 2, 2022
Rogue Valley Weather
Josephine County Sheriff’s Office Serves Another Marijuana Search Warrant
On April 28, 2022, the Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) in partnership with the Oregon State Police Southwest Regional Marijuana Team, Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) consisting of Grants Pass Police Department, Josephine County Parole and Probation, and Josephine County Code Enforcement conducted a search warrant in the 2200 block of Azalea Drive regarding an illegal outdoor marijuana growing operation.
During the execution of the warrant, approximately 7600 marijuana plants were located in greenhouses on the property.
The marijuana plants were seized and destroyed. Additionally, multiple firearms and equipment used for the unlawful manufacturing of marijuana were seized.
Paula Powell, 64, was arrested and lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana.
At the time of this press release the investigation is ongoing and no further details are being released. Josephine Co. Sheriff’s Office
Man Arrested for Armed Robbery in Ashland
On April 27, 2022, at approximately 7:45 p.m. officers from the Ashland Police Department, assisted by the Talent Police Department, responded to the area of the 2300 block of McCall Dr for a report of a robbery. The investigation revealed that a man was witnessed breaking into a vehicle parked at a residence and stealing items from the car. The vehicle owner confronted the suspect and demanded his property back. The suspect pulled a handgun on the victim and told the victim to back away, fleeing the area on foot with the man’s property.
On April 28, 2022, officers from the APD obtained security camera recordings of the robbery portion of the incident from an area business and subsequently identified the suspect as Phoenix Braun, 20 years old, address listed as being an Ashland area transient. Braun was taken into custody without incident and lodged at the Jackson County Jail on charges of Robbery 1st Degree, Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree, Theft 2nd Degree and Unlawfully Entering of a Motor Vehicle.
The District Attorney’s office was consulted and additional charges may be forthcoming. Ashland Police Dept.
Riot at Grants Pass Juvenile Justice Center
On Sunday, May 1st, 2020, at approximately 6:45 pm, the Grants Pass Police Department received a phone call from a Josephine County Juvenile Justice Center (JJC) employee. The employee reported a male juvenile being housed on the detention side of the facility just assaulted one of the other juveniles housed at the facility. The male juvenile refused when ordered to get onto the floor or return to his cell. The situation escalated quickly, with other housed youths joined in open defiance to JJC staff.
Within moments of the original call to the Police Department, two male and one female resident of JJC began destroying the common area of the secured side of the facility. The youths pushed items against the doors leading into the secured area to prevent law enforcement intervention. Every police unit from Grants Pass Police responded to the facility. Deputies from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office assisted, along with medical personnel from AMR and Grants Pass Fire/Rescue.
In addition to the three main participants of the disturbance, five other youths were present but secured inside their respective cells. The youth suspects attempted to break glass leading into the facility’s control room and individual cells of other youths that were not involved. Officers assigned to the Crisis Negotiations Team and Options Mental Health professionals responded to the scene to de-escalate the situation.
When the youths refused to negotiate and armed themselves with make-shift weapons, The Grants Pass SWAT Team was activated for additional personnel and equipment to resolve the incident. Pepper ball munitions were introduced into the environment to encourage the youths to surrender. At one point, near the end of the incident, two of the youths threatened the life of the third youth by holding a make-shift-edged weapon to the neck of the third involved incarcerated youth.
Officers and Deputies forced their way into the barricaded space and took all three youths into custody. Nobody other than the initial assault victim was injured during the incident. During the nearly two-hour standoff, the facility suffered several thousands of dollars in damage. The facility was rendered completely unusable, forcing all of the youths residing on the detention side of the facility to be moved to other regional facilities.
All three offending juveniles were arrested on new charges and transported to regional juvenile facilities. The Grants Pass Police would like to thank all partner agencies who assisted with the incident and its ultimate resolution. Grants Pass Police Department
Structure Fire in the Illinois Valley
4/30/2022, call time 0953 hours, IVFD, AMR and Josephine County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reporti of a flue fire with possible spread at 72 Holland Loop Road.
Arriving units found smoke coming from the attic area and around the flue in the rear of the structure. After some investigation it was found that there was NO spread to the attic area. The wall around the flue was removed to be sure there was no spread.
Rural Metro Fire – Josephine County moved up to cover the Illinois Valley while this call was active. All units are clear. Fire is under investigation. Illinois Valley Fire District
Illinois Valley Fire District Responds To 12.4 Acre Vegetation Fire
4/28/2022, at 4:23pm, Illinois Valley Fire District, ODF and a private excavator company responded to an escaped open burn off of 7 Crooks Creek Road.
Arriving IVFD units found several slash piles that had escaped to the hillside, actively burning. Fire suppression efforts were started and ODF was dispatched to assist in the control of the fire.
No structures were threatened at the time of the fire. Fire was controlled at 7pm, with 12.4 acres burned.
Rural Metro Fire Department was requested to move up and cover the Fire District during the event. The incident was monitored through out the evening. Illinois Valley Fire District
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Firefighters Rescued Two People After A Rollover Crash In A Remote Area Left Them Trapped Inside Their Vehicle For Hours
Firefighters rescued two people Saturday after a rollover crash in a remote area left them trapped inside their vehicle for hours, authorities said. First responders got a call about a vehicle crash just before 5 a.m. in the rural area southwest of Timber, a community located about 40 miles northwest of Portland, Banks Fire District 13 said.
The caller said the vehicle had gone off the road and over an embankment but could not provide the exact location.
Fire officials said that minimal phone service in the remote area prevented first responders from immediately learning the exact location of the vehicle.
“Neither of the phones were able to hit more than one tower, which is necessary to give a good triangulation,” the fire district said. “The best location we had from the phones was what tower they were hitting, and in the coast range that can be very misleading.”
Rescuers tried to narrow down the search area using a variety of methods, including alternating sirens and listening for the caller honking a vehicle’s horn, the fire district said.
About two hours after receiving the call, fire officials said rescuers met a hiker in the area who directed them to the crash site. First responders then spotted the vehicle, which had flipped over an embankment and onto its roof.
One of the occupants had escaped the truck while the other remained trapped inside. Firefighters conducted a high-angle rope rescue to bring both victims to safety.
One victim was airlifted to a hospital in serious condition.
Fire officials warned that travelers should always know their location for themselves because you can’t always count on cellphones to provide accurate location information.
Man Leads OSP Troopers on Chase in Stolen Ambulance
A 30-year-old man stole an ambulance from an Oregon accident scene and led police on a wild chase along Interstate 5 Friday night. According to the Oregon State Police, the incident occurred on April 29 just after 7:30 p.m. when troopers and an ambulance responded to “single vehicle crash on Interstate 5″ near Woodburn.
The driver of the crashed vehicle, Noor Mohammad Baheej, 30 of Winnetka, California, fled the scene by stealing an ambulance, according to police.
Noor drove north on I-5 into Portland with police in pursuit. There were attempts to “pin the ambulance but Baheej rammed a patrol vehicle, struck a building and was able to continue to elude troopers”, OSP said in a release on the incident.
Baheej eventually tried to gain entry into another car on the freeway and was detained by troopers, according to police. He faces DUII, reckless driving, eluding police and other charges.
Two People Were Injured In An Assault At A Rally For A Candidate For Oregon Governor In Downtown Portland Saturday Afternoon
Two people were injured in an assault at a rally for a candidate for Oregon governor in downtown Portland Saturday afternoon, according to the Portland Police Bureau.
Just after noon on Saturday, officers received reports of a group throwing items such as smoke grenades at another group in the area of Southwest Third Avenue and Southwest Main Street. PPB said the assault happened at a campaign event for Oregon Republican gubernatorial candidate Stan Pulliam.
A sergeant began monitoring the situation and gathering available resources, although there were only a few available officers. Members of the group drove away and met officers nearby at the request of PPB. Two people were hurt by mortars.
One man had an injury to his hand and a woman complained of hearing loss. The victims planned to seek medical treatment on their own. There was evidence balloons filled with paint and other substances were thrown at people and vehicles.
Portland police and Portland Fire & Rescue arson investigators responded to the scene once resources were in place. The suspects left the area, and no immediate arrests were made.
New Wildlife License Plates Start This Week
Oregon drivers can start watching for the new wildlife license plates on cars starting this week.
Oregon Driver & Motor Vehicles Services (DMV) will start issuing a new “Watch for Wildlife” license plate May 4 for the Oregon Wildlife Foundation as a tag available for passenger cars only.
Oregon car owners can order a set of the license plates starting May 4 online through DMV2U or at a DMV field office. Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) says DMV field offices are open for walk-up service and some offices also offer appointments, and, “You can also order the plates when you purchase a car at an Oregon dealership. To maintain fair distribution of desirable low plate numbers, DMV will not accept pre-orders.”
ODOT says this license plate raises funds for the Oregon Wildlife Foundation through an additional $40 donation when DMV issues, renews or replaces the plates. It says, “That (money) is in addition to plate manufacture, registration, and any other vehicle fees that normally apply.”
ODOT says customers who purchased $40 vouchers from the Foundation during the plate’s launch phase can use the voucher at a DMV office or when purchasing a car at an Oregon car dealership, but not online at DMV2U. It says all plate holders will be able to renew online the next time their registration fees are due.
The Watch for Wildlife plates begin at WW 00001, and DMV issues them in order. ODOT says, “You cannot reserve a specific plate number in the series, but can apply for a custom configuration.” FOR MORE INFO: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/dmv/pages/vehicle/plates.aspx
Grants Pass Missing Person
The Grants Pass Police Department is seeking assistance from the public in locating 30 year old Noah Baker. Baker was despondent after an argument and left his residence in Grants Pass driving a silver Ford Fiesta with Oregon Plate 671MUR.
Baker is described as a white male adult, 5’09”, 170 lbs, brown hair and blue eyes and was last seen wearing black sweats, black shirt, black shoes and a black hat.
If anyone knows of his whereabouts or sees Baker, please call your local law enforcement agency or the Grants Pass Police at 541-450-6260. Reference case #2022-14203 Grants Pass Police Department
Klamath County Sheriff’s Office Asks for Public’s Help in Search For Trucker Suspect
The first real clue to come in on all the missing person cases in the area. Help Klamath Falls Oregon Sheriff Office ID this trucker. He was the last to see this woman alive and could be the key to not only solving this woman’s disappearance but a number of the hundred other women missing in PNW. IF you have any information, please call (541) 883-5130
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Have-You-Seen-Me-Southern-Oregons-Missing-People-161249961222839/posts/