Illinois Valley News

(Editor’s Note: Factual information for ‘Blotter’ is provided by official law enforcement agencies. All persons listed are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Charges can be amended or dismissed.)

• Thursday, March 26
  • Two people were warned for residing at Josephine Creek Campground off Eight Dollar Mountain Road.
  • A rural Cave Junction caller said that the previous owner of her dog called her and made threats.
  • Lynn Godfeared Schnacker, 54, was cited on a charge of speeding (67 mph in a 45 zone) on Redwood Hwy. in the 24000 block at 7:50 p.m. She also was warned for failure to carry current proof of insurance.
  • Richard Bernard Ethier Jr., 70, was cited on a charge of VBR (violation of the basic rule: driving too fast for conditions) on Waldo Road at 10:21 p.m.
• Friday, March 27
  • A single-vehicle accident was reported near Z Coffee on the north side of Cave Junction at 10 a.m.
  • Neal Lee Smith, 51, was cited on a charge of trespassing at Illinois River Forks State Park at 2:15 p.m.
  • Also at the “Forks,” a woman was warned for having a dog off-leash; a driver was warned for obstructed vision, and another driver was warned about an improper display and not wearing a seatbelt.
  • Donna Jeanette Melton, 48, was cited on a charge of driving without a valid operator’s permit near “Forks” Park at 3:07 p.m.
  • Jeremy Justin Beck, 29, was lodged in Josephine County Jail on charges of fourth-degree assault, second-degree burglary and two counts of second-degree criminal mischief after a 3:43 p.m. report that he punched the owner of King’s Chinese Cuisine when his back door request for free rice was refused. As reported by various callers, Beck wandered drunkenly around Downtown CJ until taken into custody around 6 p.m.
  • Theft of a bicycle and half an extension ladder from a locked garage was reported in the 17000 block of Redwood Hwy.
  • An apparently intoxicated driver in a maroon SUV was reported on Lakeshore Drive.
  • It was reported that some sort of disturbance with an assault occurred on W. Watkins Street at 7:18 p.m.
  • A caller from Kerby complained of an intoxicated neighbor who was yelling. When contacted, the party in question said that there was no problem.
• Saturday, March 28
  • Just before noon a caller said that a woman living in a car in Downtown CJ was trying to sell a black Lab which the caller thought might be stolen.
• Sunday, March 29
  • Off Eight Dollar Mountain Road at the mouth of Deer Creek, Anthony Grebisz Jr., 48, was cited on charges of driving with a suspended license (DWS) and driving uninsured. He also was warned for driving on a closed road. The vehicle was impounded.
  • At 7 p.m. on the south side of O’Brien it was reported that the driver of a turquoise-colored passenger vehicle had been “weaving” across Redwood Hwy. before striking a guardrail. No units were in the area to check.
  • Around 9 p.m. what was thought to be gunshots were heard by a caller on W. Stevenson Street. After she investigated, the caller stated that the noise was fireworks.
  • Two more callers reported hearing what sounded like gunshots in Downtown CJ. Word around town had it that fireworks lit up the sky over the city for a time.
• Monday, March 30
  • Theft of numerous items from a vacant residence in the 36000 block of Redwood Hwy. was reported.
  • Employee error was said responsible for an alarm activated at Evergreen Elementary School at 4:15 p.m.
  • John Edward Luerding, 40, was cited on a charge of VBR on Redwood Hwy. at milepost 25 at 4:18 p.m. Deputy’s narrative follows: “Driver followed patrol vehicle closely; 35 to 40 feet for over 5 miles at speeds of 65 to 70 mph. When I reached a four-lane road I slowed and he slowed behind me. I stopped and he stopped inches from my bumper. Driver’s face was smug, as if it was a game. I had to spin my vehicle 360 to get behind the driver and initiate a traffic stop. Driver told me he was aware he was exceeding the speed limit, but said that if I was going to do it he was going to do it. Cited VBR.”
  • While it did not appear that anything had been taken, a caller reported that a window was broken out of her vehicle as she hiked at Rough & Ready Creek Park.
  • A complainant stated that her daughter allowed people into her residence while the caller was out of town and that they stole some prescription meds.
  • On S. Junction Avenue, Mason Gene Madden, 21, was cited on charges of speeding and failure to carry proof of insurance.
  • Someone complained that her tenant, whom she is evicting from a Pinewood Way residence, continues to take her property.
  • Deputies responded to a custody dispute on W. River Street at 6:43 p.m.
  • Near Ray’s Food Place in Selma, a man flagged down an officer to ask which state he was in.
  • On N. Junction Avenue at 11 p.m. a resident reported prowlers in her yard. A vehicle observed leaving the area was detained, and the occupants, dressed all in black, were noted to be “evasive” when contacted.
• Tuesday, March 31
  • Recent criminal mischief and trespassing were reported at two properties on Greenview Drive.
  • A report of second-degree criminal mischief was pending regarding attempted entry into a motorhome and outbuilding discovered on Hogue Drive.
  • At Illinois Valley High School a vehicle was “egged.” The incident was documented.
• Wednesday, April 1
  • A caller reported that a possibly intoxicated driver had parked at a bar in CJ. The driver was contacted sometime later by a deputy and advised against operating his vehicle while intoxicated.
  • Children playing on N. Hussey Avenue prompted a concerned call at 3:26 p.m. The children and their parents were contacted and advised of street safety.
  • At 8:30 p.m. it was reported that doors were cut to a storage unit on Old Stage Road and that two air compressors, a mig welder, motor scooter, battery charger and a grinder were removed. Also, it was stated that a vehicle was damaged.
  • A caller from Old Stage Road stated that a crew removing cable-TV lines caused $200 damage to his building.
  • A transient was contacted behind a business in the 26000 block of Redwood Hwy. and told to move on.
  • Lamont Drive resident Michael Jerome Christopherson, 42, was cited on a charge of fourth-degree domestic assault. He was lodged in Josephine County Jail on a probation retainer.

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