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, June 18
  • Because of previous problems at a place in the 12000 block of Hwy. 46 (Oregon Caves Hwy.), an officer was requested while a man brought livestock through a campground.
• Friday, June 19
  • Lake Selmac was patrolled at midmorning, followed by a drive out Lone Mountain Road, and then to Bolan Lake.
  • There might have been a problem on Ollis Road, as a garage door alarm sounded at 1:55 p.m.
  • Two vehicles apparently collided at 2:48 p.m. at Selma Texaco.
  • Following a complaint that people were intoxicated, swearing and refusing to leave a spot behind Illinois Valley Visitor Center, two people were warned. They were identified as Jeremy Beck, 29; and Crystal Dawn Costa, 34.
  • In the 900 block of Hwy. 46 at 3:45 p.m., a woman that a tenant brought home was kicking rocks and yelling. She seemed drunk.
  • Some sort of incident involving an armed resident and a dude accused of trying to break into a barn was logged from the 900 block of Hwy. 46.
  • Burglary was reported in the 33000 block of Hwy. 199.
  • Laurel Marie Stocke Vannuys, 48, was charged at Illinois River Forks State Park with driving under the influence of an intoxicant (DUII).
  • In O’Brien, Matthew R. Becker, 27, was charged with speeding.
  • Theft of a rose bush and maybe a garden hose was reported in the 33000 block of Hwy. 199.
  • On Waldo Road, Thomas Albert Page, 52, was cited on a charge of driving while suspended (DWS), and under a warrant charging DUII.
  • In the city of Cave Junction, Dean M. Smith, 45, was cited on a DWS charge.
  • The south end of the city of Cave Junction was patrolled at 8:46 p.m.
  • Several people camping in a day-use area at Store Gulch out Illinois River Road were told at 9:34 p.m. to clear out in the morning.
• Saturday, June 20
  • Lake Selmac was patrolled at midmorning, followed by checking spots along Illinois River Road; then the Seats Dam area. And then Eight Dollar Road.
  • An intoxicated man in Downtown Cave Junction (gasp) was contacted in connection with probation violation. A deputy noted that the guy “also appears to be under the influence of drugs, possibly methamphetamines.”
  • Forks Park was patrolled at 4:51 p.m., and later, an area off Upper Deer Creek Road.
  • Another man, said to be “highly intoxicated” in Cave Junction was “on his way out of town.”
  • Paul Lee Schofield, 61, was cited at the north end of Cave Junction on a charge of driving 60 mph in a 45 zone.
  • James R. Puehl Jr., 45, was cited at the north end of Cave Junction on a charge of failing to obey a traffic control device. He was warned about not having insurance. And Xing Min Song, 46, was cited on a charge of driving 62 mph in a 45 mph zone.
  • Areas of the city of Cave Junction were patrolled during the early evening.
  • Under a detainer based on probation violation, David W. Sheldon, 24, was taken to Josephine County Jail in Grants Pass. He was said to be intoxicated.
  • On S. Old Stage Road a man was warned about camping within city limits.
  • Because two little girls were trying to rouse a man lying on a Hwy. 46 parking lot, emergency personnel responded. He was drunk, but OK, and lives nearby.
  • Two men were warned in Downtown Cave Junction about interfering with a public right-of-way, and having alcoholic beverages.
  • Following a reported disturbance on Chapman Creek Road at 10:03 p.m., two men were advised to contact their probation officers.
  • “Odd behavior” in Kerby, including attempts to enter an empty dwelling and get young girls to go in with him, seemed to be linked to a man not taking medication.
• Sunday, June 21
  • Although fighting was reported on S. Old Stage Road at 15 past midnight, it later was termed “verbal.”
  • Despite a report at 2:02 a.m. that a man in Selma was guilty of DUII, a deputy found the report to be erroneous.
  • The driver of a vehicle on Illinois River Road, who “nearly ran (an) officer off the road,” was warned about crossing a double-yellow line.
  • Apparently some noisy people were quiet the night before and this morning at Store Gulch out Illinois River Road.
  • Several popular places on Illinois River Road were patrolled today.
  • There was some sort of incident on Illinois River Road at Six Mile Road, where a man implied that he was a law enforcement officer.
  • Swerving by a possibly intoxicated driver was reported at 12:42 p.m. at Takilma Road and Holland Loop.
  • Wanting a “f---ing man gone” from his couch, a resident phoned from S. Old Stage Road. No deputy was available, but apparently the situation was resolved.
  • “A large group of locals … having a party” with open containers of alcohol on Cave Junction’s main street were complained about at 3:16 p.m. As alcohol on public premises is against a city ordinance, Melissa Lowenstein, 42, and Neil White, 57, were issued citations to city court.
  • And at Cave Junction City Hall, John E. Moss, 48, was issued a citation for having alcohol in public.
  • Karla Jean Holland, 56, was cited at state Hwy. 199 (Redwood Hwy.) and Krauss Lane on a charge of VBR (violation of the basic rule/driving too fast for conditions) at 4:43 p.m.
  • At Lake Selmac, a young man was warned about driving an off-road vehicle on a public roadway.
  • Two people from Klamath Falls were said to have left Oregon Caves Chateau with unpaid bills of $435. Contacted by Klamath Falls Police, one said it was a bank credit card error. They were advised to send payment.
  • Some dudes smokin’ marijuana were reported at Lake Selmac.
  • Speakers “playing at an unreasonable volume” resulted in a warning at Lakeshore Drive and McMullen Creek Road at 6:29 p.m.
  • Annabel May Purtzer, 18, was cited at Hwy. 199 and Draper Valley Road on a charge of driving 72 mph in a 55 mph zone at 7:09 p.m.
  • Campers at Lakeshore and McMullen Creek were said to have pulled up stakes due to loud music at 7:34 p.m.
• Monday, June 22
  • It appeared that attempted burglary was tried at Selma Quick Stop by someone who used their footwear to kick a window frame.
  • Described as uncooperative, a man in the 7000 block of Rockydale Road reported trespassing. Although a call-taker tried to help the caller, he eventually said, “Just forget it,” and hung up.
  • Juvenile people sitting atop Century 21 Harris & Taylor in Downtown Cave Junction threw small apples at her car the day before, a woman said. When a deputy went to the house where the kids apparently live, he was told they were home all night.
  • People at the Eight Dollar Road green bridge across Illinois River were contacted.
  • Charges of fourth-degree domestic assault and menacing were to be the subjects of a report in connection with a woman in the 28000 block of Hwy. 199 reporting that a man on probation in California had caused a problem, but had left.
  • For some reason an alarm sounded in the 1000 block of Lone Mountain Road around 1:30 p.m.
  • Stopped at Forks Park, Bradley Dean Biggs, 16, was cited on a charge of violating restrictions of his permit.
  • Jewelry and cash were missing from a residence in the 11000 block of Takilma Road, where the door was unlocked, a complainant said.
  • Some imprudent person threw a rock through a window at a coin-operated laundry on Hussey Avenue causing damage estimated at $600 to $800.
  • Jubilee Park was patrolled at 6:21 p.m., Forks Park at 6:27, W. River Street at 7:09.
  • Emergency personnel responded to a power line down and a grass fire at 8000 Deer Creek Road at 7:21 p.m. The road was closed, and power was out for a time.
  • At Hwy. 199 and Laurel Road, a driver was warned about speeding at 7:48 p.m. Others in the valley were warned about situations including no tail lights, and unlawful use of a spotlight.
  • A prowler taking photos was reported in the 1700 block of White Schoolhouse Road at 10:36 p.m.
  • Someone in Selma was upset about a neighbor operating a generator because, he said, it “is going to cause him health issues.”
  • Although a burglar alarm sounded at 6555 Deer Creek Road at 11:37 p.m., it was thought to be caused by a structure fire.
• Tuesday, June 23
  • No injuries were reported in an accident, where a car struck a tree in the 8500 block of Happy Camp Road, reported at 12:07 a.m.
  • There was an automatic alert from an onboard car system at 8:35 a.m. from Hwy. 199 and Hamilton Avenue, and OSP was notified.
  • The noise of an alarm was noted on Lone Mountain Road at 11:02 a.m.
  • Loud motorcycles, barking dogs, and a resident who peers in her windows from his house were complained about by a woman on state Hwy. 238 (Williams Hwy.) in rural Grants Pass.
  • A couple of Wolf Creek firefighters reported being shot at while they removed wood from an old building.
  • Andrew Joseph Robert Augustadt, 18, was cited on Hwy. 199 at Redwood Avenue on a charge of driving 67 mph in a 55 mph zone.
  • Criminal mischief involving a damaged fence was reported in the 20000 block of Hwy. 199.
  • Someone complained in Downtown Cave Junction that a woman in a large pickup truck damaged two cars on a parking lot, but left without fulfilling the duties of a driver.
  • Following an alarm at Crossroads Animal Hospital at 5:13 p.m., it was believed to have been caused by a cat.
  • Second-degree burglary involving a large amount of tools was logged from Thompson Creek Road. The complainant has an idea of who the thieves are.
  • Misdemeanor “failure to leave name at the scene of an accident” was recorded after a man said that his car was rear-ended by another in the 3200 block of Holland Loop.
  • The suspect in a shoplifting (third-degree theft) incident at Shop Smart Food Warehouse could have the nickname, “Slim.”
  • Three people with previous sheriff’s office relationships were contacted at 7:44 p.m. at the south end of the city of Cave Junction.
  • Following a report of a man with the metal part of a pitchfork entering a home on Lakeshore Drive, at 8:09 p.m., Orlin Lew Shults, 46, was arrested on charges of menacing, and interfering with making a report.
  • Juvenile persons on motocross bikes were the subjects of a complaint at 8:58 p.m. in and around the vicinity of N. Old Stage Road.
  • Subsequent to a report of a disturbance involving a woman and her “soon-to-be ex-husband” in the 21000 block of Hwy. 199, Anthony Grebisz Jr., 48, was cited on a charge of interfering with making a 911 call.
  • Five or six boys and girls who had been drinking, according to a caller, were contacted at the south end of the city of Cave Junction at 11:07 p.m. However, a deputy ascertained that they had not been drinking, although one was carrying a can of beer.
• Wednesday, June 24
  • At 1:05 a.m. bicycle-riding door-bangers with scraggly beards caused a problem at the south edge of the city of Cave Junction.
• In all fairness ...
  • In Police Blotter on June 17, there was an item that Clifford Tucker, 35, was cited June 5 on three vehicle code charges. Tucker subsequently told Illinois Valley News that he was a passenger in the car and was not cited. I.V. News regrets any error on its part in extracting data from the sheriff’s office incident logs.
  • Also, Katherine Wilson wants to make it clear that the Duane Wilson listed in last week’s Blotter is not the same Duane Wilson as her husband.

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