Since January 13, 2020, the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety (GPDPS) has received multiple reports of burglaries to local businesses, with one business burglarized twice. GPDPS Police and Detective units began working with leads and evidence obtained to try to identify a suspect. The listed burglaries were similar in nature and believed to be tied to the same suspect:
- 1/13/20 - 429 SE 6th Street (Second Chance Thrift Store)
- 1/16/20 - 114 SW Booth Street (Booth Street Thrift Store)
- 1/19/20 - 429 SE 6th Street (Second Chance Thrift Store)
- 1/20/20 - 1607 Williams Hwy (Subway Sandwich)
On Monday January 20, 2020, GPDPS identified the suspect from their continued investigation as 55 year-old Steven Ray Borden of Grants Pass. Patrol Officers and Detectives immediately conducted a search of the city for Borden and located him within a few hours. Upon completion of the investigation, Borden was linked to the four listed business burglaries and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on the following charges:
- Burglary 2 (x4)
- Theft 2 (x2)
- Theft 3 (x2)
- Criminal Mischief 1
- Criminal Mischief 2 (x3)
****UPDATE****
On Friday, January 11th, 2020 Grants Pass Police Officers located Heather Watson on foot in the area of West Park St., and Edgewater Dr. Watson, and her mail acquaintance, Sheldon Keough were taken into custody without incident. Keough was Lodged at the Josephine County Jail on an unrelated felony warrant. Heather Watson was arrested and lodged for felony "Hit and Run" charges related to the crash on Rogue River Hwy. from Monday evening.
****UPDATE****
Suspect Vehicle has been located and is now in the possession of the GPDPS.
Heather Watson is a person of interest regarding the Hit and Run incident that occurred on January 6th. Watson's whereabouts are unknown currently.
The Grants Pass Department of Public Safety is asking for the public’s help in locating Heather Watson. Please contact Ofc. Shali Marshall or Detective Yerrick at 541-450-6260 if you have any information related to this crash, or the whereabouts of Heather Watson.
***UPDATE: Suspect has been identified in the hit and run crash. Please see the attached bulletin for more information.
The Grants Pass Department of Public Safety is investigating an injury hit and run crash which occurred on Rogue River Hwy near Cloverlawn Drive on January 6, 2020, at approximately 5:45PM. The crash involved a vehicle striking a pedestrian who received serious injuries. The suspect vehicle fled the area eastbound on Rogue River Hwy. The pedestrian was transported to an out of area hospital for treatment.
The suspect vehicle is described as a silver colored 2 door, 90’s to 2000’s smaller sedan. There may be damage to the front and/or hood of the vehicle from striking the pedestrian. See attached photo.
The Grants Pass Department of Public Safety is asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect vehicle and driver. Please contact Ofc. Shali Marshall at 541-450-6260 if you have any information related to this crash, the identity of the driver, or whereabouts of the vehicle.
Case Number: 20-923
On 1/10/20 at about 5:50 pm, Units from Grants Pass Fire Rescue and Rural Metro Fire Department were dispatched for a large vehicle fire at 1883 Allen Creek Rd. The units arrived on scene to find a small RV trailer fully involved and fire spreading to the near by trees. Crew quickly determined that the occupants of the RV had safely exited and no one was inside. Crews quickly extinguished the fire in the RV and the tress. The RV was a total loss and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Approximately seven years ago, the non-emergent phone number for the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety was changed to the current number of 541-450-6260. Up until recently, citizens calling the old number would still be forwarded to our new number. That service is no longer being offered. The Grants Pass Department of Public Safety would like to remind our citizens that you can reach us anytime at the 541-450-6260 number. Have a safe weekend.
The Grants Pass Department of Public Safety would like to thank our local Grants Pass Starbucks and Home Depot for supporting law enforcement on the National Day of Law Enforcement Appreciation. Starbucks manager, Cara Sparks stopped by this morning to bring us some coffee and snacks. Happily receiving the snacks is Police Sergeant Ed Burke.
********UPDATE******** 1/21/2020
Grants Pass Detective received information that Elgas-Boeggeman had sexual physical contact with a 16-year-old female in a vehicle on Elgas-Boeggeman’s 21st birthday. A subsequent investigation was conducted and revealed that Elgas-Boeggeman did have sexual physical contact with a 16-year-old female. On 1/17/2020, Additional charges of Sex Abuse 2 (x2) and Sex Abuse 3 were filled against Elgas-Boeggeman, who is currently lodged at the Josephine County Jail.
ARRESTED:
Aystyn H. Boeggeman 21yo male
CHARGES:
Rape 3 (x12), Sodomy 3 (x11), Sex Abuse 2 (x8), Contributing to the Sexual Delinquency of a Minor (x23), and Sexual Misconduct (x23).
BRIEF:
On Tuesday January 7th, 2020, the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety Detectives Unit received information from an unrelated investigation that Aystyn H. Boeggeman reportedly had sexual contact with a 15yo female. A subsequent investigation revealed that Boeggeman had been in a sexual relationship with a 15yo female, while he was 20 years old. On Wednesday, January 8th, 2020, Boeggeman was located at 4569 Dick George Road in Cave Junction and taken into custody. Boeggeman was arrested on the above mentioned charges and lodged at the Josephine County Jail.
ARRESTED:
Gabriel Rosencrans 20yo male,
CHARGES:
Sex Abuse II (x2), Contributing to the Sexual Corruption of a minor, Public Indecency, and Sexual Misconduct.
BRIEF:
On Friday, January 3rd, 2020, a Grants Pass Department of Public Safety Police Officer responded to the All Sports Park to investigate a suspicious vehicle. The subsequent investigation revealed that 20yo Gabriel Rosencrans had engaged in sexual intercourse with a 16yo female inside the vehicle. Rosencrans was arrested on the above listed charges and lodged in the Josephine County Jail.
During the month of December, the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety participated in a state wide high visibility DUII enforcement program. Grants Pass Police arrested 26 people for driving under the influence of intoxicants – alcohol and/or controlled substances. Thirty-one drivers were issued citations or arrested for Driving on a Suspended License and three juveniles were cited for being in possession of alcohol.
In 2019, the department made a total of 330 arrests for driving under the influence of intoxicants, and cited or arrested 592 drivers for driving on a suspended license.
The Grants Pass Department of Public Safety encourages the motoring public to plan ahead and designate a sober driver. Police also encourage citizens who witness suspected impaired drivers to contact police immediately.
At 5:49 am on January 5, Grants Pass Fire Rescue was dispatched to a structure fire at 515 SW Western Ave. The fire was on the front porch of the house and was called in by neighbors who saw the flames. The home owner began putting water from a garden hose on the fire that was inside the covered front porch. Fire crews arrived and quickly extinguished the fire. The interior of the house was searched and found that there was smoke in the house but the fire had not extended into the house. Fire crews used a positive pressure fan to clear out the smoke. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Anyone with information about the fire is encouraged to call the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety at 541-450-6200. Grants Pass fire rescue was assisted by Rural Metro Fire Department, American Medical Response Ambulance and the Grants Pass Police.