Grants Pass, Ore. – This morning at approximately 6:00 AM Grans Pass Police units responded to the rear parking lot of a church on NE Savage Street regarding a call from a female stating she had shot someone. Arriving officers found Scott Allen Harris, a 46-year-old male, deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. Further investigation by Grants Pass Police Detectives discovered the gunshot may have been the result of domestic violence. The involved female was questioned and released. The case has been referred to the Josephine County District Attorney for review. 

Anyone having further information related to this investigation is asked to contact the Grants Pass Police Department at 541-450-6260. Further media inquiries should be directed to the Josephine County District Attorney.

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Grants Pass, Ore. - On Monday, 06-20-22, the Grants Pass Police Department responded to a reported sex offense that occurred at the Grants Pass YMCA.  The complainant reported her 6-year-old daughter had been subjected to sexual touching while swimming at the pool.  Management at the YMCA was advised of the incident and assisted law enforcement with the investigation.  Through the assistance of the YMCA, the individual involved in the incident with the child was identified as 66-year-old Rex McCurdy, a registered sex offender from California.  The YMCA staff advised law enforcement when McCurdy arrived back at the facility on Wednesday, 06-22-22.  McCurdy was subsequently arrested by Grants Pass Police Detectives and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree.

Due to the nature of this incident, the Grants Pass Police Department is concerned there may be other children who may have had inappropriate contact from McCurdy, who frequented the facility with a male friend.  Therefore, we are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying any additional victims.  Anyone with information regarding McCurdy or his associate is encouraged to call Detective Heather Yerrick at 541-450-6344.

We also want to ensure the public that the YMCA does run federal and state background checks on individuals requesting membership at their facility and has been proactive in denying membership when there are concerns about an applicant.  Unfortunately, due to restrictions in place during COVID, McCurdy’s sex offender status, as well as that of his male companion, was not accessible during the background check conducted by the YMCA.  The YMCA has been provided additional resources to prevent this from occurring in the future until all public records are appropriately updated from the COVID backlog.  The Grants Pass Police Department wants to thank the YMCA for their assistance with this investigation and the brave child who came forward in this case.  

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ARRESTEE:

Anderson, Jeremy R.  42 yoa, resident of Idaho.  

CHARGES:

Idaho State Penitentiary Warrant for a parole violation.  Additional warrant for aggravated assault. 

Robbery in the first degree 

Burglary in the first degree

Felon in possession of a firearm

Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle (x3)

Unauthorized use of a weapon-Firearm

DETAILS:

On 06-12-2022, at approximately 7:29pm, Officers from the Grants Pass Police Department responded to the area of Annabelle Lane and Redwood Avenue after a citizen called and said her vehicle was stolen at gun point.  Officers had been in the area looking for a vehicle with possible stolen plates.  Officers responded quickly to the residence and located the vehicle with the stolen plates, which had been abandoned and the driver, who had forcefully taken another vehicle. The suspect fled the area in a Ford Escape and was last seen heading toward Redwood Avenue on Annabelle Lane.  

While officers were being provided information on the suspect and the stolen vehicle, it was located travelling in the area of Allen Creek Road and Redwood Avenue.  The suspect vehicle fled at a high rate of speed from the area.  Due to the reckless disregard for the safety of the public by the suspect, officers terminated the pursuit and began setting up a perimeter to locate the vehicle.  Additional reports were received about the vehicle driving at a high rate of speed, possibly heading toward Williams Highway. .  

Shortly after officers were attempting to locate the suspect off of Williams Highway, a caller reported that another vehicle was stolen in the area of Skycrest Lane and the suspect had discharged a round from a firearm while stealing the vehicle.  Officers located the stolen Ford Escape abandoned and another vehicle, a PT Cruiser, had been stolen.  Prior to officers arriving on scene, there was yet another report of a vehicle being stolen in the area of Skyway. It was later determined the shots were fired while the second vehicle was being stolen by the suspect.   

With the report of shots being fired and multiple vehicles being car jacked, deputies with the Josephine County Sheriff's Office and Troopers from the Oregon State Police responded to assist with the investigation.  As officers arrived on scene, they learned the suspect had crashed the stolen PT Cruiser then forcibly stole a GMC Canyon truck.  Information about the truck was relayed to partner agencies in Jackson County. A short time later, there was a report of a vehicle that crashed near the Valley of the Rogue State Park on Interstate 5.  The vehicle matched the description of the stolen GMC Canyon. 

Deputies and Troopers from Jackson County responded and learned the suspect who had crashed the GMC had taken yet another vehicle, a yellow Dodge Ram, by force.  The truck was located by officers responding and a pursuit followed.  The suspect attempted to elude the officers and eventually stopped at a residence and was taken into custody by the Oregon State Police and Jackson County Sheriff's Office. (Further information on the arrest is referred to the Oregon State Police.)

The suspect was turned over to detectives with the Grants Pass Police Department and was later lodged in the Josephine County jail.  The investigation is ongoing and due to the multiple crime scene and victims, no further information is available at this time.  One person was transported for minor injuries as a result of one of the vehicle thefts.  All vehicles have been recovered and the original vehicle with the stolen plates has been impounded for further investigation. The suspect is charged on the above crimes and further charges will likely follow.  It is expected that the suspect will face crimes in Jackson and Josephine Counties due to the location of the incidents.  

The Grants Pass Police Department would like the thank all of our partner agencies for their work and dedication to the citizens of Josephine and Jackson Counties. We would also like to thank all of the citizens who were witnesses to these incidents and called to provide critical information that assisted with ensuring this suspect was arrested and no longer in a position to harm anyone.  Anyone with information about the case or who may have witnessed any of the incidents is asked to call the Grants Pass Police Department at 541-450-6260.