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Grants Pass, Ore. - On 11-15-2021, Rogue Area Drug Enforcement detectives were investigating a narcotics crime at Motel 6. While conducting follow-up, the detectives became aware of another crime involving prostitution at the hotel. During the follow-up investigation, it was determined Devon Driver, a 32-year-old white male, had paid cash in an exchange for sexual intercourse with an adult female while at Motel 6. The adult female cooperated with the investigation and provided evidence of the illegal encounter. Driver was taken into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Prostitution and Commercial Sexual Solicitation, both class A Misdemeanors.
Grants Pass, OR – Late last week the Grants Pass Police Department was notified by School District 7 officials of a student-led walk-out planned for today, November 16, 2021. The school district requested a police presence at Grants Pass High School and both Grants Pass Middle Schools to monitor what was anticipated to be a peaceful twenty-five-minute protest by students. Officers were deployed at all three schools as requested. Both North and South Middle Schools had a small number of student participants with no reported problems. At 1:48 PM approximately 200-300 students gathered in front of the Grants Pass High School 9th Street entrance in an apparent protest that had moved into and blocked the street. Additional police officers arrived to protect the group’s right to freedom of speech and to maintain public peace and safety.
In opposition to the student protesters, other participants with counter opinions arrived at the high school. The differing opinions of the participants led to a clash between students and counter-protesters. During the discord, a 15-year-old female student intentionally subjected another citizen to offensive physical contact by spitting in the adult male’s face. The juvenile was detained and escorted out of the area with criminal charges pending.
Following a temporary lull in emotions, a 14-year-old female student began swinging a broomstick at the same adult male citizen. The juvenile was detained for second-degree Disorderly Conduct and transported to the Josephine County Juvenile Justice Center where she was cited and released to a parent. While officers were taking the 14-year-old female into custody, a 19-year-old Lillyana Audley, a resident of Medford, attempted to prevent officers from making the arrest. Audley also encouraged others to block officers and the officer’s vehicle. Audley was arrested and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Riot, Second Degree Disorderly Conduct, and Interfering with Police.
Using de-escalation tactics, officers encouraged one side of the opposing groups to peacefully leave the area. At that point, a substantial number of students returned to class leaving approximately 100 students who refused. The remaining students were left under the control and care of school staff.
The role of the Grants Pass Police Department under these circumstances is to help keep the peace, ensure safety, nurture trust, and promote legitimacy within our community.
On Monday, November 15, 2021, at approximately 1:45 AM, Josephine County 911 received an emergency phone call from a resident in the 400 block of NE D St. The female caller reported two men, one known to her, were physically fighting inside her home. The caller also reported one of the male subjects was armed with a gun. Grants Pass Police were immediately dispatched to the scene. Police officers arriving at the incident location reported hearing several gunshots coming from the direction of the residence.
In the driveway of the residence, officers encountered the female caller who was loading her two small children into her vehicle. Officers evacuated the woman and both children to a safe location nearby. One of the male subjects involved in the fight was contacted at the residence and detained for questioning. The second male involved in the fight was unaccounted for and was identified as 32-year-old Matthew Bryan. Through the investigation that followed, it was believed Brian was armed and was the individual that fired several shots during the disturbance. It was unknown if Brian fled the residence as police were arriving. Police established a perimeter around the home to contain the situation.
Detectives and members of the Crisis Negotiations Team from the Grants Pass Police responded to assist at the scene. At 4:40 AM, police officers assigned to securing the scene's perimeter contacted Bryan walking along the canal near NE C St. Bryan was taken into custody without incident. Bryan was subsequently lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Assault 2 and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.
***UPDATE*** The juvenile has been located and is safe.
The Grants Pass Police Department is seeking assistance in locating endangered runaway, 12 year old Michelle Spangler. Michelle is 5'2'' tall and approximately 130 lbs, with light brown/blonde hair. She was last seen at her Grants Pass area home when she left on foot two days ago.
If you see Michelle or know of her whereabouts, please call GPPD at 541-450-6260
VICTIM:
30 year old male- Grants Pass Resident.
Non-life threatening injuries- Transported to Three River Hospital for treatment.
SUSPECT:
Pinard, Tyler 50 year old male
Transient- Grants Pass area
On 11-06-2021 at approximately 3:44am, Grants Pass Police responded to the area of Redwood Hwy and Rogue River Hwy. for a report of a possible disturbance. The caller advised there were multiple people and vehicles in the roadway and one individual advised he had been stabbed. As officers arrived on scene, they contacted numerous individuals including the victim who had suffered non-life threatening injuries from an edged weapon.
One individual was detained for further investigation, later identified as the suspect Tyler Pinard. Due to the seriousness of the offense, Grants Pass Police Detectives also responded to assist with the case. After further investigation was conducted, it was determined Tyler Pinard had assaulted the victim. Preliminary investigation indicates Pinard allegedly threw a large stick at a passing vehicle, driven by the victim. When the victim stopped to confront Pinard, the assault occurred.
Pinard was interviewed by detectives and later lodged in the Josephine County Jail for Assault in the Second Degree. The victim was transported to Three Rivers Hospital for treatment of his injuries. There is no indication of any prior contacts or incidents between Pinard and the victim. This appears to be a random incident and no other individuals were involved in the altercation.
The Grants Pass Police would like to thank the witnesses who stayed in the area to provide aide and statements on this case, as well as others who came forward with information. We would also like to encourage the public to call 911 and report incidents like this in the future and allow officers to make contact with those who are committing these type of random crimes. We strive to provide the best services possible for the public and to protect the public from harm as a result of an altercation. Our officers are trained to contact hostile individuals who may cause harm and have the tactics, verbal skills and tools to prevent injury to others when possible.
This case is still under investigation and further charges may follow at the conclusion. Anyone who witnesses this incident or has further information is asked to call the Grants Pass Police at 541-450-6260, reference case #21-47840.
Grants Pass, ORE. – Friday, November 05, 2021, proved to be a busy day for police officers in the City of Grants Pass. Though rain and cool weather tend to slow some types of crime, these offenders weren’t deterred.
At approximately 8:22 AM, Grants Pass Police Officers received a report of a knife-wielding female in the Town Center parking lot at the intersection of NW 6th Street and NW G Street. The suspect held the knife toward the face of a female patron at the location, threatened her, and then reached into her purse and took a pack of cigarettes. Arriving officers located and arrested Kelsie Wilson, a 24-year-old female who was walking from the scene. Officers recovered the knife and stolen cigarettes. Wilson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-degree Robbery, 3rd-degree Theft, Menacing, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.
At approximately 11:30 AM officers responded to a reported burglary of a residence in the 300 block of NW Elm Street. Upon arriving at the scene and detaining Malae Kimack, a 28-year-old female who was exiting the residence, officers determined the residence had been unlawfully entered, a garden statue had been stolen, the interior had been ransacked, and a symbol had been burned into an interior wall. Kimack was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st-degree Burglary, 1st-degree Criminal Mischief, Reckless Burning, and 3rd-degree Theft.
The Grants Pass Police Department would like to thank the citizens who assisted in both of these cases.
On 07/02/2021 at approximately 0414 hours, Grants Pass Police, Grants Pass Fire and AMR responded to a single vehicle crash in the 300 block of SW L Street.
Upon arrival, officers located an extensive crash scene involving a SUV on its side while also locating a male pinned under the vehicle. Once Fire and Medical personnel arrived on scene and with the assistance of special equipment the male was removed from under the vehicle. The male had sustained life threatening injuries from the crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
As a result of the fatality, detectives with Grants Pass Police responded to the scene to assist with the major crash investigation. Through investigations, it was determined the vehicle was driven by Virginia Richardson at the time of the incident. Richardson was interviewed on scene by officers prior to being interviewed by detectives at the police department. Due to the extensive amount of damage and evidence at the scene, no arrests were made at that time pending further follow up and investigation into the cause of the crash.
Crash reconstructionist and detectives from the Grants Pass Police worked closely with the Oregon State Police to conduct further investigation and forensically examine the SUV. At the conclusion of the investigation, the case was referred to the District Attorneys Office for charges. A Grand Jury returned a true bill against Virginia Richardson and she was arrested after turning herself in at the Grants Pass Police station on October 28th, 2021. Richardson was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Manslaughter in the Second Degree, Reckless Driving, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree.
Our condolences go out to all of those involved in this incident. We would like to thank citizens who assisted with the investigation, as well as our partner agencies in Josephine County. Due to the level of crimes, any further questions on this case should be referred to the Josephine County District Attorneys Office.
**UPDATE 11/02/21 - The missing juvenile has been found.
As of 1022 AM on Tuesday 11/02/21, the Grants Pass Police Department is attempting to locate 11 year old Stacy Ramos-Orellano who ran away from a friends house in Grants Pass on Friday 10/29/21. She is described as a latina juvenile, approximately 5' 07" tall, weighing approximately 100 lbs, with short brown/red and brown eyes.
Anyone having information about Stacy's whereabouts is asked to immediately call the Grants Pass Police Department at 541-450-6260 and reference case #21-47280.