Illinois Valley news., March 13, 2019, Page 9, Image 9

Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Page A-9
Josephine County Crime Briefs: by Sam Marsh, KLDR 104.5 FM / KAJO 1270 AM / 99.7 FM
Police say a Grants Pass man was
shot in the groin and then arrested early
Monday after he entered his ex-girlfriend’s
residence and threatened her. The Grants Pass
Department of Public Safety reported officers
responded to 911 call about a disturbance
in the 1700 block of Rogue River Highway
at 12:55 a.m.. The female caller reported
her ex-boyfriend -- 32-year-old Michael
Lee Fouch -- entered her residence and had
threatened her previously. While the victim
was on the phone with 911, a single gunshot
was heard by dispatchers. Officers arrived on
scene and found Fouch in the driveway with a
single gunshot wound to his groin area. They
provided first aid until American Medical
Response arrived. The suspect’s injury was
non-life-threatening and he was transported
to Three Rivers Medical Center for treatment.
An investigation revealed that Fouch had
forced entry into a bedroom where the 31-
year-old female victim was hiding with her
juvenile son.
~~~~~~~~~~
The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office
tracked down two fugitives in the Illinois
Valley early March 10. The Sheriff’s Office
reports 29-year-old Andrea Lee McGrath
and 44-year-old Antoine Hess -- both of
Cave Junction -- were arrested in the 1800-
block of Laurel Road Sunday at about 10
a.m.. Deputies said McGrath was wanted
on a Josephine County warrant for criminal
trespass and two Grants Pass warrants for
probation violation on original crimes of
theft and methamphetamine possession.
In addition, she was wanted for probable
cause in a separate case alleging crimes of
attempted unauthorized use a motor vehicle,
unlawful entry into a motor vehicle and
criminal mischief. Hess was wanted by the
Grants Pass Department of Public Safety for
probable cause in an unrelated case of felon
in possession of a weapon.
~~~~~~~~~~
Sunstone Organics is recalling its
kratom products sold in the Rogue Valley
and other parts of the nation due to potential
contamination with salmonella bacteria.
The Mail Tribune reports the leaves of the
kratom tree -- which are native to SE Asia
-- contain mind-altering compounds that can
have effects similar to opioids and stimulants.
According to the National Institute on Drug
Abuse, kratom is not currently illegal in the
United States.
Springfield-based Sunstone Organics
is voluntarily recalling two types of kratom:
Sunstone Organics White Vein Kratom
Lot 119 and Sunstone Organics Maeng Da
Kratom Lot 124A. The recall affects all sizes
of the products in both capsule and powder
form.
~~~~~~~~~~
The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office
has apprehended three more fugitives who
were wanted for skipping scheduled court
dates. According to a press release titled
“Warrant Wednesday,” deputies recently
arrested Michael Cory Pullin, Jeremy Curtis
Blondell and Merle Leonard Southard, Sr..
Pullin was arrested March 2 on Sunny Valley
Loop for failing to appear in court for felon
in possession of a firearm. Blondell was
arrested March 4 at the Wolf Creek General
Store for failing to appear in court for two
counts of contempt of court. Southard was
arrested March 4 on Caves Highway for
Parole Violation stemming from a previous
conviction for narcotics possession.
~~~~~~~~~~
The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office
captured an Illinois Valley man March 4 who
has a bad reputation for running away from
law enforcement. The Sheriff’s Office reports
39-year-old Merle Leonard Southard, Sr., was
in Cave Junction. Deputies spotted Southard
and knew he was wanted on a Josephine
County felony warrant for parole violation
related to a previous conviction for drug
possession. He also spotted them and took off
running. The foot pursuit started on Old Stage
Road. Deputies said Southard ran through a
residence and continued outside until they
were finally able to detain him on Caves
Highway. Charges of escape, interfering
with police, criminal mischief and criminal
trespass were added to his criminal bill.
Southard -- who has been dubbed “Merle The
Squirrel” - was transported to Grants Pass and
lodged without bail in the Josephine County
Jail.
that one of the dogs belongs to an apartment
dweller at that address. They said the dog
was running loose, is always a problem and
was the aggressor in the incident. The other
dog was on a leash being walked by a person.
Officers arrived on scene and determined
there were minor injuries to both dogs as well
as secondary bites to their owners. No one
was seriously hurt, so no medical was needed.
The case was turned over to Animal Control
for further investigation.
~~~~~~~~~~
A recently completed inspection gave
high marks to the Josephine County Jail
and its staff. A grand jury inspection of
the Josephine County Adult Correctional
Facility took place Feb. 26 when Sheriff
Dave Daniel and key members of his jail staff
escorted the group through the jail. Based
on a consensus of the grand jury, the overall
impression was that the facility is clean,
safe and adequate at this time for its purpose
-- and that it is administered by a dedicated,
efficient and highly-professional staff. During
the inspection, the grand jury was granted
access to all areas of the jail except for the
cell blocks where the inmates have freedom
of movement. The sheriff and staff members
stopped at each area of the facility to explain
the purpose and functionality of the areas
and to answer questions from the group.
One highlight from the inspection was a new
camera system that improves picture fidelity
and helps to eliminate blind spots throughout
the jail.
~~~~~~~~~~
A Cave Junction man was arrested
March 6 for trying to break into and steal
an occupied vehicle in south Grants Pass.
The Public Safety Department reported 51-
year-old David Blade Clay was arrested at
Walgreens on Union Avenue shortly after 7
p.m.. About 30 minutes earlier, officers had
responded to a reported vehicle break-in
in the 500-block of Rogue River Highway.
Clay allegedly tried to steal a car while
someone was inside. He then fled on foot
toward Williams Highway. Officers tracked
Clay to Walgreens where he freely admitted
to trying to get into the victim’s car. The
victim was also assisted by the Josephine
County Sheriff’s Deputies who drove them
to Walgreens for positive identification of
the suspect. David Clay was booked into the
Josephine County Jail on charges of unlawful
entry into a motor vehicle and attempted
unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
~~~~~~~~~~
The Oregon State Police cited a motorist
for one violation and warned him for two
others during a March 5 morning traffic stop
in the Illinois Valley. OSP reported troopers
pulled over a Ford Mustang driven by 35-
year-old Michael Lee Baty near milepost 35
of Redwood Highway at about 10:50 a.m.
yesterday. Troopers said they stopped Baty
for speeding and quickly determined he had
no driver’s license and that the license plates
on the car had been switched. The man told
troopers he had just purchased the vehicle
with the existing plates on it. Baty was cited
for no operator’s license and warned for
speeding and switched plates. The license
plate was seized and entered into evidence for
destruction.
~~~~~~~~~~
Josephine County Animal Control was
investigating a dog fight in which two people
were bitten in south Grants Pass. The Grants
Pass Department of Public Safety reports
officers were dispatched to the reported
animal complaint in the 1100 block of
Fruitdale Drive March 6. Witnesses reported
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