ROGUE AREA INTERAGENCY DRUG TEAM INVESTIGATIONS

ROGUE AREA INTERAGENCY DRUG TEAM INVESTIGATIONS HELPING TO KEEP DRUGS OUT OF GRANTS PASS AREA
Posted: July 29th, 2009 3:43 PM

Two recent ongoing investigations by the interagency Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) team during the past few months have reached the point that the release of information will not affect the integrity of the investigations.

According to Oregon State Police (OSP) Sergeant Jim Johnson, the first mentioned investigation involved RADE detectives and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents that recently led to the arrest of two people for numerous drug related charges in the Grants Pass area. Two others were also lodged on unrelated offenses.

On July 8, 2009, at approximately 9:30 a.m. investigators followed up on a tip and contacted ALFREDO AZAMAR, age 44, after he got off a commercial bus line and made contact with another person identified as SAUL BAHENA-RODRIGUEZ, age 46, at a Grants Pass Parkway market. During the subsequent investigation related to the tip AZAMAR told investigators he was carrying a bag containing bread. Further inspection revealed the bag actually contained two ounces of cocaine intermingled with the pastries. His backpack also had approximately one pound of methamphetamine concealed within a pair of jeans.

Subsequent investigative efforts led to the service of a search warrant at AZAMAR's residence at 1621 Medart Lane in Grants Pass. Detectives seized over $6,000 cash, a .38 caliber firearm, scales, packaging material, and other evidence. AZAMAR was arrested and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on the following charges:

* Unlawful Possession of Cocaine
* Unlawful Delivery of Cocaine
* Unlawful Manufacturing of Cocaine
* Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine
* Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine
* Unlawful Manufacturing of Methamphetamine
* ICE hold

BAHENA-RODRIGUEZ was also arrested and lodged in the Josephine County Jail on the following charges:

* Unlawful Possession of Cocaine
* Unlawful Delivery of Cocaine
* Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine
* Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine
* ICE hold

Two other men, ages 41 and 47, contacted during the investigation were detained by ICE agents on unlawful immigration-related offenses.

"During this interagency investigation, Grants Pass Department of Public Safety detectives provided invaluable support," said Johnson. "The end result was another example of how agencies working together can keep drugs from reaching into our communities."

In the second case, RADE detectives arrested one person on drug-related charges and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Minor.

Johnson said the second case was prompted by the June 10th arrest of LAURA J. BERRY, age 38, by a GPDPS patrolman on methamphetamine-related charges. At the time, BERRY was in possession of six (6) 1/8 oz. packets of methamphetamine. On June 15, 2009, RADE and Grants Pass Department of Public Safety (GPDPS) detectives served a search warrant at BERRY'S residence located at 4165 Granite Hill Road.

While executing the search warrant detectives seized $2,750.00 cash, scales, packaging material, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and other evidence. At the time, BERRY was home with her children when the warrant was served. She was arrested a second time on June 15th and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on the following charges:

* Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine
* Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine
* Unlawful Manufacturing of Methamphetamine
* Two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Minor

Anyone with information regarding suspicious drug activity or marijuana growing operations is encouraged to call the RADE tip line at (541) 955-6970.

The interagency narcotics RADE team is comprised of personnel from the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety, Oregon State Police, Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Josephine County District Attorney's Office, and the Josephine County Community Corrections.

Joseph O'Dell

Josephine County Sheriff's Deputies
are looking for a man who they think killed his 20-year-old girlfriend Monday.

Joseph O'Dell, 24, dropped off his unconscious girlfriend at a home in the 7800 block of Lower Grave Creek Road and left before emergency crews arrived, according to Sheriff's Office

KLAMATH COUNTY DEPUTY'S PATROL CAR STRUCK

A Klamath County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) patrol vehicle was struck by a commercial vehicle trailer Sunday afternoon while parked assisting at the scene of a previous traffic crash.

On July 19, 2009 at approximately 12:50 p.m. a KCSO Ford Crown Victoria patrol car was parked with its emergency lights activated on Highway 97 facing north just south of Algoma Road. The KCSO deputy was assisting Oregon State Police and local emergency responders at the scene of a commercial vehicle fire when his patrol car was hit by a commercial trailer as it turned from a detour at Algoma Road. A third vehicle, a Dodge Caravan, was also struck.

An Oregon State Police trooper investigated the non-injury crash.

Photograph Source: Oregon State Police

Interstate 5 Medford closed Do to Wildland Fire

Oregon State Police: Interstate 5 near milepost 25 between Phoenix and Medford closed both directions due to fire on both sides of the freeway - Northbound traffic is reportedly diverted off Interstate 5 at exit 24 (Phoenix) and southbound traffic is diverted off Interstate 5 at exit 27 (south Medford) - Highway 99 is recommended detour route

154.250 Command
151.175 ODF
154.310 Jackson North
154.130 Jackson South
154.445 Medford FD
154.070 RV TAC 6 Josephine County TF#1
154.175

Rogue Valley Tac Freqs

154.2800 Rogue Valley Tac 1
159.2400 Rogue Valley Tac 2
153.8200 Rogue Valley Tac 3
154.2200 Rogue Valley Tac 4
154.2500 Rogue Valley Tac 5
154.0700 Rogue Valley Tac 6
154.110 Rogue Valley Tac 7

News from FCC

ALLEGIANT AIR
451.1875 451.4375 451.7625 452.7625

MEDFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT 549C
457.525 457.575 457.6

Minor Injury Crash Closed Rogue River Highway

Two people were treated and released following a head-on traffic crash Wednesday morning on Rogue River Highway (Old Highway 99) between Rogue River and Grants Pass that closed the highway for nearly two hours.

On July 1, 2009 at approximately 10:45 a.m. 2005 Toyota Prius driven by WANDA R. SOLACE, age 69, from Grants Pass, was eastbound on Rogue River Highway near milepost 8 when it crossed the centerline and crashed head-on into a 2001 Freightliner commercial truck driven by DONOVAN HOCKMAN, age unknown, from Portland.

OSP troopers investigating the crash this SOLACE may have had a medical issue at the time of the crash. Both operators were transported to Three Rivers Hospital in Grants Pass where they were treated and released.

OSP officers from Central Point were assisted by ODOT as the roadway was closed for nearly two hours for investigation and removal of debris and the involved vehicles.

Photograph Source: Oregon State Police

WRONG WAY DRIVER - INTERSTATE 5 SOUTH OF GRANTS PASS

News Release from: Oregon State Police
FATAL TRAFFIC CRASH INVOLVING WRONG WAY DRIVER - INTERSTATE 5 SOUTH OF GRANTS PASS


A report of a wrong way driver Tuesday night on Interstate 5 near Grants Pass turned into a four vehicle crash that left one man dead and the wrong way driver seriously injured. The crash, which occurred in the northbound lanes south of Grants Pass, resulted in the freeway being closed for approximately 2 hours. Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers are continuing the investigation.

According to OSP Sergeant Jeff Fitzgerald, on June 30, 2009 at approximately 11:37 p.m. the OSP Southern Command Center (SCC) dispatch started receiving reports of a wrong way driver on Interstate 5 near milepost 58 southbound in the northbound lanes. One of the citizen reports stated the vehicle pulled over near milepost 54 before continuing southbound again. OSP troopers from the Grants Pass worksite responded in an attempt to locate the wrong way vehicle.

At approximately 11:42 p.m. a trooper observed vehicles crashed in the northbound lanes near milepost 53. Upon arriving at the scene troopers found the wrong way vehicle and three other vehicles that had been involved in a crash.

The preliminary investigation indicates a gray 1989 Toyota 4x4 pick-up driven by MALCOLM HENRY ARMSTRONG, age 81, from Days Creek, was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes near milepost 53 when it sideswiped a 2002 Dodge pickup driven by NICHOLAS KING, age 18, from Grants Pass. The Toyota 4x4 pickup then continued and collided with a 2007 Kia Sedona minivan operated by SCOTT WESLEY KEMP, age 41, from Escalon, California, before crashing head-on into a 1991 Toyota two-wheel drive pickup.

The driver of the 1991 Toyota pickup was pronounced deceased at the scene. His name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

ARMSTRONG was ejected from his pickup and transported to Three Rivers Community Hospital with serious injuries. Troopers learned ARMSTRONG was the subject of an attempt to locate as a missing/endangered person due to some possible memory-related problems issued out of Jackson County.

KING and KEMP were uninjured.

A passenger in KING'S vehicle identified as BRETT L. LEWIS, age 17, from Grants Pass, was also uninjured.

Three other occupants in the Kia identified as JOAN BOGNOT KEMP, age 41; KAYLA AMAYA KEMP, age 7; and, MIYA CHIO KEMP, age 9, all from Escalon, were uninjured.

Safety restraint use information is not available at this time.

The crash caused a closure of the northbound lanes for over 2 hours while personnel from the Oregon State Police Grants Pass and Central Point offices, ODOT, Rural Metro Fire Department, Grants Pass Department of Public Safety, Rogue River Fire Department, AMR, Caveman Towing, Crystal Peak Towing, Bulldog Towing and Fairgrounds Towing worked on the scene.