A migrant, mostly undocumented, workforce is required to farm on the scale southern Oregon is dealing with now. Extremely safe. JOSEPHINE COUNTY, Ore. A suspect was arrested in connection with an illegal indoor marijuana manufacturing site near Cave Junction. Grey estimates he has spent $150,000 for cameras, video, alarms and tracking systems in the last seven years. Photograph: Mason Trinca/The Guardian, Somethings not right in southern Oregon: alarm at rise of illegal pot farms, Felisa Rogers, with photographs by Mason Trinca. Persons named have only been arrested on suspicion of the crime indicated and are presumed innocent. Another suspect, Justin Robert Mason, 31, was sentenced to 75 months in April after pleading guilty in January to second-degree manslaughter and first-degree burglary for his involvement in the arson and homicide. Mesquite, TX Daily Crime Records. Dec 21, 2021 04:38 PM, SOU president gets feedback on realignment plan, Oregon will begin processing 2022 state income tax returns Jan. 23, Man sentenced in connection with beating death, Since You Asked: Panera Bread on track for early 2023 opening. WebNewsBreak provides latest and breaking local news and reports on Cave Junction, OR crime and public safety, and updates from police and fire departments, so you stay He points out a cluster of greenhouses surrounded by piles of trash, and the hillside above, which has been terraced and entirely stripped of vegetation. CAVE JUNCTION, Ore. Josephine County Sheriff's Office says three people were arrested late Wednesday morning after a bank robbery in Cave Junction. To ensure licensed cannabis farms arent selling on the illicit market, Oregon law requires that farmers document every scrap of plant material they grow from seed to sale. Crime Map. Were in close contact with the governor and our federal partners are starting to open their eyes. The break in the case came when a witness identified as Clarabelle Compton came forward, and provided a statement that named the four suspects. Kevin Bacon is in his little police or military uniform and hes got his hands in the air and he says Remain calm, all is well and then completely gets mowed over by the crowd? The investigation began in December 2022 when Barren County Jailer Aaron Shirley requested the Barren River Drug Task Force investigate how drugs were getting into the detention Hall documents the impact of the illegal farms depleting aquifers by pumping from protected rivers and digging huge pits to tap into the groundwater. 32-year-old Lauren Siegel was arrested for unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful manufacturing of marijuana. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. A Chinese crime operation The OSP published a release on Friday detailing the progress of the case and the long-dead victim JOSEPHINE COUNTY, Ore. (KPTV) - Skeletal remains that were found almost 40 years ago have been identified as a woman who was last seen in 1959, according to the Josephine County Sheriffs Office. An amount below 100 means Cave Junction is cheaper than the US average. Two men pull up almost instantly in a Honda with busted headlights; the driver asks Hall what hes doing there. There is more crime than I'd like in this area. People are also reading I mean its really, really strange for me to be calling for a huge law enforcement or military crackdown on growing marijuana because for so long I just wanted it to be free for people to grow, Cedar says. Excellent. The information contained on this website is protected by constitutional, publishing, and other legal rights. But in the past year, longtime locals have been alarmed by the rapid proliferation of unlicensed pot farms, unprecedented in terms of size and allegedly controlled by crime syndicates from eastern Europe, China and Mexico. Guard dogs run through a small clearing, barking at us. One match. According to investigators, two male suspects in masks reportedly fled on foot after taking an undisclosed amount of money. Tim Freeman, a Douglas county commissioner, says for some locals the issue goes beyond dismay over a changing landscape. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The sheriffs office said Our new Privacy Policy will go into effect on January 1st, 2023. He started questioning one of the soldiers managers, soldiers, whatever you want to call it and they threatened to burn his house down. Thats Josephine county law enforcement right there.. Authorities say they then returned to the scene and stole his belongings. From Dec. 1 to Jan. 6, Meyer allegedly engaged in sexually explicit text conversations with the purported 14-year-old, according to a document filed by the Josephine County Sheriffs Office in the case. WebCave Junction, Oregon United States / Oregon / Grants Pass Metro Area / Josephine County / Cave Junction / Zip Codes Cost of Living in Cave Junction, Oregon Our cost of living indices are based on a US average of 100. On Wednesday, Oregon State Police troopers Follow the link to read our updated Privacy Policy. They were sleeping under black plastic tarps inside the hoop houses, she says. Cave Junction bank robbery suspects arrested. I feel safe walking in most areas. Troopers deployed less lethal impact rounds in order to get her into custody. The abuse of workers, environmental degradation and threats of violence towards locals have pushed some residents who have historically been skeptical of federal drug enforcement to ask for exactly that. Information on this page was obtained from the website Josephine County Mugshots : Feb-27-2023 Feb-28-2023, Josephine County Released or Transferred Inmates : Feb-27-2023, Josephine County Mugshots : Feb-26-2023 Feb-27-2023, Josephine County Released or Transferred Inmates : Feb-26-2023, Josephine County Mugshots : Feb-25-2023 Feb-26-2023, Josephine County Released or Transferred Inmates : Feb-25-2023, Josephine County Mugshots : Feb-24-2023 Feb-25-2023, Josephine County Released or Transferred Inmates : Feb-24-2023, Josephine County Mugshots : Feb-23-2023 Feb-24-2023, Lincoln County Mugshots : Feb-26-2023 Feb-28-2023, Jefferson County Mugshots : Feb-27-2023 Feb-28-2023. Compare Cave Junction crime data to other cities, states, and neighborhoods in the U.S. on NeighborhoodScout. The rehabilitation will be status as a stronghold of illegal cannabis farms since the 1960s, Jackson and Douglas counties declared a state of emergency in October, Operation Green Sweep descended on the nearby Emerald Triangle, recently raided two supposed hemp farms they believe are operated by the same cartel. Which I think in large part they are.. Michael Moehring, 42, is facing two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree abuse of a corpse, and one count each of first-degree arson, second-degree arson and felon in possession of a firearm. Empty hoop houses grows seen along the road Holland Loop Road near Cave Junction, Oregon. Cedar Grey of Siskiyou Sungrown photographed at his farm where he legally grows marijuana. Every story from every site is brought to you automatically and continuously Mail Tribune to cease operations Friday - 1/13/2023. hristopher Hall parks his old Toyota on a dirt road that dead-ends in a forest in Oregons Illinois Valley. This yields a total of 24 sex offenders in Oregon per 100,000 residents which is 91% less than the national average. Hit every one of these farms., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, Empty hoop houses seen along the roadside near Cave Junction, Oregon, last month. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Copyright 2007 - 2023 United Reporting Corporation. Moehring is the second suspect arrested in the case. For a bespectacled middle-aged conservationist, Hall is surprisingly reckless. The people in the vehicle were identified as 61-year-old William Glenn, 56-year-old Patrick Hirt, and 61-year-old Carol Evans-West. The amount of money we spend and the hoops that we jump through to be compliant with regulations its mountainous, its unbelievable, Cedar says. February 11, 2023 (61 crimes) February 10, 2023 The Josephine County Sheriffs Office arrested Harley Boitz, 26, in Cave Junction on April 1. While violent crime is rare in Hong Kong, Choi's murder, according to the AP, recalls a handful of other shocking killings. CAVE JUNCTION, Ore. Three suspects were quickly apprehended after a bank robbery in Cave Junction. Cave Junction, Ore This morning, the Illinois Valley Fire Department (IVFD) reported an accident involving a school bus in Cave Junction. If they snip a leaf from a branch, they have to weigh the clipping and report it to the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, the organization that strictly monitors all legal pot farms. State law doesnt allow us to, he says. WebNewsNow aims to be the world's most accurate and comprehensive aggregator of Texas crime news. They said, We can take care of this real quick. They were arrested just before five Saturday morning on a property on the 2200 block of Redwood Highway in Cave Junction. You can cancel at any time. Those raiders saw 1,300 cannabis plants destroyed, and locals protested against that deployment of federal troops to small farms. Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. Although Governor Brown declined to send in the national guard this harvest season, which ended mid-November, Daniel hopes he will have the states support next year. Learn more about: Privacy Policy, 2022-23 NFL Sunday Night Football schedule, Two arrested for murder, robbery in Cave Junction, Medford police search for armed robbery suspect, Search for third plane crash victim temporarily suspended, Snow leads to slick conditions, crashes early Tuesday across Jackson county, SMHS basketball breaking school records, led by emerging star Boden Howell, 19th annual Oregon Chocolate Festival in Ashland this weekend, Highway 199 closed briefly as part of widespread snow. KERBY, Ore. The death of a man dropped off at the Chevron in Cave Junction earlier this month led the Josephine County Sheriff's Office to investigate a Two other suspects, Kenny Liegh Webb, 37, and Dakota James Crow, 26, are scheduled to stand trial next year on murder, arson and burglary charges. Oregon State Police said on Tuesday that four Cave Junction men were lodged in the Josephine County Jail, and are all suspects in the murder of Donald Thomas, 65. Trends Analytics. Local authorities agree with that estimate. Learn more about: Privacy Policy, 2022-23 NFL Sunday Night Football schedule, Cave Junction bank robbery suspects arrested, Portland region begins homeless point-in-time count, Snow leads to slick conditions, crashes early Tuesday across Jackson county, SMHS basketball breaking school records, led by emerging star Boden Howell, 19th annual Oregon Chocolate Festival in Ashland this weekend, Highway 199 closed briefly as part of widespread snow. According to deputies, more than 190 pounds of processed marijuana and 500 pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes were seized. I avoid walking in most areas at night. The Josephine County District Attorneys Office said on the morning of December 7, police received a call reporting a physical altercation at 400 Pinewood Way. The US Marshals Service learned that Siddle might be in the Cave Junction area. I treat these workers like theyre victims, to be honest with you. CAVE JUNCTION, Ore. Josephine County Sheriff's Office deputies found garbage bags stuffed full of marijuana during a traffic stop in Cave Junction on Thursday, according to the agency. The initial investigation revealed Roberts had drifted off the road and struck a tree. Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon, better known as emergency dispatch, received a call at 8:33 a.m. of a threat at Ashland High School. Meyer was arrested Jan. 6 ahead of a meetup in Cave Junction where police say he made a substantial step to meet with the minor for sex by bringing with him 32.7 grams of marijuana roughly 1.15 ounces. But whats happening here has to stop. As of Friday afternoon, Josephine County Jail records showed Meyer was still an inmate held on $50,000 bail. She says their once-picturesque drive to work is riddled with ugly plastic hoop houses, fencing and industrial-looking buildings, all the makings for large-scale pot grows. This ruse allows criminal organizations to grow on a vast scale. One of the biggest complaints this year is that peoples wells are underperforming or just drying right out, he says. Poor. Communities here used to be close-knit. Thats incredibly frustrating to legal cannabis farms. Unlicensed pot farms abounded, but the growers were largely local people and thus had some sense of accountability to one another and the environment. Not safe at all. WebCave Junction arrest records. I tell Hall I think we should move on, and he reluctantly shifts into drive but is unable to resist a few parting shots: Do you think you can just keep trashing our streams? Participants will learn the basics of disaster preparedness, fire safety, disaster medical operations and psychology, light search and rescue and radio and communications skills. Since 2010, its been legal to grow hemp in unlimited quantities. Nicole Rensenbrink, a social worker who is married to the local veterinarian, has lived in Josephine county since 1983 and laments how much it has changed in recent years, describing the endless ugliness that the huge influx of cannabis farms has brought to our valley. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Please subscribe to keep reading. All rights reserved. Law enforcement in Southern Oregon arrested a 30-year-old man and seized nearly 1.5 tons of illegal marijuana after raiding two locations near Cave Junction last week. Glenn and Evans-West were also charged with a probation violation. Not very safe. Terra and Jerry may look like typical older hippies, but they come off as conventional when discussing the consequences for breaking the law on such a large scale. Meyer also faces a misdemeanor evidence tampering charge accusing him of throwing his phone into the creek. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Christopher Michael Meyer of Cave Junction faces first-degree online sexual corruption of a child, luring a minor and unlawfully delivering marijuana charges on accusations he spent more than a month texting a person he believed to be a 14-year-old girl, and that he offered the teens 16-year-old friend an ounce of marijuana, according to documents filed Friday in Josephine County Circuit Court. According to an Oregon State Police news release issued Monday, the investigation had gone cold for 10 months in 2019. Then another call at 8:46 a.m. of a threat at South Medford High School. In another Douglas county raid this November, police seized 500,000 pounds of weed, which they estimate is worth $500m. The remains were found in the Quartz Creek area in June 1986. Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. About half of the 200 complaints of wage withholding they received in 2021 are from workers who have been abused, like the man who said when he tried to leave the farm his boss put a gun to his head and threatened his family. About 15 minutes after the robbery was reported, the suspects vehicle was seen on Redwood Highway traveling toward Selma. WebJOSEPHINE COUNTY, Ore. Were learning more about an officer-involved shooting that left two people dead in Cave Junction. And all work must be done on camera even the farms compost piles are under surveillance. Kathy Keesee-Morales is the program coordinator for the Unete Center for Farm Worker Advocacy, an organization that lobbies for worker rights and provides support to the migrant community. The rehabilitation will be from the Edens Expressway junction to Ohio Street. All charges are felonies. The Josephine County Sheriffs Office said on January 23, investigators searched a property in the 2000 block of Caves Highway. Forester was taken into custody without incident. Latest stories. Marshals Service and the Oregon State Police SWAT Team. Christopher Hall parks his old Toyota on a dirt road that dead-ends in a forest in Oregons Illinois Valley. Josephine County Sheriffs Office deputies search a property in the 9000 block of Takilma Road in Cave Junction during an investigation into suspect Christopher Michael Meyer, 35, accused of attempting to meet a 14-year-old for sex and attempting to deliver an ounce of marijuana to another juvenile. JOSEPHINE COUNTY, Ore. A suspect was arrested in connection with an illegal indoor marijuana manufacturing site near Cave Junction. The couple were saving up to build a bigger house on their land, but are considering moving because of an illegal grow that moved in nearby last year. Moehring is the second suspect arrested in the case. The property also had multiple electrical, water and solid waste code violations, JCSO said. by Karen Brooks Harper Feb. 27, 2023 . These violations could result in the civil forfeiture of the property.. Our local government seems to spend more time enforcing compliance on legal cannabis farms than even visiting illegal cannabis farms, Cedar says. Jun 1, 2022 Updated Jun 1, 2022 0 Anthony Duane Siddle, 60, was arrested this morning in Cave Junction on a warrant out of San Diego. Oregon State Police Facebook The 2021 grow season was the most brazen, in your face, wide open that Ive seen yet, he says. 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