The Grants Pass Police Department was “extremely busy” with serious criminal investigations that are “becoming all too common” according to authorities.
Beginning on Friday, December 9th, while detectives were busy with the arrest of Todd Heckers for Manslaughter as the result of an assault at the Wonder Bur on December 1st, Police Officers responded to Riverside Park around 5:02 pm regarding a stabbing that had occurred inside the park. The victim of the stabbing was transported to the Three Rivers Medical Center, where he received treatment for the non-life-threatening wound. Jason Castro, a 39-year-old male, was identified as the stabbing suspect and subsequently located and arrested. Castro was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd Degree Assault and Unlawful Use of a Dangerous Weapon.
On Sunday, December 11th, at 5:23 pm, Grants Pass Police officers responded to a call on NE Madrone Street regarding someone pointing a gun and a possible kidnapping. Officers discovered that 19-year-old Tyler J. Howard-Forni had allegedly threatened a male and female at the residence with a gun in an attempt to collect a debt. Howard-Forni then allegedly forced the male at gunpoint into a vehicle and drove him to Walmart in Grants Pass, where he compelled the victim to withdraw money against his will. Howard-Forni took the money and attempted to flee the scene in the vehicle but was boxed in by police vehicles in the Walmart parking lot and taken into custody without further incident. Tyler Howard-Forni was arrested and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 1st Degree Robbery, 1st Degree Kidnapping, and two counts of Unlawful Use of a Dangerous Weapon.
On Wednesday, December 14, at 2:20 am, Grants Pass Police responded to an address on Hill Top Drive regarding a report of a Restraining Order Violation. Officers arrived on the scene and found 49-year-old John R. Knapp had barricaded himself inside a camper on his 76-year-old mother’s property. Knapp’s mother had previously served him with a restraining order. Due to Knapp’s prior threats of burning down his mother’s residence, which resulted in the restraining order, officers surrounded the camper. Grants Pass Police Crisis Negotiations Team members and SWAT responded to the scene to assist in safeguarding the community and taking Knapp into custody with de-escalation techniques. After five hours of negotiations, Knapp exited the camper and surrendered to police officers. John Knapp was arrested and lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Violation of the Restraining Order and 2nd Degree Trespass. No one was injured during the incident.
In addition to these incidents, the Grants Pass Police Department remarked that they responded to numerous reports of theft, domestic violence, and disorderly conduct calls as well in the sane short time frame.
All suspects are considered innocent until any/all charges are proven true against them in a court of law.
Source: GPPD
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