ARSON SUSPECT APPREHENDED

Grants Pass Dept. of Public Safety

On July 7th, 2021, at approximately 2330 hours, the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety (GPDPS) received a 911 call of a large tree and shrubs on fire along NE Beacon Drive, next to the Goodwill Thrift Shop parking lot, located at 346 NE Beacon Drive. GPDPS Police and Fire/Rescue units responded. On arrival, the large tree was fully involved and flames were about 50 feet high. The roadway was briefly shutdown and Fire/Rescue was able to extinguish the fire quickly. The tree and surrounding landscape shrubs were a total loss. 

Police units continued the investigation and were able to utilize surveillance video that captured the incident. We were able to determine the fire was intentionally set. This led to contacting the suspect nearby in the 300 block of NE Beacon Drive. He was identified as 35 year-old Jeremy Mellow of Grants Pass. He was placed in custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail on charges of Arson in the Second Degree. There may be additional charges to follow. 

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to please call the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety at (541) 450-6260 and reference case # 21-32267.  We would like to remind citizens any fire poses a risk to the city, and all illegal fires will be fully investigated.