Gunshots & an Arrest in Southern Oregon, Feb. 13

Oregon State Police (OSP) arrested a Grants Pass man early Wednesday morning after he fled from a vehicle seen leaving the area of heard gun shots in Merlin.  On February 12, 2014 at 12:03 a.m., an OSP trooper patrolling in the 900 block of Galice Road in Merlin heard gun shots from the area of Romars Hideway Sports Bar & Grill parking lot. A few seconds after hearing the gunshots, the trooper saw a passenger car leave the parking lot and stopped the vehicle. A male passenger fled the vehicle on foot into a field, up a hill and over a fence where the trooper lost sight of him.  A second trooper responded to assist with an area search and they found the man hiding in a shed on the property where he was last seen. JASPER ALLEN PAUL MILLER, age 26, from Grants Pass, was detained and taken into custody after the troopers confirmed MILLER was wanted on a Parole Violation warrant.  Subsequent investigation confirmed MILLER shot a handgun in the air while in the parking lot. MILLER showed troopers where he attempted to hide the handgun and it was seized for evidence. MILLER was also found to be in possession of a small amount of methamphetamine.  MILLER was lodged in the Josephine County Jail on the outstanding warrant and the following local charges:  * Felon in Possession of a Weapon; * Unlawful Use / Carrying a Dangerous Weapon; * Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine.
The car’s driver was not arrested.