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Dozens hide from gunman inside O'Brien restaurant Bradley Francis Oleary was arrested after police arrived Comment By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Jun. 30, 2015 at 4:24 PM By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Jun. 30, 2015 at 4:24 PM » Social News O'BRIEN — It was a terrifying night for dozens of people who hunkered down inside McGrew's restaurant for hours Saturday night while a gunman fired shots outside, witnesses said. A crowd had gathered at the restaurant and lounge on Redwood Highway for a memorial for Donna and Wayne Whitfield, a local couple who used to host karaoke nights there, said Bo Hiler, who was helping out with the event. The couple died in May, and Hiler, who co-owns Hiler Iron Works with his father, had created a steel sign to hang above the outdoor stage at McGrew's in their honor. Saturday's memorial included some outdoor karaoke, and that had just wrapped up when tension started building between at least two of the attendees. Hiler said he thought it was no big deal at first. "It really didn't look like it was that bad of an altercation, they were just talking," Hiler said. Suddenly, a shot rang out. Hiler said he peered over a fence to see what was going on and saw a man with a gun. The man fired several more shots and appeared to be shooting toward the ground, Hiler said. "It didn't seem like he was really shooting at anybody," he said. People started running indoors, and Hiler and another man, Dave Korrell, snuck out to Korrell's truck and grabbed their pistols, then made their way back into the bar, where the doors were locked and the blinds shut. Thus started an ordeal that Hiler said lasted more than two hours as a crowd of dozens hid inside the restaurant. Hiler said there were about 50 people inside. The cause of the delay in the law enforcement response was not immediately clear. Rural Josephine County does not have 24-hour sheriff's patrol coverage due to budget cuts. A spokesman for Oregon State Police, which provides emergency coverage when sheriff's deputies are not on patrol, could not be reached for comment. During the lockdown, the gunman came and went a couple of times, firing off more rounds outside, Hiler said. Hiler and Korrell guarded the doors, at one point going outside and pointing a gun at the armed man, who ran away. He later came back and crawled up to the door trying to conceal himself, and asked to be let in, according to Hiler. Police showed up shortly after that, he said. When OSP troopers got there, the shooter was gone, but people at the bar identified him and told troopers he lived nearby. "The guy had left his debit card behind the bar to run a tab with," Hiler said. Troopers went to a home in the 33200 block of Redwood Highway and arrested a suspect, Bradley Francis Oleary, 34. Oleary told police he lived there alone. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the home, and when they served it they found 122 mature marijuana plants outdoors, 88 immature plants indoors and more than 7 pounds of processed marijuana, according to a probable-cause statement written by OSP. Oleary has been charged with unlawful use of a weapon, fourth-degree assault and unlawful manufacturing of marijuana. He was arraigned Monday afternoon and told Josephine County Circuit Court Judge Lindi Baker he didn't need a court-appointed attorney; he would hire his own. He asked to be released from custody while his case is pending. "I just bought a home in O'Brien that's been vacant for two days," he said, appearing in the courtroom via video from the jail. Oleary told Baker he has two college degrees and owns a landscaping and maintenance business in Del Norte County, Calif. He has steady work, and he is not a flight risk, he said. "I work in California, I work in O'Brien, I work in Cave Junction — I work all the time," he said. Baker set his bail at $20,000. As of Tuesday morning, he had posted bail and was no longer in custody. Reach reporter Melissa McRobbie at 541-474-3806 or [email protected] By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Jun. 30, 2015 at 4:24 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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