Salem Police

Salem Police Dept. News via FlashAlert.Net

  • Dispute leads to shots fired, one fatality, two wounded -- UPDATE (Photo)
    on August 12, 2024 at 10:30 pm

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  DATE: August 12, 2024Suspect identified, wanted by policeDispute leads to shots fired, one fatality, two woundedUpdate 08/12/2024 | 3:30 p.m.Salem Police Violent Crimes Unit detectives ask for the public’s help in a 2023 homicide case.On the evening of February 13, gunfire rang out in a northeast Salem neighborhood after a verbal dispute between several men gathered in the street near Arbon DR and Vallejo ST NE. The incident left Alejandro Silva-Ramirez and two other victims with gunshot wounds. Silva-Ramirez, age 27 of Salem, died on‑the-scene. The adult and teen who were also struck by gunfire survived their injuries.Evidence developed in the investigation led to Fermin Flores, age 33 of Salem, as the suspect in the incident. Flores, who also uses the name Alejandro Chavez Mando, has a warrant for his arrest on the charge of second-degree murder.Detectives have exhausted all efforts to locate Flores and request the public’s help with this case.Flores is a Hispanic male adult, with black hair and brown eyes, is 5 foot 3 inches in height, and has a slender build. He generally wears his hair shaved and may have facial hair.Anyone with information about Flores’ whereabouts is asked to call the Salem Police Tips Line at 503‑588-8477. If you see Flores, call police authorities. Do not approach him. He is considered armed and dangerous.# # #Originally published 02/14/2023Dispute leads to shots fired, one fatality, two woundedSalem, Ore. — At approximately 8:50 p.m. on Monday, February 13, Salem Police officers responded to the area of Arbon DR and Vallejo ST NE on multiple reports of gunfire.Arriving officers located two men with gunshot wounds. Both men received medical aid at the scene; however, one man, age 27, subsequently died of his injuries. The second man, age 30, was transported to Salem Health and currently remains hospitalized.A third person with a gunshot wound, a teenage girl, was also located and transported to the hospital with a non-life-threatening injury.Officers learned several men were gathered in the street when a dispute erupted, and gunfire was exchanged. Stray bullets from the encounter struck a nearby residence with a round entering the home and striking the teen.Detectives from the Violent Crimes Unit responded to the scene and are leading the investigation. Although no further details are being released about the incident, anyone with information is encouraged to call the Salem Police Tips Line at 503-588-8477.# # # 

  • Suspicious activity at neighborhood park leads to teens arrested, guns confiscated (Photo)
    on August 11, 2024 at 7:30 pm

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  DATE: August 11, 2024 Suspicious activity at neighborhood park leads to teens arrested, guns confiscatedSalem, Ore. — At approximately 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 10, a neighbor reported a group of boys actively spray-painting graffiti on the fencing at Hoover Park, 1250 Savage RD NE. Responding officers discovered the four juveniles who ran from them and then fled in a car. The vehicle with the boys inside, three aged 16 and one aged 14, was stopped blocks away. Officers determined two of the teens, one 16-year-old and the 14-year-old, had outstanding warrants. Two handguns were also located inside the car. All four boys were detained and transported to the Marion County Juvenile Department each facing charges of unlawful possession of a weapon (a firearm) and second-degree criminal trespass. The Salem Police Department is grateful to residents who report suspicious activity and in-progress crimes in our neighborhoods and parks. All City of Salem parks have public use hours, and neighborhood parks are closed between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. The collaborative efforts between the community and police to keep our city safe are essential.# # #

  • Afternoon bank robbery in northeast Salem, suspect arrested (Photo)
    on August 11, 2024 at 6:02 pm

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                               DATE: August 11, 2024 Afternoon bank robbery in northeast Salem, suspect arrestedSalem, Ore. — A Salem man has been lodged at the Marion County Jail on charges related to the robbery of a bank on Friday afternoon.At approximately 3:50 p.m. on August 9, 2024, Salem Police officers responded to the Washington Federal Bank located at 2955 Broadway ST NE. Employees reported a man threatened a bank teller, demanding money and displaying what appeared to be a handgun. The teller complied after which the man fled the scene in a vehicle.The suspect in the incident was quickly identified as Bernardino Muniz, age 63. At approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday night, a Salem Police SWAT team apprehended Muniz outside his residence in the 2600 block of Front ST NE. A warrant search of the premises recovered evidence of the crime.Muniz faces first-degree robbery charges.# # # 

  • Detectives make an arrest in a downtown shooting incident
    on August 7, 2024 at 9:35 pm

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  DATE: August 7, 2024Detectives make an arrest in a downtown shooting incidentSalem, Ore. — Salem Police detectives have arrested a Stayton man for his involvement in a shooting incident that occurred downtown in late June.On June 29 at 9:20 p.m., officers were called to the 400 block of Mill ST SE on the report of a juvenile lying on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound. Officers provided medical aid until the paramedics arrived to transport the 16-year-old boy to the hospital for his injury.The investigation by Violent Crimes Unit detectives determined two groups of people had gathered at the Pringle Plaza Parkade, at 399 High ST SE, when a dispute ensued between them, and gunfire erupted leaving the victim with a gunshot wound to the neck. Detectives, with assistance from the Stayton Police Department, arrested William Jonah Wilson, age 19, on Tuesday afternoon, August 6, for his involvement in the incident. Wilson was taken into custody without incident outside a residence in the 200 block of N 4th AV in the city of Stayton. Wilson is lodged at the Marion County Jail on charges of second-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault. He is set to be arraigned today at 2:30 p.m. at the Marion County Circuit Court Annex. Given his in-custody status, all further inquiries into the case should be directed to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office.The arrest comes as the City of Salem works on its Community Violence Reduction Initiative to curb shootings in the community. “This type of violence will not be tolerated in our community, and offenders will be held accountable,” said Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack. He added, “I also want to highlight the tenacity of our investigators who work diligently to bring criminal cases to resolution. And I want to recognize the strong partnerships with our regional law enforcement agencies who share in our commitment to violence reduction.”# # #

  • Suspect in domestic violence shooting arrested
    on August 2, 2024 at 9:00 pm

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  DATE: August 2, 2024Suspect in domestic violence shooting arrestedSalem, Ore. — Salem resident George Brown Jr. was taken into custody today on charges related to a shooting which occurred early this morning in a southeast neighborhood.Salem Police officers to the report of a gunshot victim in the 800 block of 25th ST SE at approximately 2:15 a.m. on Friday morning. Callers reported a woman with a gunshot wound was outside yelling for help. Arriving officers found a man and woman. The woman was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.The man, identified as Brown Jr., surrendered to officers without incident. The 30-year-old shooting victim was transported to the hospital in stable condition.Investigators determined that Brown Jr. and the victim, who are in a domestic relationship, were in a physical altercation that escalated when the shooting occurred.Officers recovered the small-caliber handgun used in the incident.Brown will be lodged at the Marion County Jail on the following charges:Attempted Murder, second-degreeAttempted Rape, first-degreeAssault, second-degreeUnlawful Use of a WeaponCoercionMenacingAll further inquiries in the case must be directed to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office.# # #

  • Suspect arrested in sexual assault case, information sought (Photo)
    on July 29, 2024 at 9:25 pm

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDATE: July 29, 2024Suspect arrested in sexual assault case, additional victims soughtSalem, Ore. — Salem resident Felix Flores Jr. was arrested on July 26, 2024 by Salem Police officers in connection with an attempted sexual assault in northeast Salem.Just after 10:45 a.m. that Friday morning, officers responded to the report of a man attempting to sexually assault an employee of the Happy Holiday Massage at 1828 Lancaster DR NE. The woman screamed and struggled with the suspect, getting the attention of others who intervened. Flores then fled the business on foot.Officers were able to locate Flores a short distance away and arrested him without incident.The 39-year-old Flores is also identified in another Salem case of sexual assault. On the evening of July 22, Flores entered the business of Sasa Massage at 820 Commercial ST SE and sexually assaulted an employee, then left the establishment. Flores drives a late-model, green Chevrolet Astro Van with dark windows, a luggage rack, and a rear sunroof, Oregon license plate 267 MMS.Anyone who has additional information about Flores is urged to contact Special Victims Unit Detective Sabrina Hunter at 503-540-2443.# # #

  • Dispute leads to gunfire, one hospitalized and two in custody (Photo)
    on July 26, 2024 at 5:00 am

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    DATE: July 25, 2024Dispute leads to gunfire, one hospitalized and two in custodySalem, Ore. — At approximately 1:40 p.m. today, emergency personnel responded to the Arco AMPM at 3820 Portland RD NE on a call of shots fired. Witnesses reported that earlier in the day the suspect, identified as Rafael Lucas Jr., age 34 of Salem, was attempting to start a fight with several members of a construction crew working in the store parking lot. Lucas returned after several hours with a second suspect, Benjamin Constantino-De la Luz, age 61 of Salem. A verbal dispute ensued between one of the crew workers and Lucas. Lucas then pulled out a pistol and chased the victim who ran inside the store with Lucas and Constantino-De la Luz pursuing him.Lucas fired the gun, shooting the construction worker in the head. Constantino-De la Luz used a shovel to twice strike another construction worker who was attempting to aid the shooting victim. Both Lucas and Constantino-De la Luz then fled the store.The shooting victim, a 48-year-old Salem man, was taken to Salem Health with critical injuries and remains under medical care. The second victim, a 70-year-old Stayton resident, received minor injuries in the incident and was not transported to the hospital.Officers located Lucas and Constantino-De la Luz blocks from the crime scene and were taken into custody without incident. Both were transported to the Marion County Jail, each lodged on the following charges: Attempted murder, second-degreeAssault, first-degreeAssault, second-degree, two countsUnlawful use of a weapon# # #

  • Stolen vehicle investigation leads to four arrests--UPDATE: Additional arrest, second motorcyclist now in custody (Photo)
    on July 18, 2024 at 8:55 pm

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE              Update 07/18/2024 | 1:55 p.m.Stolen vehicle investigation leads to four arrestsAdditional arrest, second motorcyclist now in custodyOn July 17,  Felony Crimes Unit detectives arrested the second suspect in a shots-fired incident that occurred last week.Brian Lee English, age 28 of Salem, was arrested for his involvement in a shooting incident on July 11. That day, while detectives were conducting a motorcycle theft investigation at a storage facility in the 1800 block of 22nd ST SE,  two motorcycle riders drove up near the business and one of the men fired a gun into the air in plain view of the officers.The motorcyclists then fled the scene. One rider, Zayn Free Bristow, age 25 of Mill City, was apprehended after a p pursuit ensued when Bristow was located. Bristow was arrested; however, the second motorcyclist, English, escaped.On Wednesday afternoon, detectives located English outside a residence in the 1500 block of B ST NE. English tried to flee but was apprehended a short time later with the assistance of a Marion County Sheriff’s Office K9 Team. A backpack was located near where English was hiding and was seized. A search warrant was obtained for the backpack, and a handgun was found inside. English is now lodged at the Marion County Jail on the following charges:Unlawful use of a weapon, a firearmFelon in possession of a firearmMenacingReckless endangeringEnglish will be arraigned today at 2:30 p.m. at the Marion County Criminal Court Annex.# # #Originally published 07/11/2024 | 8:55 p.m.Stolen vehicle investigation leads to four arrestsSalem, Ore. — The Felony Crime Unit investigators arrested several individuals today as part of two separate investigations involving stolen motorcycles.The overall investigation led the detectives to a storage facility in the 1800 block of 22nd ST SE. Detectives located one of the stolen motorcycles and three suspects, two adults and a juvenile. They attempted to escape in a vehicle but were apprehended. The service of a search warrant for the involved vehicle and the storage unit resulted in the seizure of a short-barreled shotgun, a handgun, body armor, and several pieces of stolen mail. At approximately 10:20 a.m., while detectives were still at the scene, two motorcycle riders arrived in the area in plain sight of the officers. One of the riders fired multiple gunshots into the air, then the two fled at a high rate of speed. The suspects were spotted about 15 minutes later near State ST and Lancaster DR, and a pursuit was initiated with one of the suspects. The pursuit ended near Lancaster DR and Rickey ST SE when the fleeing suspect hit the curb and crashed the motorcycle. The suspect was quickly apprehended. The second suspect on a motorcycle was not apprehended.Arrested at the investigation scene were Zakiry Davis, age 18 of Salem, and Natalie Genene Hefley, age 32 of Mill City. The pair were lodged at the Marion County Jail, each on motor vehicle theft charges. A 15-year-old boy involved in the incident was also detained and transported to the Marion County Juvenile Department.Zayn Free Bristow, age 25 of Mill City, was also lodged at the Marion County Jail on the following charges:Unlawful use of a motor vehicle, two countsPossession of a stolen vehicle, two countsFelon in possession of body armorEludeReckless drivingMail theftIdentity theftArraignment follows for Bristow on Friday, July 12, at 2:30 p.m. at the Marion County Criminal Court Annex.# # #