Salem Police

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.# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  DATE: July 11, 2024Man riding a motorcycle killed in collision with a truckSalem, Ore. — At approximately 4:45 p.m. today, Salem Police were called to the scene of a deadly collision involving a motorcycle rider and the driver of a pick-up truck.The preliminary investigation by the Salem Police Traffic Team revealed a man riding a motorcycle was traveling eastbound on Market ST approaching 23rd ST NE. A woman driving a pick-up truck westbound on Market ST initiated a southbound turn onto 23rd ST when the motorcycle rider collided with the truck. Witnesses reported the motorcycle was traveling at a high rate of speed and struck the truck’s passenger door.The motorcycle rider, identified as William Dale Ryan, age 44 of Salem, was pronounced deceased at the scene.The driver of the truck, 36-year-old Tania Vargas Campos of Salem, remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.Market ST between 21st and 24th STS NE was closed to all traffic for approximately two-and-a-half hours for the crash investigation.To date in 2024, the Salem Police Traffic Team has responded to 15 major traffic collisions resulting in 15 deaths. # # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  DATE: July 3, 2024 Man arrested in menacing incident at Riverfront ParkSalem, Ore. — A Salem man is in custody at the Marion County Jail after he was apprehended on Tuesday for his involvement in an incident of menacing in Riverfront Park.At approximately 7:30 a.m., a park user reported that as he walked toward a truck in the north parking lot, the male driver pointed a gun and made a threatening statement. The person retreated and called for police assistance. An officer patrolling the area arrived to find the suspect still at the scene.The suspect, identified as Alex Thomas Morgan, age 38, was arrested. Officers seized several items found on Morgan’s person and inside the vehicle he drove, including two handguns, two sets of brass knuckles, various quantities of alprazolam tablets and a substance believed to be fentanyl, and more than $500 cash.Morgan was lodged on the following charges:MenacingUnlawful use of a weaponFelon in possession of a weapon, four countsDelivery of a controlled substanceArraignment proceedings will be held today at 2:30 p.m. at the Marion County Criminal Court Annex.# # #See photo attachments.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    DATE: July 3, 2024Arrest made in convenience store armed robberyAdditional suspect in custodyUpdate 07/03/2024 | 1:00 p.m.A 15-year-old boy is in the custody of the Marion County Juvenile Department following his arrest today for his involvement in the June 24 armed robbery at the US Market on 12th Street in southeast Salem.A Salem Police SWAT team apprehended the juvenile early this morning without incident at his residence in the 4300 block of Burlington LP NE.The teenager faces charges of first-degree robbery, unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, menacing, and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.With all suspects in this violent crime investigation apprehended, all further inquiries in the case should be directed to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office.# # #Originally published: 06/26/2024 | 2:15 p.m.Arrest made in convenience store armed robberySalem, Ore. — Salem Police Violent Crimes Unit detectives arrested two individuals yesterday afternoon for their involvement in the robbery of a local convenience store.On June 24, patrol officers responded to the US Market in the 2900 block of 12th ST SE at approximately 10:00 p.m. on the call of an armed robbery. Employees reported they were robbed at gunpoint by two young men who demanded cash and merchandise. The duo then fled the scene in a car.Using surveillance video of the incident, officers identified the involved vehicle and suspects. On Tuesday afternoon, June 25, the Salem Police SWAT team served a search warrant at an apartment in the 1200 block of Peace ST SE. Barry Johnson, age 23, and a 16-year-old male juvenile were taken into custody.A search by officers and detectives resulted in the seizure of two semi-automatic rifles, ammunition, and some of the merchandise stolen in the robbery. Detectives also determined the car used to commit the crime was a stolen vehicle. Johnson was booked into the Marion County Jail on the following charges:Robbery, first-degreeUnlawful use of a motor vehicleThe 16-year-old suspect was lodged at the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center.# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  DATE: June 28, 2024Speed enforcement added to two intersections starting MondaySalem, Ore. — With traffic safety as a priority, the photo enforcement program in Salem is expanding to include two high-volume intersections starting Monday, July 1.“Our digital red light and speed enforcement programs are important tools to change driver behavior and make our streets safer,” said Deputy Chief Treven Upkes of the Field Operations Division. Data from the existing sites indicates a steady decrease in both crashes and citations issued, even though we have experienced an overall increase in traffic volume within the city since the program was implemented in 2008.Currently, the automated system exists at the following Salem intersections:Mission at 25th STS SECommercial at Marion STS NESilverton at Fisher RDS NECenter ST at Hawthorne AV NECommercial ST at Madrona AV SECommercial ST at Kuebler BV SEFour of the six sites already capture red light and speeding violations. The technology to detect speed violations was implemented over time, starting at the Silverton RD site in 2019. Three more locations were added to the system in 2020.Next week, vehicle speed detection will be enabled at the first two listed intersections that are shared with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) since they are also designated as state highways. “Our thanks to ODOT for their traffic safety partnership over the years and their assistance in activating the system at the Mission and Commercial Street locations,” added Upkes.Each location has cameras that work in conjunction with the traffic signal to detect whether the vehicle stops for the red light or exceeds the posted speed limit. A recording of any violation detected by the system is verified by a police department staff member before a citation is sent to the vehicle’s registered owner, notifying them of the incident. For the first month, between July 1 and 31, the system will issue only warnings to those drivers who violate the speed rule through those intersections. A provision in the Oregon statute concerning photo enforcement states citations will be issued for drivers whose speed is 11 mph over the speed limit while traveling through an intersection on a green light. Upkes concluded, “Preventing collisions and other consequences due to speed is essential to keep Salem streets safe for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists alike.” # # #Este comunicado de prensa disponible en español usando esta liga.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  DATE: June 23, 2024 CONTACT: Salem Police Communications Office | spdmedia@cityofsalem.net  Fourth suspect in animal abuse case arrested Update 06/23/2024 | 9:00 p.m. Over the weekend, Salem Police Felony Crimes Unit detectives took into custody the fourth suspect involved in the killing of a cat in a southeast Salem neighborhood.  Officers responded to the call of the shooting death of a family pet in the early morning hours of May 10. The family’s video surveillance captured a recording of the animal’s killing. In the weeks following the incident, three juvenile suspects (ages 15, 17, and 17) were identified and faced criminal proceedings in juvenile court.  On Saturday afternoon, June 22, the suspect determined to be the shooter was arrested at his residence without incident. The 16-year-old male juvenile was lodged at the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center on the charge of first-degree aggravated animal abuse. All further inquiries concerning any of the juvenile arrests must be directed to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office. # # #Additional juvenile in custodyUpdate 06/12/2024 | 8:00 p.m.Today, Salem Police Felony Crimes Unit detectives arrested another juvenile in the animal abuse case. A 15-year-old boy was taken into custody at his residence in northeast Salem on the following charges:Aggravated animal abuse, first-degreeTampering with evidenceInterfering with a peace officerThe juvenile was transported to the Marion County Juvenile Department. The case remains an active investigation. Anyone with information about the case can call the Salem Police Tips Line at 503‑588‑8477.All further inquiries concerning any of the juvenile arrests made to date must be directed to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office.# # # Originally published 06/05/2024 | 3:15 p.m.Juveniles involved in animal abuse case referred to detentionSalem, Ore. — In the early morning hours of Friday, May 10, officers responded to the report of a cat that was shot and killed in the 2200 block of Lee ST SE. A surveillance system recorded the incident showing several suspects involved. The case received much attention from the community after the cat’s owner released a video of several suspects with their pet. The recording showed one of the individuals shooting the cat several times.Salem Police Felony Crimes Unit detectives have identified two local teens connected to that incident. The male juveniles, each 17 years of age, were referred to the Marion County Juvenile Department on Tuesday, June 4, each charged with first-degree aggravated animal abuse. One of the teens was also referred on the charge of evidence tampering.Detectives have been investigating this incident and interviewed multiple individuals. However, the suspect who shot the animal remains unidentified and the weapon has not been recovered.Initially, some tips were received, and detectives again ask for the public’s help to identify the primary suspect. Those with information about the case can call the Salem Police Tips Line at 503-588-8477.# # #News outlets: This media release is available in Spanish here.