Police on Thursday, July 29, process evidence at the scene of shooting between the driver of a stolen vehicle and Keizer police officers. The driver sped off, struck and killed a pedestrian and then exchanged gunfire with police in northeast Salem before surrendering. (Keizertimes photo)
A 47-year-old Silverton man is accused of killing a pedestrian in Keizer on Wednesday as he fled police in a stolen Nissan Xterra in an indictment issued on Friday.
Sean K. Beck also is accused of attempted murder of Keizer police officers in an episode that started in Keizer Wednesday evening and ended with a gunfight in the parking lot of Home Depot in northeast Salem.
The Oregon State Police on Saturday identified the pedestrian on Saturday as Becky Dietzel, 64, of Salem.
She was struck and killed in the 4400 block of North River Road in Keizer after police contacted two men in a stolen vehicle several blocks north in the parking are of VCA Keizer Veterinary Hospital.
According to an earlier police statement, one man fired at police before driving off. The second man, not yet identified, stayed at the scene and cooperated with police.
Witness video showed police blockading a vehicle at the Home Depot on Northeast Cherry Avenue and the sounds of gunfire could be heard. Police later said the driver surrendered and was taken to Salem Health Hospital for treatment of several gunshot wounds.
He remains hospitalized, police said, but information about his condition wasn’t released.
The Marion County District Attorney’s Office on Friday charged Beck for felony crimes of first-degree manslaughter, attempted aggravated murder with a firearm, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, felon in possession of a firearm, failure to perform duties of a driver to injured persons, fleeing a police officer.
He also was charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants, a misdemeanor, accused of having a blood alcohol level of .15.
The State Police announcement listed Beck as being from Olympia, but he is listed at a Silverton address on the district attorney’s charge.
Court records show Beck was charged in Lincoln City in 2016 for driving with a suspended license. The records show his suspended license listed an Olympia address.
The district attorney’s charging document said that Beck was convicted in 1990 for first-degree robbery in the Spokane, Washington, area.
The state police on Saturday also identified the Keizer Police Department officers placed on routine administrative leave after the incident as:
•Sgt. Kevin DeMarco, with the agency 14 years.
•Officer Scott Keniston, with the agency 14 years.
•Officer Michael Kowash, with the agency three years.
•Officer Jeremy Darst, with the agency three years.
•Officer Chad Fahey, with the agency three years.
•Officer Cody Stupfel, with the agency one year.
Contact Editor Les Zaitz by email at [email protected]
CORRECTION: Sean Beck with charged in Marion County Circuit Court by information filed by the Marion County District Attorney’s Office. An earlier version incorrectly reported he had been indicted. Salem Reporter apologizes for the error.
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