Salem police arrived around 3:49 p.m. on March 28 to the intersection of Leslie and High Streets where a pickup truck had just collided with a cyclist. When they did so, responding officers activated their body-worn cameras.
In the days following the crash, the Salem Police Department handed off its investigation into Marganne Allen’s death to the Keizer Police Department. But it wasn’t until nearly three months later that the Salem agency shared the video evidence it had with Keizer investigators.
Salem Reporter established the sequence of events between the time the body camera video was recorded and when that evidence was turned over to investigators 84 days later. The timeline is based on public records obtained from Salem and Keizer, legal submissions by the city of Salem and statements from the two police agencies to the news organization.
March 28, 2023
Fatal cyclist collision
Marganne Allen is killed in a collision at High and Leslie Streets. Minutes after emergency crews arrive, an undercover Salem drug investigator texts crash photos to a DEA official.
March 29, 2023
Police issue public statement
Salem police’s initial statement identifies the driver as Samuel Landis, but lists no occupation. The agency begins communicating with Keizer Police about the crash. Salem Reporter seeks to confirm whether the driver is a DEA agent.
March 30, 2023
Body camera footage shared
Salem police share body camera video related to the crash with Marion County prosecutors.
March 31, 2023
Driver identified as DEA agent
Salem police issue second public statement, disclosing that the driver is a DEA agent and the case is being reassigned to Keizer police.
May 12, 2023
Keizer reports findings to prosecutors
Keizer police submit an initial report to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office.
May 23, 2023
Investigation continues
District Attorney Paige Clarkson confirms her office asked Keizer for more investigation.
May 31, 2023
Salem Reporter requests body camera video
The news organization submits a public records request to the city of Salem.
June 6, 2023
Salem denies request for body camera footage
The city claims the footage is part of the ongoing investigation into the collision and its release would jeopardize the investigation.
June 12, 2023
Keizer has no record of body camera video
In response to a request from Salem Reporter, the Keizer Police Department says they have no record of body camera footage related to the collision being transmitted to investigators.
June 19, 2023
Keizer requests body camera video
Keizer police request body camera video from Salem police.
June 20, 2023
Salem provides video to Keizer
Salem police provide the body camera footage to Keizer. Keizer police submit another report to the Marion County District Attorney, but it is unclear if the video evidence was cited.
RELATED COVERAGE:
Salem police gave video evidence to investigators three months after cyclist’s death
City kept in close touch with DEA following fatal cyclist collision, records show
Video shows driver ran stop sign in fatal collision with Salem cyclist
Salem police gave evidence to DEA minutes after agent’s fatal collision with cyclist
Contact reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian: [email protected] or 503-929-3053. Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241.
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Ardeshir Tabrizian has covered criminal justice and housing for Salem Reporter since September 2021. As an Oregon native, his award-winning watchdog journalism has traversed the state. He has done reporting for The Oregonian, Eugene Weekly and Malheur Enterprise.
Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers city news, education, nonprofits and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for a decade. Outside of work, she’s a skater and board member with Salem’s Cherry City Roller Derby and can often be found with her nose buried in a book.
