Kidnapping suspect shot by Salem police last month charged with attempting to assault officers

Over a month after Salem police shot Daniel L. Garcia while responding to an attempted kidnapping call, Garcia is in Polk County custody facing eight criminal charges. 

A Polk County’s grand jury charged Garcia, 35 of Salem, Oct. 11. The grand jury also found the officers justified in the Sept. 13 shooting. 

The grand jury filed no charges relating to the reported kidnapping after hearing victim testimony and reviewing information from the case, Polk County District Attorney Aaron Felton said.

Five of the eight charges accuse Garcia of attempting to assault officers and unlawfully using a weapon. He is also charged with giving police a fake name, and delivery and possession of methamphetamine. 

Garcia pleaded not guilty to all charges last week, according to court records. 

A statement from Polk County’s District Attorney’s Office identified Salem police officers Nathan Bush and Colton Ruyle as the officers who shot Garcia. 

On Sept. 13, officers got a call of a woman reporting she was being kidnapped at 585 Wallace Rd. N.W. at 4:30 a.m.

Police located the vehicle and pursued the driver, who turned into the Glen Creek Park Apartments about a half mile away from the location of the reported kidnapping. The driver stopped the car in the parking lot, state police said, and the woman got out of the car as officers approached.

Garcia got out of the car with a knife, police said, prompting officers to shoot and injure him. 

After Garcia received medical treatment for his injuries at Salem Health, Marion County jail held him in custody from Sept. 14 until he was transferred to Polk County jail on Thursday, Oct. 24.

The weeks Garcia spent in Marion County custody delayed the charges, according to Felton, as Garcia had to be in Polk County custody for officials to file the charges against him. 

Court records don’t describe the attempted assaults of officers or the attempted kidnapping that led to the initial call. Felton said he could not provide details about the reported kidnapping or the attempted assaults because the case is still open.

Felton said that it’s unlikely Garcia will face charges for the suspected kidnapping unless there’s new information. 

Garcia also faces a parole violation charge in Marion County as he was sentenced to 18 months probation in July 2023 for delivery of methamphetamine. There was a warrant out for his arrest at the time of the shooting. 

His next court appearance is a pre-trial hearing on Nov. 13, and his trial in Polk County Circuit Court is scheduled for Dec. 17. 

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