Salem man accused of setting off 3 explosions outside SE Salem home

A Salem man is accused of setting off explosives on three separate occasions at a home in the South Gateway neighborhood.
The Salem Police Department arrested Jason D. Kiser, 38, Tuesday on accusations of reckless endangering and criminal mischief, the agency said in a news release.
Kiser was targeting a home in the 5700 block of Southeast Woodside Drive, according to the statement. Police said he and the homeowner know each other but did not elaborate in their Wednesday statement.
The first explosion was reported on April 23 around 2:30 a.m. Police said an “improvised explosive device” damaged a vehicle in the driveway.
A second explosion was reported in the front yard of the home on April 25 just after 2 p.m.
A third explosive damaged a vehicle in the driveway on Monday just after 10 p.m.
Salem police’s bomb squad identified Kiser as the suspect. Police investigated him Tuesday afternoon as he entered a business in the 5700 block of Southeast Commercial Street.
The bomb squad searched Kiser’s vehicle and found an additional explosive, the statement said.
Court records showed no charges filed against Kiser as of Wednesday afternoon.
Kiser previously pleaded guilty in 2023 to burglary and unauthorized use of a vehicle in two separate cases, according to Marion County court records.
Contact reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian: [email protected] or 503-929-3053.
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Ardeshir Tabrizian has covered the justice system and public safety 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.