Ardeshir Tabrizian
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.
Salem-Keizer’s welcome sign keeps getting destroyed. Officials might just pull the plug
The Salem-Keizer “working together” sign at the cities’ border has been disfigured by car crashes repeatedly for almost two decades, costing Salem $72,000 in just the last three years. Officials are considering removing the brick structure.
Men arrested 3 months after shooting near NE Salem shopping center
An argument on July 9 in the parking lot of a North Lancaster shopping center resulted in a shooting which left a man wounded. Police on Thursday arrested the two suspects involved, including one accused of attempted murder.
UPDATE: 2 boys accused of gun possession after West Salem school lockdowns last Friday
Authorities have shared few details about what triggered five school lockdowns on Sept 27. They say reports of an armed student near West Salem High School resulted in police arresting two boys, 14 and 15, and seizing a gun.
Polk County illegally blocks treasurer from doing his job, judge rules
Polk County’s treasurer alleged in a lawsuit last November that the county had shrunk the treasurer’s salary to almost zero and handed off his responsibilities to an unelected county official. Now, a state judge has ruled that the county’s handling of the treasurer job is illegal.
UPDATE: Report of armed student outside West Salem HS prompts lockdown
Police said Friday afternoon that five West Salem schools went into lockdown due to reports of a student with a gun near West Salem High School. They didn’t confirm whether the student was actually armed or if they were arrested.
UPDATE: Fire near North Salem HS leaves 6 people displaced
A house fire on Northeast Garnet Street was quickly brought under control Wednesday morning. No injuries were reported, Salem Fire officials said.
Family honors firefighter’s life cut short by intoxicated driver
Mario Lara, a veteran firefighter, was planning to retire after 37 years with the state Department of Forestry. He had just beaten cancer and gotten engaged when he died in a crash with an intoxicated driver in north Salem.
Salem man sentenced to prison for Highland school attack
Charly Velasquez-Sanchez pleaded guilty to assaulting three employees at Highland Elementary School while young students watched. His sentence concluded a criminal case that exemplified the mounting challenges in Oregon’s mental health system.
California woman dies in Sept. 14 crash involving Salem teens
State police said a Salem teen crashed a truck into an SUV north of Sublimity last week. A passenger, Phyllis Russo, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the SUV and died at the scene.
Police identify victims of fatal crash Monday on Cordon Road
Salem police said on Wednesday that Blanca Franco-Ramos, 28, of Mt. Angel, and Heriberto Rangel-Rangel, 46, of Silverton, died in a head-on collision two days earlier on Southeast Cordon Road. The agency has provided few details about the crash.