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.
Grand jury finds officer justified in shooting, wounding man in West Salem
Polk County grand jurors found that two Salem police officers legally shot a man in self defense on Sept. 13 in West Salem. Police said at the time the man got out of a car with a knife while suspected of kidnapping, but he has not been charged with a crime.
Man charged with manslaughter, DUI in Sept. 16 crash that killed 2 in SE Salem
Terrance Quackenbush-Benson, 29, is accused of driving while under the influence of an inhalant when he was involved in a crash that killed Blanca M. Franco-Ramos, 28, and Heriberto Rangel-Rangel, 46. Another passenger remained hospitalized as of Thursday.
Salem police cutting downtown, behavioral health teams
Salem police will be less able to respond to downtown nuisances and people in behavioral health crisis after disbanding two units on Jan. 1, 2025. Police Chief Trevor Womack says his staffing hasn’t kept up with rising service demand.
Salem teen arrested 7 months after escaping from juvenile facility
The Oregon Youth Authority declined to explain how three young men escaped from MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in February, but security measures put in place since then were focused on blocking vehicle access and adding fencing.
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: 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.