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.
Man sentenced to 34 years in prison for arson spree, killing 2 dogs
Carl Sandberg was found guilty through two separate trials of setting fire to three Salem homes and a church, breaking into multiple homes and stealing identities. Two of the house fires he set left family pets dead.
Retired Judge Charles Luukinen, ‘gold standard’ in Polk County, dies at 75
Charles Luukinen spent almost his entire 25 years on the bench overseeing the Polk County Circuit Court as the presiding judge. After retiring, he devoted time to settling Oregon’s most complicated and costly criminal cases.
UPDATE: Marion County commissioners pull vote on state money for community corrections
Commissioners on Wednesday delayed a vote on accepting $27.2 million of state funding for overseeing people on probation and post-prison supervision. The board provided little information about the decision at the meeting.
Microloan program for Latino entrepreneurs honored for economic development
Salem’s Strategic Economic Development Corporation held its annual awards ceremony on Sept. 8. Those recognized included a local microenterprise program, a Dallas creamery and a Salem flooring manufacturer.
West Salem jeweler accused of scamming customers
Douglas W. Gamble, the owner of Timeless Jewelry, faces aggravated theft charges after Salem police said he scammed customers out of at least $250,000.
UPDATE: Marion County commissioners approve construction manager for sewer work in Santiam Canyon
Commissioners on Wednesday approved a $375,000 million contract with a Stayton-based construction manager to oversee the construction of new sewer systems in the north Santiam Canyon.
Aumsville hired police sergeant after learning Salem fired him for misconduct
Aumsville police ran a background check on Jeffrey Keniston in February and learned he was under a state investigation after being fired from Salem police. The Aumsville agency hired Keniston three months later.
Cause of Vitae Springs Fire ruled ‘undetermined’ a year later
Residents in the area of the 2022 Vitae Springs Fire said at the time that evacuation alerts left them confused and uncertain about conditions. City officials say now they have improved their emergency messaging system since the southwest Salem fire to provide quicker and clearer public information.
Police officer said to have preyed on domestic violence victim in Salem faces loss of license
The state Board on Public Safety Standards and Training proposed revoking the police certification of Jeffrey Keniston on Aug. 31 after finding he used his authority to gain a sexual relationship with a domestic violence victim. He was a Salem Police Department sergeant until last December and remains employed in Aumsville
DEA agent jailed, released on charge for Salem cyclist’s death
An agent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration turned himself in to jail on Sept. 6, the same day he was charged with killing a Salem cyclist in March while he was on duty driving near downtown Salem.