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’s violent crime rate hit 15-year-high in 2024, report shows, as property crime declined
The number of violent crimes reported in Salem has nearly doubled since 2010. The city last year recorded its highest number of sexual and aggravated assaults in 15 years.
UPDATE: NE Swegle Road reopened after police response
Salem police said Monday morning that Northeast Swegle Road was closed between 45th Avenue and Princess Lane while officers responded to a report of a man in “emotional distress.”
Marion County public safety officials plan new team to address rising gang, youth violence
A review commissioned by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office found that shootings outside Salem city limits more than tripled over the last decade. The county’s public safety officials now hope to convene a multi-agency team to tackle skyrocketing gang and youth involvement in gun violence.
Salem man charged with purchasing sex with minor after sting operation
Salem police say Logan Friesen, 28, was arrested Tuesday while trying to meet a detective posing as a minor. He is charged in Marion County Circuit Court with online sexual corruption of a child, luring a minor and purchasing sex with a minor.
Head Start staff walk through Salem parks to recognize Child Abuse Awareness Month
Employees of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency’s Head Start programs took a loop Tuesday morning through Riverfront and Wallace Marine parks to spread awareness about child abuse and neglect.
Husband of cyclist killed in DEA crash sues state police, justice department
Mark Meleason alleged in a lawsuit filed March 21 in Marion County Circuit Court that failures in training, supervision and policy by Oregon’s state police and justice department resulted in a DEA agent running a stop sign and killing his wife, cyclist Marganne Allen.
Pedestrian critically injured in north Salem crash Tuesday morning
A pickup truck driver struck a 58-year-old pedestrian Tuesday morning in the Highland neighborhood, leaving him hospitalized in critical condition. The crash shut down the 1900 block of Northeast Broadway Street, Salem police said.
Plans for YMCA-led downtown service hub fizzle out after financial troubles
A Salem project was slated to combine more than a dozen government and nonprofit service providers into one downtown hub. State officials recently declined to back the effort after funding challenges forced project leaders to stray from their original plans.
New Marion County court program aims to reunite Native families in child welfare system
Marion County has one of two courts in Oregon with a program dedicated to the Indian Child Welfare Act. The service is intended to return Native American children to their parents’ custody by shaping the court process around Native families’ unique needs.
Man dies Tuesday in Marion County Jail after being found unresponsive
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that authorities are investigating what caused the death of Adam Mansour, 40, who was found unresponsive in his jail cell around 3:15 a.m.