Category PUBLIC SAFETY
Salem man charged with dealing fentanyl after police search in NE Salem
Police investigating a shooting at an apartment complex on Northeast Market Street found two guns and fentanyl containing 188,000 lethal doses on Feb. 20, according to a detective’s affidavit. Gerardo Parra-Valdez was charged on Tuesday with trafficking the drugs.
Police arrest 2 men, seize 4 guns during North Salem drug investigation
The arrests of Michael Housen and Jasson Ray, accused of possessing firearms as felons, drew a significant police response to Northeast Front Street early Thursday morning.
Marion County officials quiet on findings of delayed gun violence research
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office last March hired researchers to analyze shootings throughout the county and planned to release a report by late summer. After months of delays, the agency won’t say when it will publicly share its findings.
Ceremony honors retired Marion County Sheriff Jason Myers, who died in October
Dozens of relatives, friends and former colleagues of Jason Myers gathered Monday morning at the Oregon Public Safety Academy to honor the retired Marion County sheriff, who died from cancer in October.
Marion County judges will start deciding if public defenders have time to take new cases
Local public defenders say Marion County Judges will soon start appointing them to new cases which they are too overloaded to take on, a move intended to reduce the number of criminal defendants without an attorney.
Salem police cancels community academy for 2025 due to city budget issues
Salem’s Community Police Academy was canceled for the year due to a city cost-cutting request. The request led to cuts in the department’s nonessential overtime work, including police attendance at neighborhood association meetings.
Long-awaited project to make Center Street Bridge earthquake-safe scheduled to start construction in 2026
Construction will start in 2026 to make Salem’s Center Street Bridge earthquake-safe after years of planning and funding changes. The project, which will happen in two phases, is estimated to be finished by 2029.
Power outage hits downtown Salem following brief thunderstorm, lightning and hail
Just after noon Thursday, much of downtown Salem lost power after a short thunderstorm hit the area, bringing lightning and hail. According to Portland General Electric, around 200 customers in the area are without power.
Salem reaches $850,000 settlement in lawsuit over 2021 police killing of Salem man
City officials have agreed to settle a 2022 lawsuit alleging Salem police officer Nathan Bush used excessive force when he shot and killed Arcadio Castillo III, 23, in July 2021. Castillo’s mother alleged in the suit that he was experiencing a mental health crisis at the time.