Category Public Safety
UPDATED: Police arrest student in connection with threats against Salem middle schools
A 12-year-old boy was responsible for threats posted on Snapchat over the weekend against Parrish and Houck middle schools, police said. The threats were not credible.
Salem police arrest 2 following carjackings, pursuit, shooting on Saturday night
Salem police arrested two men following a chaotic evening in Northeast Salem on Saturday, Nov. 12, involving carjackings, street closures and gunfire.
Salem man accused of assaulting Ukranian refugee charged with bias crime
Boris Miroshnichencko, 41, was charged with seriously injuring a man in May who told police he was blinded in one eye from the attack.
Salem man sentenced to life in prison for fatally shooting co-worker during tree cutting
On Wednesday, a Polk County jury found Jonathan Gonzales-Salcido guilty of murdering Ryan Muniz, who he worked with at a tree trimming service. District Attorney Aaron Felton said prosecutors never established a motive for the killing.
Marion County detectives investigating suspicious fire at Lancaster Safeway
The fire was reported to the Sheriff's Office on Oct. 3.
Marion County to create mobile crisis teams separate from police
The county will use state money to staff four teams of mental health workers to respond to lower-risk crisis calls around the county, including in Salem city limits. County officials say that could take up to six months or more.
Salem man charged with possessing fentanyl, other drugs to sell
The federal charges against Phillip Thomas come more than four months after he was arrested as part of a Salem police investigation into mixed drugs being sold in the city.
Geer Park murder suspect was released early from prison under governor’s plan
Thomas Healy was sentenced to seven and a half years total in prison in 2016 in two burglary cases but was released in 2020 under Gov. Kate Brown’s commutation plan during the pandemic. He is now charged with fatally shooting a man at Geer Park in August.
Explosion rocks southeast Salem homes Monday morning
Salem police said Monday they did not know the cause of the explosion, and their investigation is still underway.