Category Public Safety
52-year-old Salem pedestrian hit and killed by vehicle on Northeast Silverton Road
Michael Martinez, a 52-year-old Salem man, was hit and killed by a vehicle Sunday night at around 10 p.m., according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Police provided no details about the circumstances of the crash.
Mental care, crime and knives mark Bend man’s time before Salem
Court records show Oregon dealt with Tony Willams in both its criminal justice and mental health systems for over 20 years before he was kicked off a bus in Salem and subsequently stabbed 12 people at the Union Gospel Mission downtown.
Salem motorcyclist dies in Thursday night crash in Four Corners
Motorcyclist Jesse Wadley, 33, died after a crash with a vehicle shortly before 10 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of Southeast Lancaster and Glenwood Drives. The driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators, according to a statement from the Marion County Sheriff's Office.
COLUMN: How authorities coordinate evacuation during emergencies
Mark Wardell, the leader of West Salem’s Community Emergency Response Team, explains how evacuations work during disasters, and walks through a recent team deployment exercise.
South Salem warehouse shipped thousands of pounds of illicit marijuana candy before federal bust
A Salem man ran an elaborate drug trafficking organization for years that mailed thousands of pounds of marijuana-infused candy and cereals across the globe while raking in millions in cash and cryptocurrency. Jered J. Hayward, 45, was already on probation for other federal drug trafficking…
Salem police announce return of community academy for April 2026
The popular Community Police Academy was canceled for the year after the city asked the Salem Police Department to cut non-essential overtime. After voters approved a property tax levy passed in May, police said the academy will return in April 2026.
Newly-appointed public defense head mounts effort to stem Oregon’s public defense pileup
A year-long effort will be required of the Oregon Public Defense Commission to put a dent in the state’s public defender shortage.
A place to safely rest becomes a Salem crime scene
Staff and residents at Salem’s Union Gospel Mission said Monday they were praying for the Bend man accused of stabbing 12 people Sunday evening at Salem's largest shelter. Five remained hospitalized Monday.
UPDATE: Bend man accused of stabbing 12 during check-in at Salem Union Gospel Mission
Tony L. Williams, 42, of Bend, will appear in court Monday afternoon on assault charges. Staff reported the assailant was checking into the men's mission when he became agitated and began stabbing people.