Category Public Safety
Salem man dies after being struck by tree branch
Jim Arnold died Sunday night after being struck by a heavy tree branch that fell on a parked food truck on Aug. 29. His sisters described him as a loving father and grandfather.
City drops legal fight over Salem firefighter’s 2019 cancer death
City leaders said Monday they would not contest survivor benefits for the widow of a former Salem firefighter who died of cancer in 2019.
Advocacy group seeks court order to limit use of solitary confinement
The Oregon Court of Appeals in Salem will decide whether prisoners can be held for longer than 15 days in solitary confinement.
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.
Woodburn man charged with murder of woman found dead at Salem motel
Salem police announced that a Woodburn man indicted for murdering a woman found dead in a Salem motel surrendered on Monday, Sept. 19.
Oregon State Hospital will keep vehicle keys secure, add barriers to prevent escapes
Changes to the state hospital's operations follow an order by federal officials to fix its transportation protocols so no more patients escape.
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.
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.