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Marion County deputies arrest teens after finding stolen guns, methamphetamine

(Courtesy/Marion County Sheriff’s Office)

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office seized three guns and methamphetamine after arresting six people, including four minors following a car chase Monday afternoon.

Just after 4 p.m., a traffic safety team deputy with the sheriff’s office tried to stop a Jeep Wrangler for an equipment violation, according to a Tuesday news release from the sheriff’s office.. The driver tried to get away by continuing on Lancaster Drive, running multiple stoplights.

The deputy didn’t pursue the driver and instead reported it via radio to other deputies in the area. Deputies determined the direction the car was heading and used spike strips on State Street near Cordon Road to deflate its tires. The driver stopped the car around two and a half miles away near Indiana Avenue Northeast and Logan Court Northeast. “The driver and several passengers ran from the Jeep, fleeing into the surrounding neighborhood,” the news release said.

Deputies found and detained all six people who fled from the car, recovered two stolen handguns and learned the Jeep had been reported stolen out of Tualatin several days earlier. In the car, they deputies found an “AR-15 style” rifle, methamphetamine, cash and evidence they believed was related to a series of burglaries in Camas, Washington, according to the news release.

Deputies arrested all six people who were in the Jeep. The four minors were taken to the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center and the adults were lodged at the Marion County Jail. The sheriff’s office is not releasing names of the minors, as juvenile court records are generally confidential under state law.

The driver, a 14-year-old boy from Portland, was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, attempting to elude, reckless driving, seven counts of reckless endangering, possession of a stolen vehicle, unlawful possession of a firearm, second-degree criminal trespassing, delivery of methamphetamine and first-degree theft.

A passenger, an 11 year-old boy from Happy Valley, was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, first-degree theft, unlawful possession of a firearm and second-degree criminal trespassing as well as an outstanding warrant for second-degree robbery, two counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.

A 13-year-old male passenger from Portland was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, first-degree theft, unlawful possession of a firearm and second-degree criminal trespassing.

Another passenger, a 16-year-old male from Portland, was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, first-degree theft, unlawful possession of a firearm and second-degree criminal trespassing.

Zachary Retonong, 19 of Salem, was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, first-degree theft, unlawful possession of a firearm, second-degree criminal trespassing and a parole violation.

Arnes Johnmark, 23 of Happy Valley, was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, first-degree theft, unlawful possession of a firearm, false information to a police officer and second-degree criminal trespassing as well as outstanding warrants for two counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, unlawful possession of a firearm, identity theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, attempting to elude, reckless driving, two counts of reckless endangering and fourth-degree assault.

The Salem Police Department and Marion County Fire District #1 assisted the sheriff’s office during the incident.

“I’m proud our deputies were able to help hold these young people accountable while getting the vehicle back to its rightful owner and taking three guns off the streets in Marion County,” Commander Jeff Stutrud said in the news release. “By holding these youth accountable, our goal is to change their behavior and connect them with people who can teach them the skills needed to stop engaging in criminal activity.”

(Courtesy/Marion County Sheriff’s Office)

-Ardeshir Tabrizian