Salem police cars scattered across Northgate Park, which was closed off with police tape after the Monday morning shooting. (Ardeshir Tabrizian/Salem Reporter)
Salem police and the Oregon State Police issued statements Monday saying a man died from injuries suffered in a confrontation with officers early Monday morning at a northeast Salem park.
The agencies have provided few details about what led to the death.
State police Monday afternoon identified Richard Allan Meyers as the man who died after the shooting at Northgate Park. The state police and Salem police didn’t disclose what led to the the shooting or whether officers shot Meyers.
Around 12:37 a.m., a Salem police officer tried to stop Meyers, 40, who was driving a gold 1995 Mercedes, in northeast Salem. Meyers didn’t pull over and fled, according to an OSP news release.
Meyers drove to Northgate Park in the 3200 block of Northeast Northgate Avenue, entered the northeast parking lot, drove into a gully west of the parking lot and then onto the northern field of the park, police said. Other Salem officers responded and stopped Meyers’ car in the field.
“A confrontation ensued and preliminary investigatory information shows that three Salem officers fired their department-issued firearms,” the news release said.
Police provided first aid to Meyers, who was taken to Salem Hospital. He later died of his injuries, according to a Salem police news release.
A pit bull in the car was also injured during the incident and taken to a veterinary clinic for treatment. Meyers’ family decided to put the dog down, the police statement said. It is unclear how the dog was injured.
Marion County’s Officer Use of Deadly Force Protocol and Salem Police Department policy requires that “involved officers” – which under state law includes both officers that fire shots or witness another do so – be placed on paid administrative leave during ongoing investigations.
State provided the names and tenure of the four involved officers:
-Officer Chad Treichler – one year, eight months
-Officer Griffin McDowell – five years, seven months
-Officer Jonathan McNichols – one year, six months
-Officer David Baker- eight years, 11 months
The state police statement said the agency’s investigation is continuing, and police are searching and seizing property based on search warrants approved by a Marion County Circuit Court judge.
The state police are the primary agency conducting use of a deadly force investigation. The county requires that an uninvolved law enforcement agency conduct such investigations, according to Salem police’s news release.
The agency said in the news release that it wouldn’t release any additional information until after a grand jury hears the results of the investigation.
Salem police initially said in a news release Monday morning that after police made contact with the man, “a confrontation ensued, and shots were fired.” At the time, they said at least one Salem officer fired their gun.
Lt. Treven Upkes, Salem police spokesman, said Monday morning that he could not provide any additional information than what was in the department’s statement.
“It is actually the Marion County district attorney’s investigation, and they have asked the Oregon State Police to conduct it,” he said. “That (information) is what is wanted to go out, and so I can’t provide anything else or any clarification either.”
Amy Queen, Marion County deputy district attorney, declined to comment on the incident.
The state Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, the agency tasked with licensing officers and investigating complaints of misconduct, as of Monday afternoon did not list any recently opened professional standards cases involving Salem officers.
This is a developing story. Salem Reporter is working to clarify details of the incident.
Contact reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian: [email protected] or 503-929-3053.
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