A pro-Trump ‘Stop the Steal’ rally was held on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Capitol. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) This story was updated to include comments from Oregon State Police. A week after a confrontational demonstration against pandemic restrictions in Salem brought police officers in riot gear to downtown streets, Oregon’s[Read More…]

Far right demonstrators attack a photojournalist during a protest at the Oregon State Capitol Monday. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) A supporter of far-right group Patriot Prayer is facing several felony charges related to a protest at the Oregon Capitol on Dec. 21, where demonstrators pushed their way into the closed building[Read More…]

Marion County Courthouse. Local district attorneys are concerned about the potential erosion of Oregon’s landmark anti-crime law that imposes hefty prison terms on people convicted of serious crimes like murder and rape. But proponents of a change being sought in the upcoming legislative session say every crime and victim are[Read More…]

Far right demonstrators break the glass on a door to the Oregon State Capitol during a special legislative session Monday. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) Update 12/29: This story has been updated with additional details about the suspects. An Albany man suspected of attacking journalists during a violent protest at the Capitol[Read More…]

A Salem man was killed in a hit and run Tuesday evening and Salem police said they are looking for the driver. Around 6:45 p.m. officers found Hermilo Mata Jr., 63, in the road in the 3700 block of Kingdom Way N.E. in east Salem, according to a police department[Read More…]

The “Equitas” sculpture by Blessing Hancock outside of the Salem Police Department on Friday, Dec. 18. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) What Blessing Hancock loves most about public art pieces is their ability to surprise people. When people pass Salem’s new police station, the artist is hoping they will enjoy the “happy[Read More…]

Salem’s police chief Trevor Womack. (Courtesy/Trevor Womack) Salem’s new police chief publicly condemned racism and white supremacy in a statement posted to Facebook Friday afternoon and explained how the department views its role in responding to public demonstrations ahead of a series of right-wing rallies planned in Salem. Trevor Womack,[Read More…]

Salem police arrested a Salem man Thursday in connection with a November shooting in east Salem that sent a man to the hospital. Kevin Joel Garcia, 18, faces charges of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon in the Nov. 3 shooting, according to a Salem[Read More…]

Tyrone Jones was assaulted at the Oregon State Capitol in August and continues to feel pain from his injuries. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) As the summer rally in front of the Capitol steps turned volatile, Tyrone Jones moved to get his 24-year-old son out of harm’s way.  Before he could, a man swung at the back of his son’s head and grabbed him[Read More…]