FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: September 13, 2024
CONTACT: Salem Police Communications Office | spdmedia@cityofsalem.net
Suspected kidnapper shot and injured by police
Salem, Ore. — A suspect was injured early Friday morning after being shot by Salem Police officers. At approximately 4:30 a.m., September 13, Salem Police officers responded to the call of a woman reporting she was being kidnapped. Officers located the suspect vehicle with the woman inside. As officers attempted to stop the male driver, he turned into the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 300 block of Glen Creek RD NW. The suspect vehicle stopped in the complex parking lot. The woman got out of the car as officers approached the involved vehicle. The suspect exited the car armed with a knife and was shot by two of the responding officers. The 34-year-old suspect was provided immediate medical aid by officers prior to being transported to Salem Health where he is currently being treated. No officers were injured during the incident. The Polk County Law Enforcement Use of Deadly Force Plan under Senate Bill 111 has been initiated for this incident, and the Oregon State Police will be conducting the primary investigation in coordination with the Polk County District Attorney’s Office. Per the use of force plan protocol, all further statements concerning this investigation will be provided by the Oregon State Police, including the name of the suspect and the officers involved in the incident.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: September 9, 2024
Man struck and killed by passing train
Salem, Ore. — A man who was struck by a passing freight train last week has died from his injuries.
Emergency responders were called to the Union-Pacific Railroad tracks at Center and 12th STS NE at 6:40 a.m. on Wednesday, September 4.
Witnesses reported a man was on a bicycle with the tires near the tracks. As the train approached, the bells and horns were sounded, and the rider backed the bike toward the tracks. The passing train struck the bicycle which spun the rider into the train.
The bicyclist is identified as 32-year-old Taylor Anthony Ochoa of Nevada. He was transported to Salem Health in critical condition. He died the next afternoon, September 5.
Traffic was closed to east and westbound traffic from Mill ST SE north to approximately Lamberson ST NE. The scene was cleared, and the train was released within three hours.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: August 28, 2024
One killed in motorcycle crash on Salem-Dallas Highway
Salem, Ore. — A portion of eastbound Salem-Dallas Highway was closed Tuesday afternoon, August 27, for a single‑vehicle motorcycle collision.
At approximately 2:20 p.m., Salem Police officers and emergency personnel responded to the crash west of the Rosemont AV on-ramp. The collision involved a man riding a converted trike motorcycle that struck a concrete barrier. There were no witnesses to the crash.
The rider, identified as 68-year-old Robert Mark Nelson of Salem, was transported to Salem Health with life‑threatening injuries where he succumbed to those injuries Tuesday evening.
Eastbound traffic was diverted onto Edgewater ST NW during the approximate two‑hour closure of the highway.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: Aug. 26, 2024
Passing train strikes, kills man on tracks
Salem, Ore. — At approximately 4:50 p.m. this afternoon, Salem Police officers responded to 1200 block of D Street NE on the report of a man struck by a passing freight train.
The railroad crew traveling northbound on the Union Pacific line reported the collision occurred on the tracks just south of D Street. Witnesses stated the man was standing near the tracks and laid down across them just before the train passed.
The person struck by the train is identified as Alexander Boyd Schumpert, age 32 of Salem. He was declared deceased at the scene.
The rail line which runs north-south was closed between D Street NE and Mill Street SE for approximately three hours while officers conducted the death investigation, and a substitute train crew arrived. The train was released from the scene just before 8:00 p.m.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: August 20, 2024
Police investigate stabbing incident as a homicide
Salem, Ore. — The Salem Police Violent Crimes Unit is investigating a stabbing incident that occurred in late July at Wallace Marine Park in west Salem.
At about 2:15 a.m. on July 27, patrol officers responded to the call of a victim with a stab wound who was in the south end of the park. Officers found a young adult with multiple stab wounds and provided emergency medical aid. Paramedics arrived and transported the victim to Salem Health.
The victim is identified as Riley John Adams, a 19-year-old Salem resident. Adams remained hospitalized and in critical condition until his death on Monday, August 19. The incident is being investigated as a homicide.
Anyone with information concerning what transpired that Saturday morning and led to Adams’ death is asked to call the Salem Police Tips Line at 503‑588‑8477.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: August 18, 2024
Person dies days after being struck by a vehicle in northeast Salem
Salem, Ore. — A Salem woman fell victim to a vehicle collision on Wednesday morning.
At 11:40 a.m. on August 14, callers reported a pedestrian was struck at the intersection of Lancaster DR and Wolverine ST NE by a sports utility vehicle (SUV).
The preliminary investigation done by the Salem Police Traffic Team determined the SUV driver was in the dedicated left turn lane waiting to make a left turn. After the traffic signal cycled, the pedestrian began crossing eastbound within the marked crosswalk when the SUV driver initiated the left turn, striking the pedestrian.
The pedestrian, identified as Teresita Telesfora Millard, was transported to Salem Health with critical injuries. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation.
The 67-year-old Millard succumbed to the injuries she sustained in the collision on Saturday afternoon, August 17.
The driver, identified as Mario Alberto Ortiz, age 53 of Salem, was initially cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, having no operator's license, and driving uninsured. With Ms. Millard’s death, the incident remains an active case and, as with all significant investigations, will be forwarded to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office for review upon completion.
The incident is Salem’s sixteenth traffic fatality of the year. In 2023, the Traffic Team investigated 12 fatal collisions that resulted in 13 deaths.
# # #
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: August 17, 2024
Man on rail tracks killed by moving train
Salem, Ore. — At about 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 16, emergency responders were called to the area of Blossom DR and Niles AV NE due to a collision involving a train and a person on the railway.
An Amtrak crew traveling southbound on the Union Pacific rail line reported a man standing on the tracks facing the oncoming train. The rail crew sounded the horn multiple times and used emergency measures to stop but could not avoid the collision as the man did not move for unknown reasons.
Fernando Aguilera-Bravo, age 35 of Salem, was declared deceased at the scene.
By 10:45 p.m., the investigation was completed, and the train was released from the scene. There were no traffic impacts.
# # #