Last week was very busy for Salem Police officers #OnPatrol, as well as specialty teams, such as the Violent Crime Unit, the Strategic Investigations Unit, and the Bomb Squad. Read on for a summary of several shots fired calls, an attempted kidnapping, armed robbery, stabbing, assaults and more.
Shots fired inside the mall
On Friday afternoon, shots rang out inside the first floor of the Salem Center Mall after two groups of teens exchanged verbal taunts and headed toward the exit to settle the matter outside. The verbal exchanges continued when a teen from one group pulled out a handgun and began to fire at one teen from the other group. One teen boy was injured as one of the bullets grazed his head. The teen with the gun ran away, along with his companions. The injured teen and his friends remained but were very uncooperative and interfered with emergency personnel providing aid at the scene. Officers from multiple agencies arrived to assist patrol officers in a systematic search of the entire mall for any additional injured individuals and to help escort those inside. Approximately 100 witnesses were interviewed prior to a secondary clearing of the mall.
Subsequent to the incident, additional officers had to respond to the hospital where the injured juvenile was taken for treatment. The hospital was secured due to the incident and while one officer worked to limit vehicular traffic at the emergency entrance, a group of teens approached the police officer. As the officer explained the lockdown, they continued ignoring his commands to stop. One of the teens’ parents exited the vehicle and also became confrontational.
This is an active investigation.
Bomb Squad call out
Less than two hours after the initial shots fired call at the mall, transit mall security reported a driver located a suspicious bag tucked under the seat of a bus. The Bomb Squad was called out to safely evaluate the suspicious package. A perimeter was established, and a Bomb Squad officer suited up to examine the bag. He was able to determine the bag merely contained personal items, not an explosive hazard. The scene was cleared, and the bus released for service.
Armed robbery
The dispatch center received a call from an employee of a motel who had been robbed at gunpoint by man with his face covered; however, his appearance was similar to a guest staying at the location. The suspect stole the employees’ personal items and money from the register. He struck on employee on the head with the handgun and then fled on foot. A search of the area recovered some of the property. Leads were developed and detectives from the Salem Police Violent Crimes Unit responded to the scene to assume the investigation.
Stabbing
Officers were called to the scene of a physical altercation between several people in the middle of Church Street by the transit mall. Officers located the victim who sustained non-life-threatening injuries. They tended to his wounds meanwhile paramedics arrived. The suspect was also located carrying several knives and was immediately detained. The officers determined all the involved individuals are known to each other and the altercation was over a shared love interest. This is an active investigation.
Assault and shots fired
Police were dispatched to shots fired in the parking lot of Wallace Marine Park. They determined two individuals using the lot as parking for their RVs had an argument over noise. When one man contacted the other, the man making the noise took out a handgun and threatened to shoot. He then used the gun to strike the other man in the head and stomach. The injured man ran away as the gun-wielding suspect began to shoot the firearm. The injured man was not struck by the gunfire. The suspect with the gun fled in his RV. Area law enforcement partners were notified. The vehicle was spotted by Independence Police officers. The suspect fled and officers later found the abandoned RV. This investigation continues.
Shots fired
Witnesses reported a neighbor in a west Salem apartment complex walking outside and shooting up into the air, then returning inside. He exited again but this time neighbors reported he had a black object holstered to his hip. He again returned inside. Responding officers were outside the dwelling developing a plan to safely make contact with him when he exited the apartment and approached them without incident. He was taken into custody and lodged at the Polk County Jail. The investigation determined the suspect had posted several videos to social media indicating a desire to harm officers should he be contacted by law enforcement. A warrant was served on the premises and several firearms and large quantities of ammunition were seized as part of the investigation.
Assault
Officers responded to the boat ramp at Wallace Marine Park where several homeless individuals are camped. Two individuals got into a physical altercation leaving one with multiple and significant injuries to his face and head. The suspect who committed the assault fled but his identity is known. This is an active investigation.
Kidnapping
A woman was outside her hotel room watching her child play when another woman went up to the child and tried to take him away. The mother immediately responded by grabbing her son, but the woman was yelling at the mother that the boy was her son and demanding the boy be returned. The mother ran to her room while hotel employees responded to the commotion. Staff recognized the woman as a person living in a nearby homeless encampment. She had been trespassed from the hotel property on multiple occasions. Officers located the woman and learned she was on probation. A detainer was issued by her probation officer, and she was jailed. Members of the Salem Police Behavioral Health Unit were called in to coordinate as the woman exhibited signs of emotional health issues.
Disturbance
Multiple callers reported a man armed with a stick threatening parents, students, and motorists on the grounds of Highland Elementary School. Salem Police and Fire personnel were dispatched with firefighters arriving to the scene first. The man began to run toward the front of the school and fire personnel were concerned he would enter the school. They gave chase and subdued him. Officers took the man into custody who also admitted to officers he had ingested several drug substances. He was taken to the hospital for medical clearance then taken to Marion County Jail on several charges including menacing and attempted assault.
Victim confronts thief
A person exiting a local fast-food eatery, noticed a man had opened the hood of his car and was looking inside the vehicle. The man started to walk away as the car owner approached. The owner could see the man was carrying something large tucked under his sweatshirt. The owner went after the man yelling at him to return his belongings. Suddenly, the suspect turned and lunged at the car owner threatening him with a tool. The owner then called for police assistance. Officers conducted a search of the area but were unable to locate the suspect.
Possible burglary in progress
Officers responded to the report of a burglary in progress when a resident arrived home to find two teens run from her residence. As the fleeing teens jumped fences in the neighborhood, a sergeant on patrol was able to locate one of them. The teen violently resisted arrest. After getting him into custody, officers learned the two teens were hiding in the backyard of the residence after having committed a theft at a local retail store. The teen was released to the custody of his mother and is facing several criminal charges.
Your Salem Police officers #OnPatrol!
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SALEM POLICE DEPARTMENT