Shooting in Salem today!!

SONALB · Mar 31, 2010

Briefly caught a short segment of a Woodburn officer shot, and later in Salem the 'perp' being taken down. Anyone have more details?

The B · Mar 31, 2010

<broken link removed>

by TERESA BLACKMAN / KGW.com
Posted on March 31, 2010 at 7:13 AM
Updated today at 2:19 PM
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WOODBURN, Ore. -- A suspect and a Woodburn police sergeant were wounded in a shooting late Tuesday night, police said.
It happened as six Woodburn officers were searching for "person of interest" in a burglary investigation just after 11 p.m.
The officers were looking for Billy Jack Gray at the Cambridge Apartment Complex, when all of the sudden, Gray opened fire, according to Lt. Gregg Hastings with Oregon State Police.
Gray came out of a second-story unit firing multiple rounds from a handgun as he came down the narrow stairwell toward the parking lot, Hastings said.
Sgt. John Mikkola was hit by ìmore than one round,î according to Marion County Sheriff Jason Myers. But he still managed to fire several rounds toward Gray.
Then, Gray ran toward a nearby strip mall, firing at least one more round at two other Woodburn officers as he fled, Hastings said.
The officers called for backup and Marion County deputies swarmed the area. Moments later, Deputy Ron Cereghino spotted the suspect behind the Outback Steakhouse Restaurant and shot him.
"The officer yelled, 'Stop, put your hands up! Stop, put your hands up!' And it looked like he [the suspect] pulled up his shirt and then it sounded like four shots were fired and the guy went down," witness David Brown told KGW.
Both the officer and the suspect survived the shooting. Sgt.Mikkola, 49, was in fair condition at Salem Memorial Hospital at last report, and Gray was in critical condition. Cereghino was not injured.
"We are very relieved to hear that the officer survived. We stand behind our deputy. He responded to this dangerous situation according to his training and within our policy and the laws governing the use of deadly force," Myers said.
Oregon State Police were leading the investigation into the shootings, in cooperation with the Marion County District Attorneyís office.
It all started last weekend
Lt. Hastings said the initial burglary investigation began on Saturday, March 27 when two guns were stolen from a Woodburn home. A suspect was arrested after that burglary and investigators also identified Gray as a ìperson of interestî who they wanted to question.
A clue in the case indicated that Gray could be at an apartment at 3744 Sunnyview Road NE, so thatís why Mikkola and the other five officers went to that location late Tuesday night.
In the light of day, bullet holes could be seen in the front door of the apartment at that address.
Myers said Gray was shot in the 2200 block of Lancaster Drive NE., less than 10 minutes after Mikkola was wounded.
Officers immediately gave medical aid to Gray until paramedics arrived, Myers said, and two handguns were also seized from him.
Mikkola, 49, has been with the Woodburn Police Department for more than 12 years and serves as a supervisor as well as a part-time spokesman for the bureau. Cereghino, 40, has been with the Marion County Sheriffís office for more than 11 years.
Police said Gray, 23, was wanted on a felony parole violation. His DMV records list his home address as Hillsboro.
Myers shared a timeline of events with OSP and the media.

wayoutwest · Mar 31, 2010

MCSO press release from about 0400 this morning

Officer-Involved Shooting - 03/31/10
The following is a recap of an in-person media briefing with Marion County Sheriff Jason Myers following last night's officer-involved shooting in Salem.

At approximately 11:20 pm, officers from Woodburn Police Department were conducting a follow-up investigation into a residential burglary that occurred in Woodburn on March 27th. The victim of the burglary reported that items stolen from his residence included two firearms. The initial investigation resulted in an arrest of one suspect and the identification of a second person of interest.

The investigation led Woodburn officers to the Salem area where they attempted to contact the person of interest at an apartment complex in the 3700 block of Sunnyview Drive NE. While Woodburn officers were awaiting Salem police to arrive to assist, shots were fired by the person of interest related to the burglary investigation. A Woodburn police officer was struck by more than one round.

A radio call for assistance was issued, bringing additional Salem officers and deputies from the Marion County Sheriff's Office into the area. A description of the suspect was broadcast to responding officers & deputies.

Approximately seven minutes later, a Marion County Sheriff's deputy spotted the suspect in the rear parking lot of a business in the 2200 block of Lancaster Drive NE. The deputy attempted contact with the shooting suspect during which shots were fired by the deputy, striking the suspect.

Deputies immediately started first aid on the suspect until medics arrived to take over initial treatment and transport him to the Salem Hospital.

The identities of the officer, deputy and suspect involved in this investigation will be released at a later news briefing. The officer is reportedly in stable condition at Salem Hospital; the suspect is also being treated at Salem Hospital and is in critical condition.

"We are very relieved to hear that the officer survived. We stand behind our deputy. He responded to this dangerous situation according to his training and within our policy and the laws governing the use of deadly force. There is no public safety concern at this time; the suspect is in custody" according to Sheriff Jason Myers.

The investigation of both shootings is being handled by the Homicide Assault Response Team (HART) led by Oregon State Police Criminal Investigations Division, in cooperation with the Marion County District Attorney's Office, according to the Senate Bill 111 officer-involved shooting protocols.

Additional information will be released later today with the approval of the Marion County District Attorney's Office. A future media briefing will be announced later this morning by Lt. Gregg Hastings, OSP Public Information Officer.

The B · Mar 31, 2010

looks like we've got some crossed wires

wayoutwest · Mar 31, 2010

OSP press release

Update: Names Released Related to Investigation of Salem-area Officer-Involved Shootings (Photos) - 03/31/10
The interagency Homicide Assault Response Team (HART) investigation into two officer-involved shootings late Tuesday night in Salem is continuing. The HART team investigation is being led by Oregon State Police Criminal Investigations Division and Marion County District Attorney's Office. Investigators from participating HART team agencies include Marion County Sheriff's Office, Salem Police Department, Woodburn Police Department, Keizer Police Department, Stayton Police Department, and Hubbard Police Department. Names and other details approved by the district attorney's office are provided with this update release.

The two involved officers and suspect are identified as:

* Sergeant JOHN MIKKOLA, age 49, a 12 1/2 year veteran with Woodburn Police Department. MIKKOLA is a supervisor and part-time Public Information Officer for their department. MIKKOLA was shot and is in stable condition at Salem Hospital.

* Deputy RON CEREGHINO (pronounced CER-RI-GINO), age 40, an 11 1/2 year veteran with Marion County Sheriff's Office. CEREGHINO was not injured.
* Suspect BILLY JACK GRAY, age 23. DMV record indicates his last address is in Hillsboro but his current residence has not been confirmed. GRAY was wanted on a felony Parole Violation warrant held by the State Parole Board. GRAY was shot and is in critical condition at Salem Hospital.

The HART team met with the Marion County District Attorney's Office Wednesday morning to review ongoing investigation details learned by investigators as they worked throughout the night.

The ongoing investigation indicates on March 30, 2010 at approximately 11:20 p.m. Sergeant MIKKOLA and five other officers from Woodburn Police Department were conducting a follow-up investigation into a March 27th Woodburn residential burglary. The victim of the burglary reported that items stolen from his residence included two firearms. The initial investigation resulted in an arrest of one suspect and identified GRAY as a second suspect.

Their investigation led the six Woodburn officers to the Cambridge Apartments located at 3744 Sunnyview Road NE where they were attempting to locate GRAY. Woodburn officers were being assisted by Salem police officers in the area. While waiting outside of one of the two story building units, GRAY came out of a second story unit firing multiple rounds from a handgun as he came down the narrow stairwell toward the parking lot.

Despite being shot, MIKKOLA was able to fire several rounds toward GRAY. The suspect fled north toward Sunnyview and then north on Coral Avenue NE behind the west side of a strip mall. As he was fleeing, GRAY fired at least one round at two other Woodburn officers.

Responding Deputy CEREGHINO spotted the suspect in the rear parking lot of the strip mall. During that encounter the deputy shot at the suspect more than once. The deputy was not injured. Medical aid was immediately started on the wounded suspect by officers arriving at the second shooting location until medics took over and transported him to Salem Hospital for treatment.

MIKKOLA was also transported by ambulance to Salem Hospital.

Two handguns were recovered at the second shooting scene that the suspect was in possession of.

Any additional information for release will only be done with the approval of the Marion County District Attorney's Office.