Woodburn man arrested and charged in connection with shooting of Salem officer
A veteran Salem policewoman survived being shot multiple times during a traffic stop Tuesday night before an hours-long search and standoff resulted in a suspect being taken into custody Wednesday morning.
Around 100 law enforcement officers, including members of Salem's SWAT team and from neighboring police departments, swarmed the working-class neighborhood surrounding the East Broadway Apartments where a male suspect and woman were holed up.
Police eventually arrested 38-year-old Jaime Lee Jimenez, of Woodburn, and charged him with attempted aggravated murder with a firearm, second-degree assault with a firearm and felon in possession of a firearm.
Also arrested was Amanda Cayetano, 35, of Salem, who was in the apartment where Jimenez was found. Cayetano was charged with hindering prosecution in connection with the incident.
The policewoman was treated for multiple gunshot wounds at Salem Hospital and later released, according to Salem Police spokesman Lt. Treven Upkes.
She was wearing a protective vest. Police are not releasing her identity until all family members are notified, Upkes said.
Salem Police Department has 19 female officers — including three in training — out of 189 total officers, he said.
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It began about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, when the policewoman patrolling solo stopped a mini-van in the 500 block of Highland Avenue NE. Jimenez allegedly shot the officer at close range and drove away.
Officials have not confirmed the reason for the traffic stop, but Upkes said it was not "predetermined."
A surveillance video obtained by KGW of the shooting shows sparks and shots flying at the officer after she approached the driver's side of the minivan. Another person is seen exiting the passenger side of the vehicle as the officer radios for help and tries to run for cover.
The suspect drove north on Broadway after the shooting, abandoning the van four blocks to the north.
Negotiations unfolded over nearly an hour
Nearby streets, including Broadway Street NE, were closed as officers searched the area with dogs and advised residents to stay inside and lock their doors.
"This is a manhunt now and a matter of public safety," Upkes said Tuesday night during the search. "If they are willing to shoot at a police officer they'll be willing to shoot at others."
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Salem Police Chief Jerry Moore also responded to the scene.
After more than four hours of K-9 searching, Salem Police and other law enforcement agencies suspended their tactical search for the suspect and turned the crime scenes over to detectives.
Salem detectives then took over to "generate leads on the location of the suspect," Upkes said.
Police tracked the suspect to the East Broadway Apartments and negotiated with him via megaphone and phone. Witnesses reported seeing police using an explosive to blast open the door of the upstairs apartment.
The Mobile Command Unit was set up at Highland Elementary School, which was closed all day Wednesday.
"There were cops everywhere, at least 25 cars here, three SWAT trucks, the bomb squad and that RV thing," said Luke Slaughter, a local resident. "We didn't know what was going on."
Negotiations went on for just under an hour, with officers describing “5-minute” breaks and “rapport building” during scanner chatter.
Multiple times officers braced for the suspect, described as wearing a black T-shirt, to surrender only to stand down. The suspect was reported to be “worried about being injured” and demonstrating “anxiety on his part” but showing “no threat of violence.”
“I think he’s going to come out,” an officer said at one point.
Then, moments later: “Now he’s smoking a cigarette.”
Jimenez was in handcuffs around 8:40 a.m., according to Upkes.
The Oregon State Police, Marion and Polk county sheriff's deputies and police from Keizer, Woodburn and Hubbard joined the search for the gunman, Upkes said.
Jimenez and Cayetano were taken to Marion County Jail. Cayetano's bail was initially set for $10,000, according to the jail roster.
Jimenez's criminal history includes fourth-degree assault, meth possession and harassment convictions in Marion County.
Cayetano was previously convicted of second-degree child neglect and second-degree theft in Marion County, according to court records.
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Marion, Polk officer shootings rare
It’s rare for an officer to be shot in the line of duty in the Salem area.
A Dallas Police officer was shot in the leg while investigating a DUII incident in the Dallas Walmart parking lot in 2016.
A Salem Police officer was shot once during a 2012 incident involving a man fleeing in a stolen car in Benton County. He was treated and released at a Corvallis hospital
Upkes said the past 18 hours have been filled with a mix of emotion for the agency. The shooting "strikes on how dangerous this job can be, but it highlights the resilience of our agency," he said.
The Associated Press and Jonathan Bach, David Davis and Capi Lynn of the Statesman Journal contributed to this report.