Oregon Prison Employee Arrested After Shooting; Holding Police at Bay for Hours

The area was blocked off and neighbors were asked to vacate their homes until the suspect was taken into custody.

39-year old Michael Wilson Yann

(TURNER, OR) - 39-year old Turner resident Michael, an employee with the Oregon Dept of Corrections, was arrested early Sunday morning following a three and one half hour standoff with law enforcement officers.

At about 9:00pm Saturday, Turner Police received a call of an intoxicated male staggering down the middle of Delaney Road SE near 7th Street. The caller told responding officer, David Walters, that he tried to encourage the man to get out of the street, but the man just challenged him to fight. While talking with the caller, Walters spotted the intoxicated man running on Delaney toward 7th Street.

With the backup assistance of Aumsville Officer Shane Bird, Walters contacted the man in front of his house in the 7400 block of 7th Street. The man's wife came from the house and joined in the conversation. While talking with the couple, the man suddenly ran into the house and reappeared with a handgun. He challenged the officers and fired several rounds at them, then retreated back to the house and fired several more rounds through a window. The Officers were not hit and did not return fire because the suspect's wife was in their line of fire.

Officers established a perimeter around the house and called for additional assistance. During the next few hours, Marion County SWAT team, Tactical Negotiators and additional officers from Keizer, Salem and the Oregon State Police arrived to assist. The area was blocked off and neighbors were asked to vacate their homes until the suspect was taken into custody.

Negotiators made numerous attempts to contact the suspect while he was holding up in the house, but he failed to respond. At approximately 12:40am he suddenly came out of the front door and surrendered to deputies. Deputies recovered a 9mm handgun at the house. The investigation is ongoing and no further information is available at this time.

The suspect was identified as Michael Wilson Yann, 39. Yann was taken to the Marion County Jail and booked on two counts of Aggravated Attempted Murder, two counts of Attempted Murder, and one count of Disorderly Conduct. He is being held without bail. He will appear in court on Monday, April 16th at 3:00pm.

Turner Police Chief Donny Taylor commented, "I'm very proud of the poise and professionalism displayed by the officers while under fire. I'm also pleased that Yann was taken into custody before anyone got hurt. This incident could have ended tragically. Our Department appreciates the support of the Marion County Sheriff's Office and the other agencies who assisted us with this call".

Yann has been employed by the Department of Corrections for about 15 years. He serves as a Transportation Officer. Consistent with DOC policy, he will be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of this investigation.

News Release from: Marion Co. Sheriff's Office

Raw footage from the scene by Salem-News.com photographer Jerry Freeman: