Suspects Sought for Assaulting Marion County Deputy and Burglary

Anyone with information of the whereabouts of these two men or who may have information about either of these cases is asked to call Marion County Sheriff's Office Detectives at 540-8007 or the Sheriff's Office dispatch at 503-588-5032.

Martin Vargas and William Farris are both sought by police

(SALEM) - Oregon law enforcement is on the lookout for two men who they say are responsible for a number of crimes involving the burglary of a deputy's home and a subsequent assault on another deputy with a vehicle.

Marion County Sheriff's Office Spokesman Kevin Rau says that on Wednesday, April 11th, Marion County Reserve Deputy Greg Roach reported a burglary at his home south of Salem.

"Among the items taken in that burglary were his Sheriff's Office issued portable radio, cell phone and body armor. Also taken were three firearms including a handgun, rifle and shotgun and a standard police duty belt with handcuffs and pepper spray." Then on Sunday, April 22nd, while the investigation into the burglary was ongoing, Rau says two deputies responded to a noise complaint call at 3573 Hermosa Ct NE in Salem at about 11:00 PM.

"When they arrived they approached a gray 2004 Volkswagen Jetta parked in the driveway with three people inside. The driver and front seat passenger refused to roll down their windows to talk to the deputies. A passenger, 29-year-old Crystal Williams, got out of the car and was speaking with one of the deputies when the driver started the car and backed it up, hitting one of the deputies in the leg."

The driver pulled the car forward and backed into the deputy again. All the while both deputies say they were yelling at the driver to stop, according to Rau.

29-year old Brandon Case is in custody

"The driver drove the car across the lawn of the adjacent home and sped away. The deputy was uninjured. Ms. Williams was not arrested." A short time after the car sped away it was found abandoned in the 3000 block of Mooreland Ave NE in Salem. Inside the car deputies found the police radio stolen during the burglary of the Reserve Deputy's home on April 11th.

The investigators found that the car was borrowed by the registered owner's daughter but it is unclear how it came into the possession of Farris and Vargas.

It had not been reported stolen however. It was impounded as part of these ongoing investigations. The incident continued on Monday, April 23rd, when Marion County Detectives went to the home on Hermosa Ct. as part of the continuing investigation into the events of the night before.

Rau says that when the detectives arrived, four males ran from the home. One of the men, 29-year old Brandon Case of Salem, was located a short distance away and found to have outstanding arrest warrants for theft and fraud. Investigators say the two men inside the Jetta during the April 22nd incident have been identified. They are 29-year old William L Farris and 23-year old Martin Paul Vargas Jr., both of Salem. In addition to being sought in connection with these cases, Farris has an outstanding warrant for Parole Violation.

Both men are described as having an extensive criminal history including drugs, weapons, driving, person and property offenses. These men should be considered to be armed and dangerous. William Farris is described as a White male, 5'4" tall, 124 lbs with short brown hair and brown eyes. He has many tattoos on his chest arms and back. Martin Vargas is described as a Hispanic male, 5'10" tall, 145 lbs with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information of the whereabouts of these two men or who may have information about either of these cases is asked to call Marion County Sheriff's Office Detectives at 540-8007 or the Sheriff's Office dispatch at 503-588-5032.