Police Say Salem Officer Shot Suspect Who Fled Traffic Stop on Foot

A Salem PD corporal and a traffic officer will be placed on administrative leave as is standard procedure while the incident is being investigated.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - Salem Police say a wanted suspect was shot by officers after fleeing from a traffic stop in southeast Salem early in the morning on February 12, 2010.

A press release from Salem PD Lt Dave Okada, indicates that the incident began at approximately 2:46 a.m. when Corporal Justin Carney and Officer Vince Dawson stopped a vehicle that had been identified as a vehicle of interest in an open robbery investigation by Salem Police detectives.

"The stop was near the 2400 block of Simpson St SE. There were several people in the vehicle at the time of the stop, and all but one of the subjects fled on foot from the vehicle before the officers could contact them. Corporal Carney and Officer Dawson separated and pursued two of the suspects on foot, and the suspect was shot shortly thereafter by Officer Dawson."

Okada says details of the encounter between Officer Dawson and the suspect are unavailable at this time.

"The suspect, 22-year old Salem resident Joshua Bruce, sustained non-life threatening wounds to a leg and was transported to Salem Hospital for treatment. He was subsequently arrested on an outstanding Parole Violation warrant."

Okada says Carney has been employed with the Salem Police Department since February of 2004 and was promoted to the rank of Corporal in September of 2009.

"Officer Dawson has been employed by the Salem Police Department since December 14, 2009 and has been on patrol for approximately two weeks with Corporal Carney as his Field Training Officer. Officer Dawson completed approximately seven weeks of orientation and training prior to being assigned to patrol duties. His orientation and training included numerous topics including Use of Force, Confrontational Simulations, Firearms, Defensive Tactics and general patrol procedures."

He says Corporal Carney and Officer Dawson will be placed on administrative leave as is standard procedure while the incident is being investigated.

"This leave is not disciplinary in nature, but is common in situations where officers become involved in extremely traumatic events in the line of duty."

The Oregon State Police, with the assistance of the Keizer Police Department, is conducting the investigation of this incident. This is standard policy for the Salem Police Department to request the Oregon State Police and the Marion County District Attorney's Office to conduct an independent investigation of situations of this nature.

Anybody with information regarding this investigation is asked to call the Oregon State Police Regional Communications Center at 503-375-3555.