News Release on Taser Incident Involving Salem Youth

Unedited news release from Marion Co. District Attorney's Office.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - On June 16, 2010 at approximately 6:00 a.m. OSP SWAT team members were assisting with the execution of multiple search warrants in the Salem area as part of an ongoing multi-agency narcotics investigation. Oregon State Police (OSP) SWAT team members were serving one of the search warrants in northeast Salem when upon entry into a residence troopers encountered a 16-year old male who physically resisted efforts to take him into custody.

Steven Avila is 16 Salem/Keizer Schools

OSP Senior Trooper Jeromy Hasenkamp deployed a Taser when Steven Avila, age 16, continued to physically resist. After a brief period of continued resistance, Avila became unconscious. An OSP SWAT medic, with help from other SWAT troopers, started emergency medical care. Salem Fire Department paramedics responded and worked with OSP SWAT members before he was initially taken by ambulance to Salem Hospital, then transferred to Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland.

An adult male and adult female were also at the residence. The adult male was arrested without incident.

In 2008 Marion County developed a Law Enforcement Use of Deadly Physical Force Respose Plan as required by Senate Bill 111. Marion County's plan was approved by the Department of Justice in July of 2008. The plan calls for a complete investigation, by an uninvolved law enforcement agency, into incidents involving law enforcement use of deadly force.

The Marion County District Attorney's Office is following the protocol of the response plan to investigate this incident. The Salem Police Department immediately began conducting a comprehensive investigation following the hospitalization of Steven Avila. The independent investigation is conducted in order to ensure any use of deadly force is investigated in a professional, competent and impartial manner.

Once the Salem Police Department has completed their investigation into the circumstances related to the injury, the District Attorney's Office will make the decision on whether to present the matter to a Grand Jury for a reasonable use of force determination.

Source: Unedited news release from Marion Co. District Attorney's Office