Salem Police Arrest Man After Standoff

Police say the arrest stemmed from a stolen credit card investigation.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - A Salem man was taken into custody by the Salem Police Department SWAT Team after a standoff of over five hours, Salem Police Lt. Dave Okada said. "Salem Police detectives and FBI Agents went to 2205 Marine Dr NW, #349 at about 11:30 a.m. on March 4 in order to contact 37-year old Adam Williams regarding several theft and forgery related charges," Okada said.

"Williams refused to open the door, stating that he had a hostage, weapons and possibly explosives. Detectives continued to try and convince Williams to come out as other officers and SWAT were called to assist."

Okada says that as SWAT and Tactical Negotiators arrived and began operations, communications were again established with Williams, but he was refusing to comply with requests and instructions to come out of the residence.

"When it was clear that Williams was not going to comply, gas was introduced into the residence by SWAT officers." Okada says several rounds of gas were introduced, but the man continued to refuse to come out and at one time leaned out of the window of the third-story apartment and yelled at SWAT officers as he was attempting to breathe fresh air.

SWAT officers forced entry into the residence at approximately 4:45 p.m. Okada says, "when it was obvious that he was not going to comply with orders to exit the residence."

Okada said, "The door to the residence was barricaded with furniture and other items, so officers had to force their way into the residence and encountered Williams standing behind a couch with two knives held to his throat. Officers had to forcibly subdue him, and Williams suffered self-inflicted non-life threatening wounds in the process."

Williams was transported to Salem Hospital for treatment of his injuries.

The investigation stemmed from Williams using stolen credit cards and numbers at a local Salem hotel beginning in November of 2009, according to Okada.

"Indications were that the suspect had been engaged in similar types of activities in other jurisdictions prior to coming to Salem. The suspect also obtained an Oregon ID card from the Department of Motor Vehicles under a fictitious name."

He is charged with Theft of Services, two counts of Identity Theft, Forgery in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument and Possession of Fictitious Identification. The investigation is continuing, and further charges are pending.

Okada says during the standoff with Williams, Salem Police worked closely with the Salem Keizer School District, due to the fact that children from nearby schools would be released soon.

"In order to keep children who live in the apartment complex from wandering into the scene, local schools were contacted and assisted in contacting parents to come and pick those children up at the schools."

He says the schools assisted in keeping some children who live in a nearby apartment complex away from the scene, until their parents could pick them up.