Suspect in Salem Homicide Arrested

Thomas Cleveland is charged with Murder, and possession of Heroin and Crystal Methamphetamine.

55-year old Thomas Carl Cleveland

(SALEM) - Salem Police Detectives made an arrest in a recent murder case, taking a 55-year old Salem man into custody for the killing of a Portland man named James Spaise.

Charges against Thomas Carl Cleveland stem from Spaise's murder that occurred on Wednesday Sept. 6th, in a church parking lot at 570 Madison St NE in Salem.

During the investigation, Detectives say they conducted interviews, canvassed neigborhoods and worked with the Crime Lab in devloping physical evidence.

Cleveland was located at Denny's Restuarant, 3680 Market St NE where he was taken into custody without incident.

At the time, Cleveland was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant for "Felon in Possession of a Firearm" from a previous unrelated incident to the murder.

They say Cleveland was also in possession of a small amount of Heroin and Crystal Methamphetamine.

Today, at approx. 3:00 PM, detectives charged Cleveland with Murder, no bail; and 2 counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance, for Heroin and Crystal Methamphetamine.

Cleveland is booked in the Marion County Jail.