Salem, OR. — Official Release: The intersection of Lancaster DR and Market ST NE was closed at about 8:45 p.m. on Saturday, February 1 after the area was taken over illegally by a crowd of people and vehicles.
At approximately 12:00 p.m., a crowd of people gathered in the parking lots of several businesses on the four corners of the intersection of Lancaster DR and Market ST NE. The group was demonstrating against national immigration enforcement efforts.
By 2:00 p.m., the group was estimated to have 300 participants. The gathered remained relatively peaceful, although traffic in the area was congested. As the event progressed, callers reported participants throwing objects and hitting passing cars.
Eventually, more police resources were called in to address the event.
Other reports were received at about 7:00 p.m. of participants standing in the crosswalk not allowing traffic to continue, fireworks being ignited, and vehicles driving recklessly. At this point further police resources were necessary, including calling in officers from home and requesting outside agency assistance.
At about 8:30 p.m., the intersection was overtaken by drivers performing burnouts and dangerously drifting and spinning in the roadway, and nearly 50 people occupying the street.
The intersection was closed shortly afterward with north and southbound Lancaster DR closed between D ST and Sunnyview RD, east and westbound Market ST was closed between Fisher RD and Tierra DR. Cherriots buses were rerouted. Oregon State Police temporarily closed the Market ST offramp.
As specialized crowd management officers from the Mobile Response Team (MRT) arrived, the group surrounded a vehicle on Lancaster DR blocking all northbound traffic. The officers cleared the area allowing the vehicle to proceed. The protestors threw water bottles and cans of beer at Salem Police vehicles.
MRT and patrol officers contacted individuals observed engaging in criminal activity and seized one handgun.
The following five individuals were arrested on various charges including reckless driving and disorderly conduct:
- Abram Michael Delao, age 19, Salem
- Martin Andrew Gonzalez, age 34, Salem
- Joshua Alexander Perez, age 18, Salem
- Martin Arturo Galvez-Prado, age 34, Salem
- Angel Sierra Ramos, age 30, Salem
Galvez-Prado faces an added charge of unlawful possession of a firearm.
The remaining crowd gathered on the sidewalks dispersed slowly, and traffic diminished, allowing the street closures to be lifted at approximately 11:00 p.m.
There were no reported injuries; however, officers will be conducting follow up investigations on several complaints of criminal mischief.
Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack remarked, “Saturday’s unruly protest, along with other emergency calls including an armed kidnapping, strained our limited patrol staffing resources. Multiple Salem officers were called in from home and partner agencies also responded to ensure safety was maintained and criminal offenders were appropriately held accountable.
“I am very proud of the work our officers accomplished under challenging and dangerous circumstances, yesterday’s events just being the most recent examples. I want to thank them and our regional partners for their service, dedication, and professionalism.”
For this incident, the Salem Police Department received assistance with traffic control from the Oregon State Police, and the Keizer Police Department assisted by handling calls in the city while patrol officers, MRT, and Strategic Investigations Unit detectives addressed the street take over and disorder.
About the Author
Check immigration status. Impound the vehicles involved. County jail for legal residents, and Jail followed by turning over to ICE all illegal individual.