Salem Police Department concluded its search for a second suspect following an incident involving gunfire near a motorcycle theft investigation, with the arrest made last Wednesday. According to KPTV, the suspect, identified as 28-year-old Brian Lee English of Salem, was apprehended outside a house in Salem after attempting to flee from officers.
The situation escalated on July 11 when, during an investigation at a storage facility on the 1800 block of 22nd Street Southeast, two motorcycle riders approached. One of them, allegedly English, discharged a firearm into the air in plain view of the police, then both suspects fled the scene, the police said. Zayn Free Bristow, age 25, was apprehended after a subsequent police chase when he crashed his bike, as reported by Salem Reporter. The second rider, initially escaped but was caught later.
This recent arrest comes on the heels of a broader stolen vehicle investigation by Salem police. The theft ring was uncovered when detectives found a stolen motorcycle at the storage unit, leading to the arrest of two adults and a juvenile on July 11, according to a KOIN article.
During the initial incident, officers seized a variety of incriminating items, including a short-barreled shotgun, another handgun, this time body armor, and pieces of stolen mail, as Salem Reporter detailed. The suspects from the first arrest faced multiple charges, with 18-year-old Zakiry Davis and 32-year-old Natalie Hefley booked for motor vehicle theft among other allegations. The juvenile's identity was withheld due to legal protections for minors.
Following his arrest, English was lodged at the Marion County Jail, facing several charges that include unlawful use of a firearm and felon in possession of a firearm, menacing, and reckless endangering. A backpack containing a handgun was found close to the area where English was taken into custody, suggesting possession and utility of the weapon during the events. English, whose past includes felony convictions, remains in jail on a $30,000 bond as of yesterday afternoon.
