On November 13, 2019, at approximately 1:25 a.m., Keizer Police officers attempted to stop a speeding motorist near River Road North and Appleblossom Avenue North. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as 45-year-old David Acevedo of Lynwood Washington, eluded police for nearly two miles into the City of Salem. Mr. Acevedo crashed into a City of Salem fence near Front Street NE and Union Street NE. Mr. Acevedo fled on foot towards the Willamette River. Keizer PD K9 Kobe tracked Mr. Acevedo through the Willamette greenway and located him along the riverbank. Mr. Acevedo was charged with Attempt to Elude (felony), Attempt to Elude (misdemeanor), and Hit and Run (property damage).
From 5:00 PM today until 5:00 PM on November 15, please contact Lt. Chris Nelson for any media requests. He can be reached at NelsonC@keizer.org, 503 932 0909, or 503 856 3489.
Case # 19-4010—Traffic Collision Follow up
Driver of the Chevrolet Tahoe: Lisa Michelle Leibham, 37 years-of-age, Keizer resident
Child who was struck: Kai-Orn Ellertson, 6 years-of-age, Keizer resident
Child’s mother: 39 years-of-age, Keizer resident
Keizer Police Traffic Safety Unit personnel are still in the process of conducting an extensive examination of the scene of the crash; the results of which will likely take weeks to compile. The child remains at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland and there are no updates on his condition. Preliminary investigation revealed the boy’s mother was walking with him in the crosswalk when the collision occurred, but she was not injured. Through a family spokesperson, the boy’s mother has asked not to be identified. No citations have been issued and Ms. Leibham remains cooperative with the investigation.
Original Message:
Case # 19-4010
On October 29, 2019, at around 4:53 PM, officers were dispatched to the intersection of Sam Orcutt Way NE and River Road N to the report of a collision between a pedestrian and a vehicle. Preliminary investigation into the crash indicates a 30-year-old woman—operating a black 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe—was in the process of turning south on River Road N from Sam Orcutt Way NE when she collided with a 7-year-old boy. The boy was crossing River Road, within the crosswalk, on a bicycle at the time. The boy sustained a head injury as a result of the collision and was treated by medics at the scene and transported to Salem Health.
At approximately 6:20 PM, the boy was flown by Life Flight from Salem Health to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland for further treatment.
The driver remained on scene and is cooperating with investigators. Anyone who witnessed this incident is asked to contact Officer Martin Powell at 503-390-3713.
Lt. Bob Trump, 503-856-3505
Keizer Police Incident # 19-3949
On October 25, 2019 at around 2:00 P.M., Keizer Police officers were dispatched to a reported hit and run that occurred at the crosswalk at Stadium Drive NE and Chemawa Road NE. Police spoke with the reported victim, a 30-year-old Keizer woman, who is legally blind. She told them she was crossing the street inside the crosswalk at that intersection when she was struck by a passing vehicle. The woman told officers a man, who she presumed was operating the car that hit her, briefly stopped and asked if she was OK, but left before she was able to respond. The woman walked to a nearby business and the employees there called for medics who responded and treated her before she was taken by private vehicle to Salem Health for treatment of apparent minor injuries.
Investigators are seeking the identity of the driver who struck the woman. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Jorge Miranda at 503 856-3475.
On October 23, 2019 at about 8:22 AM, Keizer Police dispatch was notified by text of a high school aged male, wearing dark clothing, a hoodie, and a backpack running through the McNary High School parking lot, armed with a “bat and small rifle”. This report was made by a single person and no other reports were made. Several police officers responded and worked in cooperation with the school district to ensure student safety by searching for the person, both on the school grounds and in surrounding neighborhoods.
While these areas were being searched, and in an abundance of caution, three area schools were placed on lockdown by the school district—McNary High School, Keizer Elementary, and Cummings Elementary. At no time was there any indication that there was a threat to any school. The subject described was not located and the schools were returned to normal operations after 9:00 AM. Anyone with information is asked to contact McNary’s School Resource Officer, David Zavala.
Arrested: Gerardo Javier Lara-Alvarez 21 years, Salem resident
Charges: burglary 1, theft 1 (three counts), unlawful entry into a motor vehicle
Arrested: Jesus Mercado-Urenda 19 years of age, Salem resident
Charges: burglary 1, possession of burglar tools
On October 21, 2019 a resident in the 4600 block of Clark Ave NE reported a theft from their vehicle that included the theft of a 9 mm pistol. There were no suspects in that case.
On October 22, 2019 at around 1:35 PM, Keizer Police officers were dispatched to a suspicious activity in the area of the 4600 block of Clark Ave NE. Officers were told that two teenaged males had ridden to the location on bicycles and jumped over a fence, into the backyard of the location. This was the same location of the theft that occurred the day before. Upon arriving in the area, a responding officer observed two men, later identified as Mr. Lara-Alvarez and Mr. Mercado-Urenda, exiting the garage of the victim residence on Clark Ave. The officer yelled for the men to stop, but they refused, riding away on their bicycles.
Additional police officers arrived in the area and a perimeter was set. Officers discovered that Mr. Lara-Alvarez and Mr. Mercado-Urenda abandoned their bicycles and fled on foot, through backyards, between 12th Ave NE and Harcourt Ave NE. During this initial response, officers were able to determine that the two men had committed a burglary to the residence on Clark. Inside that residence, officers found several firearms staged next to the back door.
A Keizer Police K9 team responded to the scene and a track of the fleeing suspects was initiated. Mr. Lara-Alvarez was quickly found hiding in bushes in a backyard in the 4600 block of Harcourt Ave NE. Following K9 announcements, Mr. Lara-Alvarez refused to surrender to police, remaining hidden, and was bitten by the K9 before being taken into custody. He was subsequently treated at Salem Health for minor bite wounds to his right arm. Mr. Lara-Alvarez was found in possession of pistol magazines, determined to be stolen from the burglary. Following Mr. Lara-Alvarez’ arrest, a search of the area continued for Mr. Mercado-Urenda.
A few minutes later, Mr. Mercado-Urenda was found hiding in a wood pile alongside a residence in the 4600 block of Harcourt Ave. He surrendered to police and was taken into custody without incident. In searching the area, investigators found checkbooks taken during the burglary. During initial contact with responding officers, Mr. Lara-Alvarez was wearing a backpack that he later discarded while fleeing. That backpack was also determined stolen from the vehicle the day before and inside it, investigators found the reported stolen 9mm pistol as well as a second 9mm pistol and a .25 caliber pistol, both taken during the burglary.
Mr. Lara-Alvarez and Mr. Mercado-Urenda were booked into the Marion County jail on the listed charges.