Grand Jury Unanimously Finds Salem Officer Justified In June 11, 2026 Use Of Force Incident. Suspect Indicted. (Photo)
- 06/18/26
June 18, 2026 - Today, a Marion County Grand Jury unanimously found that Salem Police Sergeant Jason Donner was justified in his use of deadly physical force in an incident on June 11, 2026.
The Grand Jury heard from 12 Witnesses including the involved officers as well as Detectives from the Oregon State Police and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and civilian witnesses. They further reviewed numerous pieces of evidence including 911 calls, scene photographs and diagrams, body worn camera footage and other physical evidence. The Grand Jury heard the following evidence:
On June 11, 2026, at approximately 7:30 a.m., Salem Police Officers responded to an area near 3371 Portland Rd NE in Salem in response to a 911 hang up call. Upon a return call from dispatch, the caller was slow to respond, and a female could be heard possibly crying. While responding, officers were further informed that a second caller reported that a female was being held at gunpoint in a tent at the location.
Salem Sergeant Jason Donner responded to the location along with Officer Chad Galusha and Officer Andrew Hockman. Oregon State Trooper Adrian Steeley also responded. They began to patrol the railroad tracks east of Portland Road on foot to listen for indicators of the incident. While doing so, Sergeant Donner and Officer Galusha heard what they believed to be a female cry “help”. They quickly made their way toward the sound of the voice and near the northwest corner of an undeveloped and overgrown lot adjacent to the south side of Ventura Foods at 3371 Portland Rd NE. This general area is known for homeless encampments and related activity.
Officer Hockman then heard something on the opposite side of the fence in an overgrown area and Sergeant Donner heard a female voice, which sounded like whimpering. He also heard an angry male voice in the same area. Knowing the report included a female being held at gunpoint, Sergeant Donner and Officer Galusha entered the fenced area with their guns drawn. Officer Hockman and Trooper Steeley remained outside the fenced area, also with guns drawn.
Sergeant Donner and Officer Galusha approached a tent. Sergeant Donner could see movement and heard a male voice in the thick foliage on the lot. Officer Galusha called out, “Salem Police, show me your hands.” A male subject, later identified as Jose Luis Anguiano (35 years), stood up from behind a bush with both arms raised and something in his hands pointed toward Officer Galusha who continued to yell commands as he could not clearly see the item held by Anguiano due to the overgrown foliage. Anguiano then turned toward Sergeant Donner who could see that Anguiano was pointing what appeared to be a handgun at him. Sergeant Donner fired three rounds at Anguiano who fell out of view. A female victim was then able to crawl to safety and was assisted by law enforcement.
Anguiano did not emerge from the overgrown area, despite commands to do so. For the safety of the officers as well as anyone else in the area, SWAT personnel arrived and were able to reach Anguiano who had non-life-threatening wounds. He was treated by medics and transported to Salem Hospital. He was released and lodged at the Marion County Jail on June 14, 2026.
An investigation followed led by the Oregon State Police at the direction of the Marion County District Attorney’s Office consistent with Marion County’s Senate Bill 111 protocol. A CO2 air pistol was found near Anguiano. No markings on the air pistol indicated that it was not a real firearm. Under Oregon law, this type of air pistol is not considered to be a firearm for the purpose of criminal charges. [See photo of the pistol attached.]
Sergeant Donner is a 21-year veteran of the Salem Police Department and is a member of the Domestic Violence Response Team.
Pursuant to Oregon Revised Statute 161.242 (in relevant part), an officer is justified in using deadly force if the officer reasonably believes, under all the circumstances, that Anguiano posed an imminent threat of death or serious physical injury to the officers or other people and that the force was necessary to:
- defend the officers or other people from death or serious physical injury
The Grand Jury's decision today required a review of all the facts and evidence available to it and application of that evidence to the legal principles outlined above. The Marion County Grand Jury unanimously determined that the actions of Salem Sergeant Donner were justified. The Grand Jury further found that Sergeant Donner had no reasonable opportunity to use any alternative force options or de-escalation techniques given how quickly the incident unfolded.
The same grand jury that found Sergeant Donner justified in his use of deadly physical force, also indicted Jose Luis Anguiano on charges of Coercion Constituting Domestic Violence, 2 Counts of Assault 4 Constituting Domestic Violence, and 4 Counts of Menacing. He will be arraigned on the Indictment on June 29th at 8:30am at the Marion County Circuit Court Annex.
Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson stated:
“We are well-served by law enforcement in this community. I am grateful that the officers who willingly put themselves in danger to protect others on this day returned home safely. My gratitude to them and to the grand jury who thoroughly and thoughtfully reviewed this matter.”
Anguiano had 34 prior arrests at the time of the incident including convictions for multiple counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Attempted Assault in the Fourth Degree, Escape in the Second Degree, Burglary in the First Degree, Tampering with a Witness and was on parole at the time of this incident. The Grand Jury did not hear any information related to his prior arrests and criminal convictions.
As this is still a pending criminal prosecution, no further information will be released at this time. Senior Deputy District Attorneys Shannon Sullivan and Braden Wolf presented this matter to the Grand Jury.
