Woodburn Police Officer Found Justified In May 2, 2026, Use Of Deadly Force Incident - 05/20/26

May 20, 2026 - Today, a Marion County Grand Jury unanimously found that Woodburn Police Officer Jackson Ryan was justified in his use of deadly physical force towards Israel Hernandez-Martinez (DOB 8/9/1988) in Woodburn, Oregon, on May 2, 2026. 

In reaching their conclusion, the Grand Jury convened to hear testimony from 7 witnesses, including members of the Salem Police Department who led the investigation.  The Grand Jury reviewed evidence including body-worn camera, numerous photographs of the scene, 911 calls, dispatch radio traffic, and autopsy conclusions.  A law enforcement use of force expert was also called to testify about human dynamics in critical law enforcement incidents. 

The following is a factual summary of evidence found by the Grand Jury:

On May 2, 2026, at 10:54 p.m., the METCOM received a 911 call from a passenger in a vehicle on Arney Road just north of the Woodburn Outlet mall stating that a pedestrian had just thrown a rock at her car.  

This area of Arney Road runs roughly parallel to Interstate 5; however, it has multiple S bends that change the road’s direction ninety degrees: from north to south immediately north of the Outlet mall, to east west (where the incident occurred), and back to north south again before Arney Road intersects with Crosby Rd NE. 

The driver of the vehicle was driving southbound on Arney Road towards the Woodburn Outlet mall and slowed to navigate the upcoming bend when he saw someone in the trees next to the west side of the road.  The person in the trees, later identified as Hernandez-Martinez, suddenly crossed into the southbound lane, stood near the center line and as the car passed raised a four-prong tire iron[1] above his head as if he were about to hit the car.   The driver turned his head, thinking the tire iron was about to hit the windshield, but it hit the driver’s side door instead causing damage. He drove away and had his wife, the passenger, call 911.   The couple also had their baby daughter in the vehicle.

Due to the late hour and resulting darkness, the driver was unable to provide a good description of the individual although it was later determined that the passengers of the vehicle and Hernandez-Martinez were strangers.

While the driver of the vehicle was still on the phone with 911, another vehicle pulled up to the victim’s car and reported that a male tried to hit them with a crowbar as well.  When law enforcement later interviewed the occupants of the vehicle, they stated that he was driving west on Arney Road traveling south towards the outlet mall when they saw a male, later determined to be Hernandez-Martinez, standing in the middle of the road.  According to the passenger, Hernandez-Martinez appeared angry, and as they approached it appeared that Hernandez-Martinez was going to hit their car with a “X”- shaped crowbar at his car.  The driver did not stop, and as he drove past, Hernandez-Martinez swung at the car, but missed. The family left the location because he had his girlfriend and their children, a six-year-old son and two-year-old daughter, in the backseat of his vehicle.  Again, it was established that there was no prior relationship between Hernandez-Martinez and this second vehicle.

A short while later, another 911 call was made, this caller stated that they could hear property being damaged near 16817 Arney Road.

Finally, yet another call to 911 was made to report there was an individual attempting to destroy a house at 16847 Arney Road. This location is roughly adjacent to where the two vehicles had been attacked. Law enforcement later found that the residence’s front windows had all been smashed, as well as a vehicle’s windshield that was parked at that location. The caller had been inside the residence and awoke to broken glass falling on him. 

Woodburn Police Officer Jackson Ryan heard the multiple dispatch calls over the radio and dispatched himself to the area to begin looking for the individual. 

Woodburn Police Officer Jesse Ponce also responded to the incident.

Officer Ponce responded to the location from the north, turning south on Arney Road from Crosbey Road NE.  Both officers were driving appropriately marked law enforcement vehicles with decals, lights and other markings showing the vehicles were patrol vehicles.

As Officer Ponce traveled west on Arney Road, he observed a male, later identified as Hernandez-Martinez, running down a driveway towards his patrol car.   It appeared the Hernandez-Martinez was yelling, although it could not be determined what was said.   As Hernandez-Martinez approached, Officer Ponce could see that he was holding a tire iron above his head, as if he were about to strike or throw the object.  As he traveled past, Officer Ponce saw Hernandez-Martinez swing the iron at his patrol car, but Hernandez-Martinez ultimately missed.

Officer Ponce accelerated to create some distance, and as he did so he saw law enforcement approaching him from the other lane (eastbound).  However, he could see Hernandez-Martinez was still chasing after his patrol vehicle.  Officer Ponce further accelerated as Officer Ryan, in the other patrol vehicle, passed his location in the opposite lane of travel.

As Officer Ryan  approached Officer Ponce’s vehicle, he heard Officer Ponce say over the radio that the suspect had tried to hit his car with a tire iron. 

At this point, Officer Ponce was traveling westbound with Hernandez-Martinez chasing his patrol vehicle, while Officer Ryan was traveling eastbound towards Hernandez-Martinez.  Officer Ryan stopped his patrol vehicle as Officer Ponce passed his location.

Officer Ryan exited his patrol vehicle and saw Hernandez-Martinez approximately 20-25 feet from his location.  Officer Ryan attempted to turn on his body worn camera (see more detail below) but was unsuccessful.  Officer Ryan positioned himself between Hernandez-Martinez and Officer Ponce’s vehicle, moving backwards, west, towards Officer Ponce’s location.  Hernandez-Martinez continued to move aggressively towards Officer Ryan, and Officer Ryan could see a tire iron in Hernandez-Martinez’s hand above his head.  He also stated that Hernandez-Martinez was gritting his teeth and yelling, although Officer Ryan couldn’t understand what was being said.  In Hernandez-Martinez’s other hand, he appeared to be carrying additional items. 

Officer Ryan gave Hernandez-Martinez multiple commands to “Stop!” and “You’re going to get shot!” By this time, Officer Ponce had also stopped and exited his vehicle. Officer Ryan knew that Officer Ponce was behind him, although he was not sure exactly where.  Hernandez-Martinez continued to advance towards Officer Ryan.[2]

Officer Ryan fired 4 shots from his department-issued Glock 17 handgun.  

At the time of the shooting, or almost immediately thereafter, two additional Woodburn Officers had arrived on scene.  All the officers provided immediate first aid once the scene was secure.  Despite the efforts of the officers and then emergency medical personnel, Hernandez-Martinez was pronounced deceased on scene.

Investigators from the Salem Police Department took over the scene to conduct an officer involved use of deadly force investigation. Pursuant to Marion County’s Officer Use of Deadly Force Protocol, a non-involved police agency must lead any investigation where law enforcement uses deadly physical force.    

The Woodburn Police Department issues body worn cameras to its officers. To be operable, the officers must first manually power on the camera and then manually set the camera to record before each interaction.[3]  Earlier that evening, Officer Ryan powered off his camera while inside the police department but failed to turn his camera back on upon leaving.  Thus, Officer Ryan’s camera failed to record additional interactions subsequent to leaving the station, including this incident.   Thus, there is no body worn camera from Officer Ryan’s body camera for this specific interaction.

Salem investigators confirmed that no other incidents were recorded after Officer Ryan turned off his camera until much later.  Additionally, investigators confirmed with the manufacturer that there were no recordings that could be recovered nor were any videos otherwise manipulated.

However, Officer Ponce did record a portion of the interaction with his body worn camera, capturing the incident immediately upon shots being fired. That recording was provided to the Grand Jury and is attached to this release.[4]  The investigation showed that at the time Officer Ryan fired his weapon, Hernandez-Martinez was approximately 17-20 feet from Officer Ryan.

A Family Service Coordinator from the Marion County District Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the Salem Police Department, contacted Hernandez-Martinez’s next-of-kin.

No other witnesses, bystanders or officers were injured during this incident.

Overall, the investigation showed that Officer Ryan fired four times.  At the time of firing his weapon, Hernandez-Martinez was approximately 22 feet from Officer Ryan.  Hernandez-Martinez was struck four times, twisting to the ground as he fell.  There was no evidence to suggest that the bullets were fired at close range.

On May 3^rd, 2026, Deputy State Medical Examiner Phillip Bennett conducted an autopsy and determined that Hernandez-Martinez died from multiple gunshot wounds. Based on Hernandez-Martinez’s twisting motion, the Grand Jury found that Hernandez-Martinez was first struck in the front and side of his torso and then two bullets entered his back, one through the shoulder and another closer to his back’s midline.  There was no immediate indication of intoxicating substances, however formal toxicology results remain pending.

In addition, law enforcement later recovered Hernandez-Martinez’s vehicle several hundred yards north of the incident, abandoned at another residence.  The vehicle’s windows had been smashed and the tire irons had been removed from the vehicle.

Hernandez-Martinez had four prior arrests. He had an active warrant for his arrest for a failure to appear in court for Strangulation-Domestic Violence probation violation[5], and had previously been convicted of Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants[6], Driving While Suspended[7], and Assault in the Fourth Degree and Disorderly Conduct[8].  None of his prior criminal history was presented to the Grand Jury.

Oregon Revised Statute 161.242 describes when a peace officer may use deadly physical force.  The Grand Jury applied the facts of this case to the legal principles dictating circumstances when deadly physical force can be used.  Specifically, the Grand Jury unanimously found that, under the totality of the circumstances known to Officer Ryan, he reasonably determined that the use of deadly physical force was necessary as:

• Israel Hernandez-Martinez had committed and attempted to commit the violent felony of Unlawful Use of a Weapon; and/or that,
• deadly physical force was necessary to defend a peace officer or another person from the use or threatened imminent use of deadly physical force;

and that

• under the totality of the circumstances existing at the time and place, the use of such force was justified.

The Grand Jury further found that all reasonable alternatives, such as verbal de-escalation, waiting, or using other available techniques or resources, weren’t feasible as Hernandez-Martinez was not responding to law enforcement’s attempts with a reasonable opportunity to comply. 

The Grand Jury's decision required reviewing all the facts and evidence available and applying them to the legal principles above.  Overall, the Grand Jury concluded that the actions of Officer Ryan were justified and lawful. 

After the Grand Jury’s determination, representatives from the Marion County District Attorney’s Office, including their Family Service Coordinator, met with representatives of Hernandez-Martinez’s family to explain the legal determination and answer any questions that they had.

Marion County Chief Deputy District Attorney Brendan Murphy stated, "I would like to thank the Grand Jury for their review of this dangerous situation. These incidents are often traumatic and difficult, so I appreciate the grand jury’s thorough examination.”

Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson added that, “This incident shows how quickly a routine police response can become deadly. I am thankful that Officers Ryan and Ponce are unharmed and were there to protect our community that day. To all our Law Enforcement in Marion County: We are grateful that you continue to protect and serve." She continued, “I further extend my condolences to Hernandez-Martinez’s family.”

Chief Deputy DA Brendan Murphy additionally stated that: “Despite having several incidents in the recent months, Marion County continues to fulfill the important requirements of the Marion County Use of Force Protocol with skill, integrity, and transparency.  Marion County’s process for community oversight into these challenging events remains an ideal model.”

The Marion County District Attorney’s Office would like to especially thank the Salem Police Department for their excellent investigation.  Additionally, the DA’s Office would like to thank all the law enforcement agencies who assisted in the resolution and investigation of this incident. 

The following items from the investigation can be located from the Google Drive link below:

• 911 calls of the incident (3)
• Photograph of Hernandez-Martinez’s tire iron(s) on his person;
• Radio traffic of the incident.
• Woodburn Police Officer Jesse Ponce’s body worn camera, redacted.
• Frame-by-frame exhibit of the body worn camera
• Redacted scene Overhead photo

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JHvWHTrChqQOPjoWQEcPhhpsXJZXDFJl?usp=drive_link

Chief Deputy District Attorney Brendan Murphy and Deputy District Attorney Braden Wolf presented the investigation to the Grand Jury.  Questions can be directed to BPMurphy@co.marion.or.us