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@MCSOInTheKnow
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: January 28, 2023
CONTACT: Marion County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer | mcsopio@co.marion.or.us
Salem Police Communications Office | spdmedia@cityofsalem.net
Police Chiefs and Sheriff issue a statement to the residents of Marion County
regarding the death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee
We, as a law enforcement community in Marion County, find the actions of the police officers involved in the death of Tyre Nichols to be unconscionable. Collectively, we commend Memphis Police Chief Davis for acting quickly to hold those involved accountable.
We hold a deep respect for the sanctity of human life and basic human dignity. Inhumane acts deeply impact all who understand and hold true to the responsibilities of the badge we wear.
We affirm that excessive force is not tolerated by our agencies. Multiple layers of review and accountability are in place to ensure such heinous acts do not occur. Lack of dignity and respect toward those we serve simply run completely counter to who we are as individual officers and deputies and as your law enforcement leaders.
The honorable men and women who work to safeguard the residents of Marion County will continue to work diligently and with conviction to build positive and trusting relationships with all our residents.
Sheriff Joe Kast, Marion County Sheriff's Office
Chief Trevor Womack, Salem Police Department
Chief Jim Anglemeier, Silverton Police Department
Chief Mark Chase, Gervais Police Department
Chief Mark Daniel, Mount Angel Police Department
Chief Damien Flowers, Aumsville Police Department
Chief Gwen Johns, Stayton Police Department
Chief Martin Pilcher, Woodburn Police Department
Chief David Rash, Hubbard Police Department
Chief Don Taylor, Turner Police Department
Chief John Teague, Keizer Police Department
Marion County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the following information pursuant to ORS163A.215, which authorizes Community Corrections to inform the public when the release of information will enhance public safety and protection.
The individual who appears on this notification has been convicted of a sex offense that requires registration with the Sheriff’s Office. Additionally, this person’s criminal history places them in a classification level which reflects the potential to re-offend. This notification is not intended to increase fear; rather, it is our belief that an informed public is a safer public.
NAME: Murillo-Chavez, Miguel Angel
SID#: 20260200
DOB: 08/23/1992
CURRENT AGE: 30
RACE: H SEX: M
HEIGHT: 5' 04'' WEIGHT: 145 lbs
HAIR: BLK EYES: BRO
RESIDENCE: 170 17TH ST SE
Salem, OR 97301
Miguel Angel Murillo-Chavez is on Post Prison Supervision for the crimes of: Rape III, Online Sexual Corruption of a Child I, and Using a Child in a Dispay of Sexually Explicit Conduct.
This person was granted supervision on: 09/02/2022
Supervision expiration date is: 09/01/2025
Special restrictions include: [X] No contact with minors
[X] Do not go places where minors congregate
Other: Murillo-Chavez’s offending history consists of juvenile females known to him.
***Correction 2*** Date of original incident incorrectly listed as July 2023, date was July 2022
***Correction*** Cornwell is 43 years old
At shortly after 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 26, 2023, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team served a search warrant on S 7th Street near Greenwood Dr in Jefferson. The search warrant was in connection with an ongoing aggravated animal abuse investigation.
In July of 2022, deputies assigned to the City of Jefferson were called after a resident allegedly shot and killed their neighbor’s dog. Deputies identified the involved person as Jeremy Cornwell (41) of Jefferson. Since July, Cornwell’s family members have shared concerns for their safety due to his escalating behavior and his access to numerous firearms and other weapons.
This morning after assisting family members to safety from inside the residence, negotiators with the Sheriff’s Office began extensive efforts to get Cornwell to safely surrender. At approximately 8:30 a.m., Cornwell exited the shed he resides in on the property and safely surrendered to members of the SWAT team.
Investigators searching the shed recovered over 20 different weapons.
Cornwell has been lodged at the Marion County Jail for Aggravated Animal Abuse and Unlawful use of a Weapon. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday, January 27, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. at the Marion County Circuit Court Annex.
This investigation was coordinated by deputies assigned to the City of Jefferson. Marion County Sheriff’s Office is contracted to provide enhanced law enforcement services to the City of Jefferson. The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Woodburn Police Department for their assistance during this morning’s operation.
Please do not drive after midnight into the early morning hours. We have seen and are going to continue to see for several days to come extremely cold temperatures down around freezing, which is going to make conditions dangerous and unpredictable throughout Marion County roadways. Just last night since midnight we saw about 11 different crashes, some of which resulted in serious injury.
Here are a few safety tips for you if you have to drive in winter conditions:
Stay home, only go out if necessary.
Always wear your seatbelt.
Drive with your headlights on
Drive slowly
Accelerate and decelerate slowly
Increase your following distance to five to six seconds
Know your brakes
Don’t stop if you can avoid it.
Don’t power up hills
Don’t stop going up a hill
###
Deputies are asking for the public’s help in locating an Adult in Custody (AIC) who ran out of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Transition Center. Stephen Helmke, 34, around 3:34 p.m. today, Tuesday, January 10, 2023. Helmke was in custody for parole violation, original charge is felon in possession of a weapon.
Helmke is a white adult male. He is 6'02” tall and weighs 190 lbs. He was last seen wearing, Marion County blue jeans, orange shirt. When he ran out of the transition center, he got into a tan car and it left heading east on Aumsville Hwy SE.
The Marion County Transition Center prepares AICs for re-entry into the community prior to release from custody. AICs are allowed to leave the facility for pre-approved treatment or medical appointments.
Deputies are asking anyone with information about Helmke to call the Marion County Sheriff’s Office at 503-588-5032.
Raul Flores Ramirez, Jr. Age, 71, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 23, 2022.
Raul was recruited in 1969 by then Police Chief Robert Prinslow to the Woodburn Police Department because of his display of strong leadership skills in high school. The goal was to have Raul help strengthen community youth relations. Raul became the department’s first police cadet and was later hired as a part-time dispatcher, before he began his 34-year-long career in law enforcement.
Raul’s first law enforcement assignment was as a Juvenile Parole and Probation officer for Marion County. While serving in the Sheriff’s Office, he assumed increasing responsibilities, progressing from Corrections Officer, Deputy Sheriff, Corporal, Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and ultimately to Marion County Sheriff in 1997. Raul became the first Latino ever elected as Marion County Sheriff. He subsequently won two more elections, serving ten years before retiring in 2007 due to health issues. He championed community building, advocated for underrepresented populations, was named Oregon Sheriff of the Year in 2006, and in 2007 was the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association President.
A quote Raul was well known for leading with, “Children may not remember what you teach them but will always remember how you treat them.”
Beyond work, Raul enjoyed fishing, crabbing, woodworking, gardening, coaching youth athletics, kayaking with his wife and traveling with is family.
Sheriff Joe Kast said, “Raul was a mentor to many of us over the years, and his work at the Sheriff’s Office and in the criminal justice community is still reflected in the work we do and the way we do it today, years after he retired.”
Our condolences go out to the entire Ramirez family and friends. You will forever be in our hearts.