Theft Suspects in Stolen Vehicle Arrested in Salem

Left : William Farris Right : Michael Sparks PHOTO: Salem Police Department

(SALEM, Ore.) - Just before noon today, an alert motorist called the Salem Police to report he had observed two males in a silver Mitsubishi northbound on Liberty St NE from Hood St and that the passenger was wearing gloves and looking through a woman's purse. The motorist provided the call taker with the license plate number.

Officers responding to the area ran a check on the vehicle and determined that it had been reported stolen yesterday afternoon from south Salem. Ten minutes after hearing the call, Officer John Manitsas spotted the stolen vehicle driving through the parking lot of Fred Meyer, 2855 Broadway St NE, occupied by two males.

Officer Manitsas followed the vehicle when it departed the parking lot proceeding southbound on Broadway. When the stolen vehicle got stuck in traffic because of a red light at the Salem Parkway, Officer Dan Olander seized the opportunity to block them in preventing an elude.

Taken into custody without incident were William Farris, 31 years of age from Stayton; and Michael Sparks, 35 years of age from Independence. Both have been charged with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, and have been lodged at the Marion County Correctional Facility.

Numerous items of stolen property from apparent car prowls were recovered from the stolen vehicle. Detectives are in the process of contacting those victims and additional charges are forthcoming.