Salem Police need help from the public identifying a subject who was reported as behaving in a suspicious manner at Wal-Mart on Commercial St SE.
On January 10, 2019, a male individual approached a woman in the store asking for help. Grasping onto the woman, the subject attempted to lead the woman to his vehicle. The woman was able to remove herself from the situation with the help of store employees who intervened after she made eye contact with them.
The victim and witnesses report the suspect as an adult male, average height, and stocky build. He was driving a 2000’s green truck without license plates. The exact vehicle make and model are unknown.
The department is asking for the community’s help in locating the suspect. Anyone with information about him or his identity should call the Salem Police Tips Line at 503-588-8477.
Salem Police investigators remind all residents to always be aware of their surroundings and to trust your instincts should you find yourself in a suspicious circumstance. “The victim in this instance did a great job of drawing attention to herself to get assistance,” said Public Information Officer LT. Treven Upkes. “If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Never be embarrassed to cause a ruckus to get the attention of others for assistance.”
“Please report any and all suspicious activity to the police department,” concluded Upkes. Residents should call or text 911 as appropriate, or call the police non-emergency line at 503-588-6123.