A Salem police dog turned a tense robbery report in the Costco parking lot into a quick arrest Friday afternoon, sending officers into a fast-moving search around the state fairgrounds and briefly placing two nearby schools on lockdown. Police later confirmed there was no active threat to students or staff.
Shortly after noon, officers responded to reports of a robbery in the Costco parking lot near the state fairgrounds and later located the suspect’s vehicle, according to KATU. A police canine search covered the area near Silverton and Portland roads and along Fairgrounds Road Northeast before officers took a person into custody. Detectives from the Violent Crimes Unit and the Felony Crimes Unit were assigned to the case.
How the K9 Search Played Out
Salem’s K9 teams train specifically for suspect and missing-person searches and are routinely used to track people in the field. The department publishes press releases about the K9 program through the FlashAlert Newswire, detailing funding and training for the unit, according to the Salem Police Department.
Schools Locked Down As A Precaution
Highland Elementary and St. Vincent School were placed into lockdown while officers searched the area, a move police described as precautionary. Authorities told reporters there was no active threat to students or staff, and normal operations resumed once officers had secured the scene, per KATU…