OSP IDs Dallas Ore., gunman fatally shot by police

A 36-year-old Dallas, Oregon, man police were arresting on a drunk driving charge in the town’s Wal-Mart parking lot Friday evening resisted arrest and fired at least one shot, hitting an officer in the leg before he and another officer returned fire, fatally wounding him, Oregon State Police said Saturday.

OSP Captain Bill Fugate said Jeremiah N. Anderson was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting, which occurred shortly around 5:30 p.m. in Dallas, a small community 15 miles west of Salem.

OSP and other agencies worked through the night, processing the scene of the officer-involved shooting and interviewing witnesses, Fugate said.

A preliminary investigation found that Dallas police officers responded to a complaint of a man who appeared intoxicated in the Wal-Mart parking lot.

Officers attempted to take Anderson into custody on a DUII charge when he resisted arrest and fired as many as two rounds, striking Sergeant Rob Hatchell in the leg, Fugate said.

Hatchell and Officer Mike Fleming returned fire, striking Anderson. Fleming was unhurt, as was a third officer, Aaron Mollahan, who was present at the scene.

Hatchell was treated at an area hospital and released shortly afterward, Fugate said, adding that investigators located Anderson’s gun at the scene.

All three officers who were on the officer-involved shooting scene were placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, a standard protocol after such incidents, Fugate said.

OSP is leading the investigation at the request of Dallas Police Chief Tom Simpson and Polk County District Attorney Aaron Felton. They are being assisted by Grande Ronde Tribal Police, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Monmouth, Independence and Salem police departments and Dallas Fire and EMS. Fugate said other information will only be released with the approval of the DA’s office.