Police said the suspect was arrested a short time later without incident.
SALEM, Ore. — A Salem man was arrested Friday after police said he hit a woman in the head with what appeared to be a handgun and stole her fanny pack in a Costco parking lot. Officers from several agencies helped track down the suspect after a brief pursuit ended with an abandoned car on Portland Road NE, police said.
The arrest came the same day as the reported attack and theft, and police said the victim suffered significant injuries to her head and face. Authorities later said the gun located during the search was a realistic-looking pellet gun. The suspect, Jorge Reyes-Suarez, 45, was booked into the Marion County Jail on robbery and assault allegations, while state police said an additional charge tied to the pursuit was expected.
Police said officers were called about 12:06 p.m. Friday to the Costco in the 4800 block of 27th Avenue SE. When they arrived, they found a woman bleeding in the parking lot with what police described as an obvious head injury. She told officers she had put her purchases into her vehicle and had returned her shopping cart when an unknown man approached her with a handgun and assaulted her, police said. The suspect took her fanny pack, according to investigators. Police said the attacker struck her in the head with the gun during the incident. Salem Fire medics transported her to Salem Hospital for treatment of injuries police described as significant.
According to police, nearby community members tried to intervene, but the suspect ran and drove away in a white Toyota Corolla. Dispatchers shared the suspect and vehicle description with surrounding agencies, police said, and Oregon State Police soon located the Corolla. Authorities described what happened next as a brief pursuit. Officers later found the vehicle unoccupied in the 2600 block of Portland Road NE, police said. With the car empty, police said a multi-agency team set up a perimeter and began a canine track to search for the driver and any evidence left behind.
Police said the dog team located what looked like a handgun during the track. Investigators later determined it was a realistic-looking pellet gun, police said. Authorities did not describe whether the pellet gun was loaded or whether it was displayed in a way that made it appear real to the victim and witnesses. Police also did not say whether other weapons were recovered. Investigators have not publicly detailed the condition of the victim after she arrived at the hospital, and officials did not release her name. Police have not said whether they believe the suspect targeted her specifically or whether it was a crime of opportunity in the lot.
A Salem police officer later saw a man walking from the direction of the vehicle who matched the suspect description, police said. The officer arrested the man without incident and took him to the police station, according to the department. Police identified him as Jorge Reyes-Suarez, 45, of Salem. He was lodged at the Marion County Jail on multiple charges, including first-degree robbery and first-degree assault, police said. Oregon State Police were expected to file a felony attempt to elude charge related to the pursuit, according to Salem Police.
Investigators have not said whether the fanny pack or its contents were recovered or whether surveillance video captured the assault or the getaway. Police also have not released the suspect description beyond the identification made after the arrest, and they did not say how the victim and witnesses described the attacker at the time. Authorities have not released information on possible court dates, including an arraignment or bail hearing, and they did not identify a prosecutor assigned to the case. Police said the investigation involved Salem Police, Keizer Police, Oregon State Police and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
The department’s statement included thanks to partner agencies for helping locate the car and support the perimeter and dog track that led to the arrest. Police did not describe any damage from the pursuit or whether any collisions occurred. Officials have not said whether the suspect made statements to investigators after his arrest. The next steps are expected to include review by prosecutors, the filing of state charges tied to the pursuit and early court hearings where formal accusations are read and conditions of release are set.
By Monday, police had not announced additional arrests, and the case remained focused on the single suspect as investigators continued to document the victim’s injuries and prepare reports for prosecutors.
Author note: Last updated February 9, 2026.