Polk County, OR – A Salem man was arrested early Friday after deputies say gunfire was reported from a moving vehicle on Highway 22 near Rickreall Road.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred around 2:45 a.m. on October 24, 2025, when a deputy monitoring traffic heard five to eight gunshots coming from an eastbound vehicle. The deputy, parked along the north side of Highway 22, initially believed the shots were being fired in his direction.
Because of the concrete median, the deputy had to travel a short distance to catch up to the vehicle, following it cautiously while waiting for backup units from the Salem Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect’s vehicle did not attempt to flee and maintained normal highway speeds before pulling into a Chevron gas station on Salem Dallas Highway.
A high-risk traffic stop was then conducted, detaining two occupants. Investigators later determined the deputy’s location coincidentally placed him across from where the suspect allegedly fired rounds out the vehicle window, though the shots were aimed south, not toward the deputy.
Michael D. Benson, 58, of Salem, was arrested and booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of Felon in Possession of a Weapon and Unlawful Use of a Weapon, authorities said. No injuries were reported.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office thanked neighboring agencies for their assistance during the arrest.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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