Armed Robbery at Salem Costco Leads to Arrest of Jorge Reyes-Suarez
SALEM, Ore. — A man is in custody following an armed robbery Friday at a Costco in Southeast Salem, police said. The victim, a woman, sustained a head injury during the incident and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
According to the Salem Police Department, officers responded to a report of the robbery at approximately 12:06 p.m. At the Costco located in the 4800 block of 27th Avenue SE. Upon arrival, officers found the woman bleeding from a head injury. She told police she had just placed her items into her vehicle and returned her shopping cart when an unknown man brandishing a handgun assaulted her and stole her fanny pack.
The woman was reportedly struck in the head with the handgun during the assault. Community members attempted to intervene, but the suspect fled the scene in a white Toyota Corolla.
With assistance from dispatch broadcasting information to surrounding agencies, the Oregon State Police located the vehicle. After a brief pursuit, officers discovered the Corolla unoccupied in the 2600 block of Portland Road NE, approximately 13 miles from the Costco.
A multi-agency perimeter was established, involving officers from the Salem Police Department, Keizer Police, Oregon State Police, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. A canine unit tracked the suspect, leading to the discovery of what appeared to be a handgun. Police later determined the weapon to be a realistic-looking pellet gun.
During the search, Highland Elementary and St. Vincent School were placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure due to their proximity to the perimeter.
The suspect, identified as Jorge Reyes-Suarez, 45, of Salem, was eventually spotted walking away from the vehicle and was arrested without incident. He was taken into custody and booked into the Marion County Jail on charges of first-degree robbery and first-degree assault.
Oregon State Police plans to file additional charges against Reyes-Suarez for felony attempting to elude, according to Salem police.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not released further details regarding the victim’s condition or potential motives for the robbery.
