PRECISION POLICEWORK LEADS TO ARREST AND SEIZURE OF FIREARMS AND DRUGS

Salem Police Dept.

SALEM, Ore. — On January 25, 2026, Salem Police officers arrested Jose Antonio Sandoval-Chavez, 43, of Salem, in connection with a domestic violence robbery and assault that occurred the previous day at a motel on Portland Road NE. 

 

On January 24, officers responded to a report that Sandoval-Chavez had assaulted his girlfriend in front of her two young children, stolen her cell phone, and fled in her maroon GMC Yukon. Sandoval-Chavez was reportedly armed with multiple firearms and had made threats to harm both the victim and law enforcement, if confronted. 

 

The following day, Sandoval-Chavez returned to the location. He fled the area before officers arrived, but officers established a perimeter and located him outside an apartment on Hawthorne Avenue NE, where he was safely taken into custody. 

 

During his arrest, Sandoval-Chavez was found in possession of cocaine, methamphetamine, brass knuckles, ammunition, and more than $6,000 in cash. At the time of his arrest, Sandoval-Chavez told officers he had swallowed several bags of fentanyl. He was brought to the Salem Hospital, cleared and released for transport to the Marion County Jail. 

 

Violent Crimes Unit detectives later executed a search warrant on the Yukon and recovered seven handguns, one short-barreled shotgun, numerous rounds of ammunition, approximately 7.4 ounces of suspected fentanyl powder and pills, packaging materials, scales, and other firearm-related items. Items stolen from the victim and her children were also recovered. 

 

Sandoval-Chavez was lodged on the following charges: 

• Robbery in the Third Degree 

• Assault in the Fourth Degree (Felony) 

• Menacing 

• Theft in the First Degree 

• Felon in Possession of a Firearm 

• Unlawful Delivery of Cocaine and Methamphetamine 

• Felon in Possession of a Restricted Weapon 

 

Additional charges may be filed pending further investigation and evidence processing. 

 

Sandoval-Chavez is scheduled to be arraigned at 2:30 p.m. at the Marion County Annex, located at 4000 Aumsville Highway.