Man arrested on multiple charges, including battery against police officer

By: 
Staff Writer Kate Wehlann

Warren Kaelin, 30, Salem, was arrested on several charges following an incident Wednesday evening, Nov. 27.

After noticing burnt-out back lights on Kaelin’s vehicle on Mulberry Street near Washington Boulevard, Salem Police Officer Chris Cauble attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Kaelin didn’t pull over. Cauble followed Kaelin, emergency lights on as Kaelin traveled onto Hackberry Street and past Walmart, committing still more traffic violations, including erratic driving that forced other drivers out of their lane, as he did so. When Kaelin eventually did pull over, he waited long enough for Cauble to get out of his own vehicle before driving off again.

Cauble followed and Kaelin eventually stopped in the middle of the roadway. Cauble pulled his vehicle sideways in front of Kaelin’s vehicle and another Salem officer, Tyler Gregory, pulled in behind Kaelin.

Kaelin, Cauble said in his report, exited his vehicle, “swaying in a circle” and grinning. Cauble said he could smell alcohol coming from the vehicle.

Cauble said Gregory put Kaelin in handcuffs and placed him in Cauble’s patrol vehicle. He said Kaelin began screaming and “making animalistic noises,” then laid back and appeared to be asleep when Cauble asked if he would consent to an alcohol test. He then sat up for a few minutes and asked what was going on. Cauble asked again if he would submit to an alcohol test and Kaelin agreed.

Once they arrived at St. Vincent-Salem Hospital, Kaelin became upset again, yelling and shouting profanities, refusing to answer doctor’s questions or sign the disclosure form.

After Cauble obtained a search warrant, he returned to the hospital to be told Kaelin had kicked the officers left with him and had also spit on them. While attempting to read the warrant to Kaelin, Cauble said Kaelin attempted to kick him, too, and eventually succeeded, along with spitting on him. Cauble said Kaelin continued to have verbal outbursts.

Lieutenant Russell Wilcoxson knew Kaelin from Prosser and arrived to attempt to calm him. When that failed, Wilcoxson applied a drive stun with his taser and Kaelin calmed and went to sleep.

Kaelin’s tests revealed a .269 alcohol level. When Kaelin was medically cleared, he was taken to the Washington County Justice Center. Cauble said he asked what was going on and appeared to have no memory of what had happened.

In Kaelin’s vehicle, officers found two prescription pill bottles made out to individuals other than Kaelen — one containing aprazolam and the other Latuda.

Kaelin was preliminarily charged with: resisting law enforcement by vehicle, disorderly conduct, battery by bodily waste, battery on a police officer, operating a vehicle while intoxicated and endangering a person, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated per se.

Category:

Please Login for Premium Content

Site Login Help

For current subscribers to The Salem Leader and The Salem Democrat, you can login to the site using the following information:

Username: Please use your full email address associated with your account
Password: Please use your last name. Passwords are case sensitive, so please capitalize your last name (eg: Smith)