SALEM, Ore. (KOIN) – The burglary suspects scared off by a teenager in her home were let out of the Marion County Jail because the jail was temporarily full.
Jestahn Jackson and Tiffany Wicke were arrested in their car on Skyline Road South after allegedly fleeing from the home in rural Salem when an 18-year-old screamed, “Get out of my house!”
The sheriff’s office said it doesn’t happen often, but Thursday night the jail reached capacity. Deputies told KOIN 6 News they usually have enough jail beds to meet demand, but there was an unusual number of new arrests Thursday.
To keep high level offenders behind bars – like those accused of hurting someone – the Marion County Sheriff’s Office followed policy and released Jackson and Wicke with a court date and orders not to have contact with the victim, Lt. Chris Baldridge with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office told KOIN 6 News.
He acknowledged the teen and her family are scared over the entire incident and said the sheriff’s office has been in touch with them. They’ve spoken with the teen, given her some safety tips and asked for extra patrols through the weekend to make sure the suspects do not come back.
“Additionally I’ve asked our threat assessment team to create an informational flyer that will be distributed to our patrol deputies so they have all the information in case those folks do end up back in that area,” Baldridge said.
Still, the family told KOIN 6 News they are uneasy knowing the suspects are out of jail. They’re asking the public to keep an eye out for anything unusual.
KOIN 6 News asked the Marion County Sheriff’s Office if they feel like they need more funding for more jail beds. They said no, and added they’re usually below capacity.
They are also focused on community-based monitoring for low-level offenders.