Around 7:30 a.m. this morning, February 14, 2024, Judicial Security Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office contacted a male in a tent on the front porch of the Marion County Courthouse. The tent had been placed next to the front entrance of the building, where building visitors enter and proceed through security screening. The man told deputies he had a gun and refused to exit the tent.
The front entrance of the courthouse was placed on lockdown and law enforcement officers from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Salem Police, and Oregon State Police responded. A trained negotiator from the Sheriff’s Office was on scene and attempted to get the suspect to surrender peacefully. Ultimately, the suspect refused to surrender and was tased prior to being taken into custody. Fortunately, there were no injuries during this morning’s incident, though as a precaution the man was evaluated by medics at the scene. No firearm was recovered.
The man involved in this incident, James Allen Boyles (54) has been lodged at the Marion County Jail for charges including Menacing, Resisting Arrest, Disorderly Conduct, Obstructing Judicial Administration, and Trespass in the 2nd Degree. He is scheduled for arraignment on February 15th, 2024, at 2:30 p.m.
