On this day, May 5, 1903, James Beard, US culinary expert, author (Delights & Prejudices), was born in Portland, Ore.
Also on this day, May 5, 1945, A Japanese balloon bomb exploded on Gearhart Mountain in Oregon, killing Mrs. Elsie Mitchell, the pregnant wife of a minister, and five children after they attempted to drag it out the woods in Lakeview, Oregon. The balloon was armed, and exploded soon after they began tampering with it. They became the 1st and only known American civilians to be killed in the continental US during World War II.
Also on this day, May 5, 1945, Bly minister Archie Mitchell, his pregnant wife Elsie, and five children from Mitchell's Sunday school class were on a Saturday morning picnic. Thirteen miles northeast of Bly, or about sixty miles northeast of Klamath Falls, Mitchell parked the car, and Elsie and the children headed to Leonard Creek. Mitchell later remembered: "As I got out of the car to bring the lunch, the others were not far away and called to me they had found something that looked like a balloon. I heard of Japanese balloons so I shouted a warning not to touch it. But just then there was a big explosion. I ran up there--and they were all dead." It was a Japanese balloon bomb. They were 70 feet tall with a 33-foot diameter paper canopy connected to the main device by shroud lines. Balloons inflated with hydrogen followed the jet stream at an altitude of 30,000 feet.
Individuals can now check for missing documents
Salem Police patrol officers arrested Ross Benjamin Sierzega, a 33-year-old Salem man, without incident on multiple warrants stemming from a nearly two-year investigation by Felony Crimes Unit detectives into incidents of mail theft and related crimes in the Salem area. The Salem Felony Crimes Unit detectives finished sorting through all the documents seized as part of a lengthy mail theft investigation.
Following the arrest, a search warrant was served in partnership with the United States Postal Inspection Service at Sierzega’s apartment in the 3300 block of Crawford ST SE. The search of the dwelling resulted in the seizure of two lock cores from community mailboxes, several counterfeit mailbox keys and tools to manufacture the counterfeit keys, multiple checks, bank cards, and financial documents not in Sierzega’s name, and approximately 30 pounds of mail. In addition to the evidence collected, detectives seized a short-barreled shotgun and home-made body armor.
To help expedite the return of hundreds of personal documents to their rightful owners,
a webpage with information has been created. Residents who suspect they may have lost documents through theft can determine if they are on the list of individuals who can recover their property.
Things to know:
- The web address for the page is salempd.info/document-return.
- If your name is listed, complete the form to start the process of retrieving your property.
- Items must be picked up by the owner.
- The owner must present valid identification, such as your state-issued ID or driver license.
- You may pick up your property at the Salem Police Station, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The address is 333 Division ST NE.
- Additional instructions are available on the webpage.
All residents should note, any unopened mail collected as part of this investigation will be returned by the US Postmaster.
Any Salem residents who have been a victim of mail theft but have not yet reported it, should do so at
salempd.info/online-report. Theft of mail should also be reported to the US Postal Inspection Service
online or by calling 1-877-876-2455.
Detectives urge any victims of identity theft to visit the
Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft website, for helpful information and recommend an identity theft alert be registered with the three major consumer reporting companies,
Equifax,
Experian, and
TransUnion.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Sierzega is currently in custody of the US Marshals Service on federal charges related to this investigation. In addition to 11 outstanding Oregon warrants, Sierzega was charged with the following:
- Felon in possession of a firearm
- Unlawful possession of a short-barreled shotgun
- Felon in possession of body armor
- Identity theft
- Forgery, first-degree
- Criminal possession of a forged instrument, first-degree
- Possession of burglary tools
Sierzega will make his initial appearance in federal court March 26, on a federal warrant, which was based on charges of mail theft, aggravated identity theft, and bank fraud. Under US Code, manufacture of a counterfeit mail key carries a maximum sentence of 10 years upon conviction.
--Donna Bleiler| Post Date: 2024-03-28 18:51:25 | Last Update: 2024-03-29 00:00:46 |
