Last Friday, a Salem man flashed a gun in the street and resisted police for about two hours, according to officials.
Mark Arthur Coutis, 55, is expected to be charged with unauthorized use of a weapon, stalking, and menacing. According to a statement from the Salem Police Department, he was also taken into custody on two pending warrants, one of which was for unlawful firearm possession.
Around 7:30 p.m., officers responded to calls that a man was shouting and brandishing a firearm in the 1500 block of Northwest Ruge Street in Salem, according to the police.
However, Coutis left the site before police could arrive, and they later found him and attempted to arrest him. This led to a standoff that ended when a crisis negotiator persuaded him to turn himself up, according to police. The location of the standoff and whether he was still carrying a weapon at the time of the altercation were not disclosed by the police.
Six firearms, including multiple rifles, were taken from Coutis’ residence by officers, according to the police.
According to court documents, Coutis was already facing accusations of unlawful possession of a firearm for an event that occurred in 2024. When he did to appear for a trial that was set for November 2024, the court issued a warrant for his arrest.
Crime, public safety, and local news are all topics covered by breaking news reporter Tatum Todd. You can contact them at 503-221-4313 or [email protected].
