Portland Police Arrest Salem Officer On Drug And Theft Charges

PORTLAND, OR – Two men – one of whom is a police officer in Salem – are under arrest, charged in connection with a series of crime related to burglaries and stolen property. Detectives had been following up on two burglaries where more than $30,000 worth of property had been taken.

Seth Thayres and James Cardenas are both charged with theft and possession of methamphetamine. Cardenas is also charged with burglary.

As they investigated, detectives determined that the two had sold stolen property related to one of the burglaries.

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Thayres is a Salem police officer – he was off-duty when arrested – who was hired from Florida in August 2014. Last October, he was placed on administrative leave by the Salem Police Department. Portland officials say that Thayres's leave was from an incident unrelated to their investigation.

He was booked into Multnomah County Jail on Thursday morning and later released on his own recognizance. Cardenas remains in jail.

Photo of Thayres via Portland Police.