Man Accused of Smashing 70 Cars at Salem Dealerships Arrested and Tied to Montana Crimes

SALEM, Ore. — The Salem Police Department has confirmed that the suspect wanted for vandalizing vehicles at the Mercedes & Acura on September 11 and the BMW dealership a few days later has been arrested, but is sought for similar crimes in other states.

On September 11, 2025, a suspect was caught on video damaging approximately 35 vehicles, causing an estimated $55,000 in damage at the Salem Mercedes & Acura dealership on Commercial Street SE. On September 14, another 35 vehicles were damaged, resulting in an estimated $100,000 in damage at BMW of Salem on Van Ness Avenue NE.

Brian Del Werner, 32, of Kalispell, MT, who has a warrant out of Flathead County, Montana, where he is the suspect in a similar vandalism spree involving gunfire, was identified by the Felony Crimes Unit. He was arrested on September 15 by the Portland Police Bureau for DUII and other charges, as well as the Montana warrant.

Werner, who is awaiting extradition to Montana,  was interviewed at the Multnomah County Jail. He now faces several counts of Criminal Mischief in the First Degree in Marion County. At least 20 individual victims have been identified in addition to the dealership property.