Salem Standoff Ends with Arrest of Armed Man After Two-Hour Negotiation

Officers from the Salem Police Department responding to a report received at about 7.30 p.m. on February 14 of an armed man standing in the street in the 1500 block of Ruge ST NW yelling and brandishing a handgun arrested 55-year-old Mark Arthur Coutis of Salem after a brief standoff.

Coutis fled before the police arrived, but officers contacted him soon after. He refused to exit, but after almost two hours of negotiations with a trained crisis negotiator, Coutis surrendered. Officers seized six firearms from Coutis’ residence.

Weapons seized
Weapons seized | Salem Police Dept. Photo

Coutis was arrested and is currently lodged at the Polk County Jail on charges of stalking, menacing, and unlawful use of a weapon, as well as two outstanding warrants in other unrelated cases.

Police indicated that further inquiries into the case must be directed to the Polk County District Attorney’s Office.

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