A 43-year-old Salem man, identified as Jose Sandoval-Chavez, was taken into custody by Salem police after authorities say he assaulted his girlfriend at a local motel in front of her children and stole her phone. The arrest came a day after the reported attack, according to information provided by the Salem Police Department and summarized in KOIN 6 News.

When police apprehended Sandoval-Chavez, he reportedly attempted to evade arrest and later ingested several bags of fentanyl in an apparent effort to conceal evidence. He was quickly transferred to a hospital for medical treatment and is now held at the Marion County Jail. Charges against him include third-degree robbery, fourth-degree assault, first-degree theft, and menacing.

This case underscores a broader and troubling intersection of domestic violence, addiction, and illicit drug use — one that affects communities throughout the Pacific Northwest, including Cowlitz County. Law enforcement, medical responders, and social service agencies in southwest Washington continue to report rising encounters with fentanyl-related emergencies and escalating incidents of intimate partner violence.

As local prevention programs in Longview and Kelso struggle with underfunding and staffing shortages, stories like this serve as stark reminders of the urgent need for community-based interventions that prioritize both survivor safety and rehabilitation over punitive escalation. Addressing these dual crises — addiction and violence — requires sustained investment, not just reactionary law enforcement measures.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence in Cowlitz County, you can contact the Emergency Support Shelter in Longview at (360) 425-1176 for confidential assistance.