Update – The Salem Police Department announced that the suspicious death was ruled a homicide and a suspect is now in custody. According to SPD, detectives arrested a California man for his alleged role in the death of a Salem resident in his apartment on Saturday morning.

SPD says the victim, Kristopher Douglas Stokes, was found deceased inside his dwelling after firefighters responded to a blaze at the apartment building.

The State Medical Examiner’s Office’s autopsy determined that the victim died as a result of a homicide. Authorities say 45-year-old David James Damon Alexander was spotted in the 700 block of Commercial Street NE by an SPD officer.

Alexander was taken into custody without incident. He is currently being lodged at the Marion County Jail on charges of Second-Degree Murder and Third-Degree Robbery.

Original – The Salem Police Department is investigating a suspicious death following an apartment fire on Saturday. SPD says its detectives are investigating the death of a Salem man in a fire at a residential apartment building.

Around 2:45 a.m. on Saturday, SPD officers and firefighters responded to an apartment fire in the 1100 block of Chemeketa Street Northeast.

Police say a 38-year-old man was found deceased in one of the units. According to SPD, the suspicious nature of the victim’s death and the origin of the fire has led to a suspicious death investigation.

SPD says the fire is being investigating with the Salem Fire Department.