PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Authorities are releasing more details about a fugitive from Montana who was arrested in Oregon earlier in September — alleging the suspect caused around $155,000 in damage at two Salem car dealerships.

The case goes back to Sept. 11, 2025, when Salem police responded to Mercedes & Acura of Salem on Commercial Street Southeast after a suspect was caught on video damaging around 35 vehicles, resulting in an estimated $55,000 in damage, the Salem Police Department announced Saturday.

Later, on Sept. 14, a similar incident happened at the BMW of Salem on Van Ness Avenue Northeast, where another 35 vehicles were vandalized, causing an estimated $100,000 in damage, authorities said, noting at least 20 individual victims have been identified in the case.

The suspect — identified as 53-year-old Brian Del Werner of Kalispell, Montana — was arrested the following day in Portland after a reported hit-and-run crash along Northeast Prescott Street.

Officers with the Portland Police Bureau responded to the crash at 2:10 p.m., when a woman told officers that her vehicle was struck by another vehicle and that the driver ran from the scene with his dog.

Probable cause documents note that an officer found an unoccupied grey Range Rover on the curb with damage to the left front wheel and bumper along with an empty liquor bottle in the cupholder.

The woman told police that before the crash, it “looked like (Del Werner) was driving into her lane,” as she was driving westbound on Prescott while Del Werner was driving eastbound, court documents claim, noting a witness to the crash reported seeing Del Werner hiding behind a shed along Prescott with his dog after the hit-and-run.

Probable cause documents claim that Del Werner did not initially respond to officers requests to come out from behind the shed, but officers later made contact with the suspect after getting the dog to leave him.

Del Werner told officers he took four dog pills and drank four bottles of whiskey, court documents claim, noting the suspect would fall asleep while talking to one of the officers on scene.

After first responders transported Del Werner to the hospital, the suspect told hospital staff that he took multiple shots of whiskey, with the hospital later reporting Del Werner’s Blood Alcohol Content at .185, while the legal limit is 0.08.

Del Werner was later lodged in Multnomah County Jail for several charges including, DUII, reckless driving, failure to perform the duties of a driver and criminal mischief.

During his arrest, Portland police discovered that Del Werner had a warrant for his arrest out of Montana, where he is suspected of a “vandalism spree involving gunfire,” authorities said.

According to Kalispell police, Del Werner is wanted in connection with multiple incidents of gunfire and criminal mischief that occurred late in the evening of September 7 into the early morning hours of September 8.

Kalispell Police Department said Del Werner is suspected of vandalizing more than 20 vehicles, slashing tires and firing a gun multiple times in populated areas of the city. Authorities said at least two buildings and one vehicle were struck by the gunfire, noting no injuries were reported.

KPD said officers executed multiple search warrants, reviewed hours of surveillance footage, collected biological evidence and seized a vehicle along with numerous guns during the investigation.

As of Sept. 22, Del Werner is awaiting extradition to Montana and will now face multiple counts of first-degree criminal mischief in Marion County.

Victims in the case are asked to contact Salem police via this link.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.