Oregon bomb suspect is arrested

But authorities declined to release the identity of the suspect or the circumstances of the arrest until Monday afternoon, saying only that the suspect was detained Sunday evening in the area of the Oregon capital of Salem.

"Due to the need to protect the integrity of the investigation and the safety of officers continuing to investigate this crime, the Marion County district attorney's office has directed the suspect's name, investigative and arrest details withheld at this time," the Marion County Sheriff's Department said in a statement.

No motive for the bombing has been revealed, but authorities shortly before the arrest announcement released photos of a 30- to 40-year-old bearded man "believed associated with key events" in the case. Authorities said then that at least one subject of the investigation was in Bend, Ore., and purchased cellphones and other items believed to have been used in manufacturing the explosive device in late November.

Police said the same subject was also believed to have "taken actions in furtherance of his plan" on Thursday and Friday in Salem, and in Woodburn, where the explosion occurred. "The arrest was the result of an intensive round-the-clock investigation by an interagency task force comprised of federal, state, county and city public safety agencies," Ross Isham, Marion County sheriff, said in a statement. "We know there is still a lot of hard work ahead of us, but this development will help bring relief to the local communities and the officers' families."

A Wells Fargo Bank branch in Woodburn, a town of 22,000 between Portland and Salem, received a threaten by phone Friday morning, prompting an evacuation of the bank.

Officers found a device at the bank but determined it was not dangerous. Another suspicious device was found outside West Coast Bank, next door to the Wells Fargo branch.

That bank was evacuated, and the device was moved inside, where it exploded at 5:24 p.m. Authorities have not explained why the device was brought in.

The explosion killed Woodburn Police Capt. Tom Tennant, 51, a 28-year veteran of the police department, and Oregon State Trooper William Hakim, also 51, a bomb disposal expert. Police chief Scott Russell, 46, was critically injured. Police were offering a $35,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Police set up a tip line at (888) 780-5678.

Murphy is a Times staff writer.

kim.murphy@latimes.com