Salem man sentenced for Applebee's machete incident

Lauren E Hernandez, Statesman Journal

Casey Duane Howe, 33, of Salem, was shot by a Salem police officer on Friday. He is being held on charges of attempted murder, menacing and unlawful use of a weapon.

A Salem man who threatened a Salem Police corporal with a machete outside of an Applebee's restaurant was sentenced to 10 years in prison, according to officials.

Casey Duane Howe, 34, pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated murder, unlawful use of a weapon and being a felon in possession of a restricted weapon months after he brandished a machete-like knife from his waistband, threatened police and was subsequently shot.

Salem Police Corporal Jake Pratt was responding to a report of a wanted person when he encountered Howe on the east side of the Applebee's Restaurant at 2625 Liberty St NE at 7:30 p.m. on January 13, according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

Howe had a warrant for his arrest at the time in Polk County related to charges of fourth-degree assault for domestic violence and harassment. He allegedly struck a woman using his own head around December 20, 2016, according to a Polk County information statement.

When Pratt approached him in the Applebee's parking lot, Howe pulled out the knife and said, "We're going to have some fun," and began walking toward the officer despite commands to stop and drop the knife.

Pratt fired three shots and struck Howe twice. Pratt was not injured.

A Marion County grand jury ruled in January Pratt was justified in using deadly force.

Howe was transported to Oregon Health and Oregon Health & Science University before getting sent to Marion County Jail.

Oregon State Police detectives later searched Howe's belongings and found a black machete-like knife with an 11-inch blade, more knives, stolen property, an electronic stun device and methamphetamine.

Howe was prohibited from possessing the stun device since he had previously been convicted of possessing methamphetamine in Deschutes County in 2013.

Judge Mary M. James sentenced Howe to 10 years in the Department of Corrections without the possibility of early release. After serving 10 years, Howe will be on post-prison supervision for 36 months.

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