Salem man who had 47 arrests gets 12 years after robbing driver and crashing stolen car

SALEM, Ore. (KPTV) – A Salem man was sentenced Friday to 12 1/2 years in prison for kidnapping, multiple counts of robbery and carjacking, Marion Co. reports. Dist. Prosecutor’s Office

A Marion County jury on Tuesday found Christopher Cortez Tolbert guilty of first-degree robbery, second-degree kidnapping and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in connection with the February 2024 case. Tolbert also pleaded guilty to fleeing a police officer, fleeing an accident and resisting arrest.

According to the prosecutor’s office, the victim was driving through Salem on the night of February 9, 2024. When the victim stopped his car at a stop sign, 32-year-old Tolbert climbed into the passenger door. Tolbert pointed a screwdriver at the victim and told him to “Go.”

The victim said he drove Tolbert around Salem for 10 to 15 minutes before Tolbert forced the victim to stop and change seats. While Tolbert was driving the vehicle, the victim asked Tolbert to let him go, but Tolbert refused.

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The victim said Tolbert had a screwdriver in his hand the entire time he was driving.

A couple of hours later, Tolbert drove the victim to Polk County near the Premier RV Resort, where he demanded the victim give him $3,000.

The victim refused.

Tolbert broke the victim’s phone and took the victim’s necklace, wallet and documents before allowing him to leave.

The victim found the “Premier RV” night guard, who called the police.

A short time later, two Keizer police officers attempted to stop Tolbert, but he sped off in the victim’s car. While police were chasing him, Tolbert lost control of the car and crashed into another car. He then tried to flee on foot, but was caught and arrested about an hour after the victim first contacted police.

About an hour later, Tolbert was arrested by the Salem Police Department after speeding away from two Keizer police officers in the victim’s car.

Police said Tolbert was resisting arrest when he was caught, and officers also said they found the victim’s ID in Tolbert’s pocket and a screwdriver in his backpack.

After Tolbert’s sentencing Tuesday in the February 2024 case, Marion County District Court Judge Audrey Broyles sentenced Tolbert to 90 months in prison on Friday.

Tolbert also received an additional 61 months for separate counts of third-degree robbery, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and fleeing a police officer, the DA’s office said.

At the time of his arrest, Tolbert had been arrested 47 times and had several criminal records.