Sheriff’s deputy allegedly slammed stepson’s head into wall

A Clackamas County sheriff’s patrol sergeant who lives in Vancouver allegedly slammed his stepson’s head into a wall, causing a facial fracture, according to court documents filed Friday.

Steven P. Hyson, 46, made his first appearance Friday in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of second-degree assault domestic violence. Judge John Wulle set bail at $30,000.

According to a Clark County sheriff’s investigator’s probable cause affidavit, the dispute occurred Tuesday evening at the east Vancouver home Hyson shares with his wife and three mutual children. Hyson’s 22-year-old stepson, Austin Brown-Oliver, told investigators the conflict arose when he questioned Hyson about why he wasn’t intervening when Hyson’s 12-year-old son was yelling at Hyson’s wife.

This led to an argument between Hyson and his stepson on the front porch of the home. Hyson reportedly ripped the stepson’s T-shirt and tried to provoke him to fight by saying “Go ahead and hit me” and “Are you a tough guy,” according to court documents.

“Austin said that as he attempted to walk away from Steven, Steven grabbed him by the head and shoulder and spun him into the side of the house,” according to the probable cause affidavit signed by sheriff’s Detective Todd Barsness.

Hyson’s wife called 911 and Brown-Oliver was treated at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center for a broken cheek bone.

Hyson turned himself into Clark County deputies Thursday afternoon.

At Hyson’s first appearance, Deputy Prosecutor Jennifer Nugent said there have been “multiple” emergency calls from the home and that Hyson has been arrested before on a domestic violence charge. That case — which alleged Hyson struck his wife with an orange — was ultimately dismissed in February 2008 because of insufficient evidence that a crime occurred.

Defense attorney Tom Phelan said Hyson was on administrative leave from his position at the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, pending the outcome of the criminal case.

The Oregonian reported that Hyson is the president of the union that represents Clackamas County sheriff’s deputies.

He will be arraigned May 15.

Laura McVicker: www.twitter.com/col_courts; www.facebook.com/reportermcvicker; laura.mcvicker@columbian.com; 360-735-4516.