Couple Says Arrest Violated Their Rights They Were Shouting At Horse, Not Each Other, They Say

A couple says their threats to kill a young stallion, not each other, are what prompted a domestic abuse report to Benton County sheriff’s deputies.

Carol and Michael Saslow are suing the sheriff’s department for wrongly entering their rural home and arresting her. Michael Saslow alleges civil rights violations, while his wife alleges malicious prosecution and unreasonable use of force in arresting her. Together, they are seeking $200,000 from the sheriff’s office and deputies Steve Steinberg and Dean Reynolds.

“This whole incident had nothing to do with anyone hitting anyone else,” Michael Saslow said. “It had to do with two horse trainers dealing with an outrageously behaving 2-year-old stallion.”

The charge against Carol Saslow eventually was dropped, and the couple had the charge expunged from her record. That closed access to police reports and the 911 call that brought the deputies to the Saslows’ home on May 29. Sheriff Stan Robson said he could not comment on the case because the record has been expunged.

Michael Saslow said the person who called 911 thought he or she had heard someone threatening to kill someone. He says the caller has harassed him in the past, and that deputies should have investigated that person’s motives before responding.

When the deputies arrived, both Carol and Michael Saslow had bruises, but “people on ranches have bruises all the time” from working with animals, he said.

Michael Saslow says deputies tried browbeating his wife into accusing him of striking her, and ignored the couple’s statements that they didn’t want each other arrested.

Oregon’s Family Abuse Prevention Act requires police to make an arrest in domestic assault cases.

The sheriff’s office and the county district attorney’s office have determined that both deputies did not violate any policies, nor did they act illegally or unprofessionally.