Deputy allegedly slammed stepson’s head into wall

A Clackamas County sheriff’s deputy 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.

The dispute allegedly 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.

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 sheriff’s Detective Todd Barsness.

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

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.