Salem siblings arrested on assault charges

A Salem man and his sister were arrested in Sisters on assault and weapons charges on Tuesday, November 9, after a dispute over the ownership of a car.

According to sheriff's office reports, Stephanie Christensen, 28, and her brother Erik Christensen, 32, went to a rural residence east of Sisters to recover a 1990 Geo Storm that the younger Christensen claimed she owned.

Stephanie reportedly contacted the Sisters sheriff's station that afternoon to request deputies' assistance in recovering the vehicle. A deputy informed her that the matter was civil in nature and that the sheriff's office could not act as her agent.

According to sheriff's office reports, ownership of the vehicle was unclear from the paperwork Stephanie Christensen produced.

The Christensens reportedly drove to where the Geo Storm was located, where Stephanie allegedly entered the vehicle, threw items out of it and attempted to drive away. The man who lives at the residence reportedly tried to reach into the vehicle to remove the keys.

He said he was hit repeatedly by Stephanie Christensen and struck on the head from behind by Erik Christensen, according to police reports. The victim reported that Erik Christensen wielded a knife, which the victim grabbed, suffering a cut to his right hand.

The Christensens allegedly left the property, Stephanie driving the Geo Storm and Erik driving a Chevrolet Suburban.

Sheriff's deputies, responding to a reported theft and assault, stopped both vehicles on Highway 20 near Sisters.

Deputies found a .410 shotgun in the Suburban. Both Christensens denied assaulting the victim or using a weapon. They claimed that the alleged victim threw a rock at the driver's side window of the Geo as Stephanie drove away.

According to sheriff's office reports, the victim arrived on the scene in his vehicle. Deputies noted that he had a scraped knee, a cut on his right hand and a knot on the back of the head. He also had a knife with blood on it in his vehicle.

He was transported to St. Charles Medical Center for treatment, where it was discovered that he also had a broken foot, allegedly suffered when a car ran over it during the altercation.

Deputies ran a check on the Christensens, which allegedly flagged both Stephanie and Erik Christensen as convicted felons. Deputies arrested Stephanie on charges of third degree assault and being an ex-convict in possession of a firearm. Erik Christensen was arrested for second degree assault and being an ex-convict in possession of a firearm.

Both were taken to Deschutes County Jail and were released by Thursday, November 11.