Bend man, stabbed by girlfriend, charged with assault

(Update: Adler arraigned, bail increased)

A Bend man was arrested Wednesday on assault and other charges, accused of trying to strangle his girlfriend during an argument near La Pine earlier in the week. Unable to break free, she pulled out a small knife and stabbed him several times in self-defense, causing serious injuries, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

An investigation determined that the suspect, Martin Douglas Adler, 53, lives with his 23-year-old girlfriend in Bend, sheriff’s Sgt. William Bailey said.

On Monday evening, the pair began arguing while they were in a silver 2017 Ford F-150 pickup truck in the area of Paulina Lake Road and Highway 97, north of La Pine, Bailey said.

The woman asked Adler to take her home, but he refused and drove her farther out Paulina Lake Road, as she tried to get away and get out of the pickup, Bailey said.

Adler allegedly stopped the truck and placed his hands around the woman’s neck and began strangling her. The woman was unable to breathe and tried several times to break free, Bailey said.

“Fearing for her life, the female removed a small knife from her pocket and stabbed Adler multiple times in self-defense,” Bailey said in a news release.

The woman then was able to get out of the pickup and flag down the first car she saw, whose driver let her call 911 and then drove her to the sheriff’s office substation in La Pine to meet deputies.

Adler was found by deputies at a home in La Pine, where they rendered first aid for his injuries and called in medics.. He was flown by AirLink helicopter to St. Charles Bend with serious injuries, Bailey said.

On Wednesday afternoon, detectives took Adler into custody on charges of coercion, misdemeanor strangulation and fourth-degree assault. He was booked into the county jail in Bend, where he remained Thursday, held on $20,000 bail that a judge raised to $50,000 at his initial arraignment. He’s due back in court Aug. 9 for arraignment on an expected formal indictment.

Bailey said the sheriff’s office was assisted by Oregon State Police, Sunriver police, the La Pine Rural Fire District and AirLink.