Armed Crook County man tasered, arrested in assault on wife

A woman’s report that she was violently assaulted and seriously injured by her heavily armed husband at their home southeast of Prineville brought out Central Oregon’s SWAT team and a heavy police presence Friday night, and it took the use of a Taser to subdue and arrest the 50-year-old man, officials said.

The Crook County Sheriff’s Office got the woman’s report shortly after 3 p.m. Friday that she had been assaulted by her husband, Todd Anthony Culver, at their home on Southeast Southwood Drive, south of Davis Loop Road, said Sheriff John Gautney.

The woman had received some serious injuries and was taken to St. Charles Prineville for treatment, Gautney said, adding that the injuries were not life-threatening and she was not admitted.

It was reported that during an argument over an incident that occurred New Year’s Eve, Culver had thrown his wife to the floor, struck her numerous times and then choked her, the sheriff said. The assault occurred over about two hours, during which Culver reportedly tried to rape the woman and assaulted her sexually and physically, he said.

Culver reportedly had a shotgun and threatened his wife, according to Gautney, who added, “He reportedly told his wife to call the police, and when they arrive he would shoot them as well.”

“It was believed Culver had numerous weapons near the windows of the residence and was prepared to engage law enforcement when they arrived,” the sheriff said in a news release.

“Because of the high likelihood of a violent response if Culver was contacted,” Gautney said, the sheriff’s office supervisor requested the assistance of the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team. The Oregon State Police Tactical Unit also responded to assist.

A search warrant was obtained for the home, and a perimeter was set up around the home while CERT negotiators tried to make contact with Culver.

Shortly after 11:30 p.m., they were finally able to get Culver to come out of the home, but “he was not cooperative with law enforcement and would not follow their commands,” Gautney said.

When the CERT team tried to take Culver into custody, he resisted arrest and a Taser eventually was deployed, the sheriff said.

Culver was taken into custody and first taken to the Prineville hospital for evaluation, then to the county jail. He later was moved to the Jefferson County Jail in Madras, where Crook County rents beds due to lack of space, “due to his threats to local law enforcement, Gautney said.

The search warrant was executed at Culver’s home after his arrest. The sheriff told NewsChannel 21 Saturday morning that “numerous firearms and other evidence” were seized at the home. He also said alcohol “was definitely a factor” in the incident.

The initial charges against Culver include first-degree kidnap, fourth-degree sexual assault (domestic abuse), strangulation, first-degree attempted rape, first-degree unlawful sexual penetration, first-degree sex abuse, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, harassment, pointing a firearm at another, third-degree criminal mischief and resisting arrest. His bail totaled $450,000, according to jail records.

Along with the CERT Team and OSP, the sheriff’s office was assisted by Prineville police and the Crook County District Attorney’s Office, Gautney said.