La Grande man arrested on assault charge following domestic dispute
By Garrett Christensen on Friday, January 26th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – On Wednesday, January 24, 2024, just before 9:00 p.m., La Grande Police Officers responded to a domestic violence call on Jefferson Avenue. The female caller reported that she’d been assaulted with a “bat”, as it was described at the time, and that she was bleeding.
Upon arrival, officers contacted both the caller and the reported assailant. Officers confirmed the victim was bleeding from a wound on the back of her head, matching the original description of the attack. The assailant was identified as Nicholaus Devine, a 60-year-old La Grande resident. The victim stated Devine was her ex-husband, though the two still lived together despite being divorced.
As for the incident itself, the victim told police that she and Devine had gotten into an argument when Devine struck her with a piece of wood. At the time of contact, Devine had a wooden hammer handle in his back pocket that the victim claimed was the object she’d been attacked with. While on scene, officers also confirmed that Devine was a convicted felon and in possession of a firearm. The firearm in question (left in plain view at the residence) was not in any way used during the incident but was still prohibited for Devine to own. Devine was ultimately arrested and charged with Assault II- Domestic Violence and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Medical personnel also arrived on scene to treat the victim for non-life-threatening injuries, though she refused medical transport.
