The city attorney for both Talent and Jacksonville was arrested and charged with felony assault on his wife following a police investigation at their Ashland home April 28.

Ashland police, responding to a 9-1-1 call from the home, found injuries to Kurt Hans Knudsen's wife "were consistent with her being struck in the face" and that officers "had probable cause to believe this was the result of actions by Kurt Knudsen," said Ashland police Chief Mike Bianca.

"Testimonial evidence" of family members was "part of the probable cause," Bianca said. Present at the scene were the couple's children, aged 13 and 11, he added.

Knudsen was charged with fourth-degree felony assault and harassment and taken to Jackson County jail April 28, according to the Ashland police incident report file. He was released on bail. Bianca said people accused of such crimes are generally released on condition they not live with or approach the alleged victim.

Knudsen did not immediately return calls from the Mail Tribune seeking comment on the charges.

The city administrators and city councils of both Talent and Jacksonville held executive sessions on the matter this week, but details of such sessions are not public.

Talent City Administrator Betty Wheeler said she went over details of the arrest with the City Council Wednesday evening and that Knudsen, 49, retains his post and has not been put on leave.

Jacksonville Mayor Jim Lewis also said Knudsen remains as city attorney there and is not on leave, adding, "I know nothing about it and wouldn't tell you if I did."

Bianca said his officers went to the Knudsen home in the 600 block of Cascade Avenue and acted in accordance with the Domestic Violence Prevention Act, in that they are "not given any discretion" as to whether injuries came in some other way, as long as "injuries and statements are consistent with probable cause" that the incident resulted from domestic violence.

Educated at the University of California-Davis with a law degree granted in 1991 by Santa Clara University, Knudsen teaches "Legal Issues in Management" at Southern Oregon University and is general counsel for Ashland Community Hospital. His private practice is in business, real estate, employment and health-care law.

John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at jdarling@jeffnet.org.