Fire Captain Faces Sex Abuse Charges In Washington County

SHERWOOD, OR — A Clark County, Washington, fire district captain was arraigned in Washington County today on charges of sex abuse and harassment. The allegations against Scott Michael Taube claim he "inappropriately touched" a firefighter he was training this past May at a Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue training facility southeast of Sherwood.

A Vancouver, Washington, resident, Taube, 52, was contracted by Washington County to train new emergency medical technicians at the TVF&R facility this past spring; he is not and was never a TVF&R employee, the agency said. The victim, a 24-year-old woman, filed a sex abuse complaint with the Washington County Sheriff's Office on July 30.

According to Clark County Fire District 6 Chief Jerry Green, Taube was placed on administrative leave pending not only the Washington County investigation but also an internal investigation within the fire district itself. Taube's charges, Green added, were unknown until his arraignment today.

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Investigators with Washington County Sheriff's Office by mid August obtained enough witness testimony corroborating the accusations to file a citation against Taube for misdemeanor sex abuse. Around the same date as when the citation was issued, Aug. 15, Green said he learned Taube's contract with Washington County had been pulled due to some issue currently under investigation.

Until Taube's arraignment on Sept. 11, Green reportedly didn't know why Taube was being investigated.

The accusation comes as a complete surprise, Green said, noting that Taube has been with Clark County Fire District 6 for the past 25 years and has never had a similar complaint filed against him.

Court documents obtained by Patch reveal the specific accusation alleges Taube grabbed the trainee's buttocks.

Taube has no other criminal history in Oregon.

The victim in this case, TVF&R spokeswoman Cassandra Ulven confirmed, did complete her training and is now employed by TVF&R.

Image via Washington County Sheriff's Office