Charges filed in assault involving firearms

Hot Springs County Sheriff's Deputies were called to the scene of two separate incidents in the county involving firearms.

On Friday, April 8 at around 5:34 p.m. Deputy Daniel Eggli with the Hot Springs County Sheriff’s Office responded to 1289 Jeffs Road for an incident involving a firearm. Eggli requested further backup from deputies Shawn Milek and Jerimie Kraushaar.

Upon investigation, it was discovered Harlan Saltz had stopped Benjamin (Terry) Tonn on Jeffs road and argued about Tonn’s dog attacking his dog. Saltz allegedly began assaulting Tonn with a baton, and Tonn retrieved a gun with which to defend himself. Saltz’s wife, Katherine, had a gun on Tonn as well.

After the fight de-escalated, Tonn fired a shot in the ground, though Harlan fired a shot in Tonn’s direction.

Both Harlan and Katherine were arrested; Harlan was charged with two counts of alleged aggravated assault and Katherine was charged with one count of aggravated assault. According to the Hot Springs County Detention Center jail roster, both were out on Monday.

On Monday, Deputy Kraushaar responded to two incidents on Kirby Creek Road. At 1:26 p.m., he received a call from Sheldon Skelton, who reported he had an altercation with someone in a red sport utility vehicle with Casper plates, whom Skelton said pulled a gun on him.

At 3:38 p.m. Kraushaar was contacted by the SUV driver — identified as Eli Miller — who reported a similar story, but with Skelton pulling the gun on him and firing two rounds in his direction. The deputies investigated the allegations and found Miller's story to be true.

Skelton’s firearm — a .44 caliber lever action — was seized and charges are pending.