Headlines for the Week of Dec. 1

Home Improvement Actor Arrested for the Sixth Time for Domestic Violence; Fiancée Tries to Run Him Over

Zachary Ty Bryan, 44, best known for starring as Brad Taylor in the ’90s sitcom Home Improvement, was arrested on Saturday. His fiancée, Johnie Faye Cartwright, 32, was also arrested near a campground in Lowell, Oregon. The couple and their three young children were driving through the area in a pick-up truck when apparently the parents got into an argument. Bryan got out of the vehicle and began walking down the road. That’s when Cartright attempted to run Bryan over with the truck, but he was able to dive out of the way. The truck went into a ditch, but no one was hurt. Sheriff’s deputies on scene noted that both Cartright and Bryan appeared to be impaired. 

Bryan was arrested and charged with a probation violation of an original charge of assault in the 4th degree. In 2020, he allegedly strangled Cartright and was sentenced to just seven days in jail and 36 months of probation. However, advocates have long warned that strangulation is the number one indicator of a future homicide. In a study of homicide victims killed by an intimate partner, it was found that 43 percent had experienced a non-fatal strangulation by their partner prior to their murder. 

As part of Bryan’s probation, he was also ordered to not have any contact with Cartright without his probation officer’s approval, an order that did not expire until October 2026. In January 2025, Bryan was arrested again, this time in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He was charged with second-degree domestic violence after Cartright stated Bryan “choked her and punched her in the face multiple times.” 

In this latest incident, Cartright will also be prosecuted. She is being charged with reckless driving, reckless endangerment and DUI. 

Sources: People.com, NYPost

Multiple Reports of Police Officers Arrested for Domestic Violence 

On Monday, Adam Barnett, 43, a patrol officer with the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office in Knoxville, Tenn., was arrested and charged with aggravated domestic assault. Barnett allegedly placed his ex-stepson in a chokehold until the victim lost consciousness. 

Barnett has been with the department since 2011. In 2023, he was one of three officers disciplined after Lisa Edwards died in custody following her arrest. An internal investigation found “numerous violations of departmental policy” during Edwards’ arrest. 

Barnett posted the $15,000 bail on Tuesday. He is required to wear a GPS monitor and cannot contact the victim. 

On Tuesday in Lafayette, La., police arrested one of their own, Officer Curtis Oakes, 49, in connection with a domestic violence incident at his home the previous day. He has been charged with two counts of domestic abuse child endangerment. 

And on Wednesday, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrested Officer Chandler Pike for multiple counts related to domestic violence. They include two felony counts of strangulation, one felony count of coercion with the threat of violence, one misdemeanor count of domestic battery and one count of coercion constituting domestic violence. 

Pike, who has been with the department since 2020, was assigned to the Community Safety Division of the Enterprise Area Command.

Research cited by the National Center for Women and Policing indicates that domestic violence occurs at significantly higher rates among law enforcement families—estimated at two to four times that of the general population. As outlined in “When Your Abuser Is a Police Officer,” victims in these cases face added risks because their abusers hold authority and influence within the justice system.

Although many officers are committed to protecting their communities, those who harm their partners or other family members at home may use their professional credibility to avoid accountability. Add to that the fact that all sworn officers have access to firearms as part of their job, domestic violence can quickly escalate and become even more dangerous for survivors. 

Sources: WBIR.com, KADN.com, KTNV.com

More than 2,000 Purses Gifted to Women Impacted by Domestic Violence 

In Albuquerque, N.M., an annual event called Pursonalities Plus offered domestic violence and sexual assault survivors  comfort and care on Giving Tuesday. Volunteers filled more than 2,000 donated purses with everyday necessities and thoughtful extras like jewelry and scarves—a small gesture meant to reassure survivors that they’re not alone.

Jane Bickelman started the organization nine years ago and distributed 180 purses. The thoughtful effort has grown quite a bit since then. Some 33 organizations across N.M. receive Bickelman’s purses. 

“It’s just blossomed over the years and we’re grateful,” Bickelman told local media.

One organization that benefits from Pursonalities Plus, The Women’s Housing Coalition, says the gift comes at just the right time of the year.

“A lot of times we get gifts for the kids, but not the mom. So for them, that is special. They’ve got recognized. Somebody thought of them,” says Executive Director Angie Ludi. 

Celebrating the holidays after escaping domestic violence, or especially in the midst of it, can be tough. Survivors should make sure to take care of themselves in whatever way that looks like. For some, that can mean starting new traditions. To hear how other survivors have reimagined the holiday season after abuse, see, “A Guide to Celebrating the Holidays After Trauma.”

Source: KOB.com