PORT TOWNSEND — A 51-year-old transient is in custody at Jefferson County jail after authorities say he injured two Port Townsend police officers.
Paul Heisey made a video appearance Monday in front of Jefferson County District Court Judge Jill Landes, who set bail at $25,000 and scheduled a Dec. 12 pre-trial appearance.
The officers were injured while Heisey was resisting arrest after threatening to kill a 67-year-old woman Sunday night, according to police.
Heisey was arrested for felony harassment, threats to kill on the 67-year-old female, two counts of felony harassment for threats on officers, resisting arrest, obstructing a law enforcement officer and interfering with a health care facility, according to the police report.
In court, he was charged with two counts of harassment and one count of interfering with a health care facility, for which he could receive up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine, according to the charging documents.
According to the incident report, police were called to Middletown Dreams at 213 Taylor St. at 7:38 p.m. Sunday on a complaint that Heisey had started a verbal argument and had threatened to kill other patrons.
Heisey was previously ejected from the Uptown Pub, 1016 Lawrence St., for threatening a 67-year-old woman, whom he had followed to Taylor Street.
Officers Nate Holmes and Patrick Fudally responded, finding Heisey on a bench in front of the bar and placed him under arrest, the report states.
When told that he had to get inside the patrol car, he forced the officers to carry him to the car where Fudally “could feel his attempt at static resistance by planting his feet,” he wrote in the report.
Heisey continued to fight and threaten the officers and would not allow himself to be searched.
Fudally and Holmes needed to lie on top of Heisey in order to remove his shoes to lessen the severity of any assault.
Heisey, who is 6 foot 2 inches tall and weighs around 250 pounds, “uses his size to intimidate people,” Fudally said.
Heisey has not been previously arrested, but is known to police who have had several contacts with him since he arrived in town five months ago, Fudally said.
Heisey was placed in a patrol car with the assistance of a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy and taken to Jefferson Healthcare, a standard procedure for intoxicated persons, where he continued abusive and threatening behavior, Fudally said.
At the hospital, Heisey repeatedly asked Fudally “if he could fight me for his freedom,” according to Fudally’s report.
He was moved to a holding cell at Jefferson County Jail where he said he was suicidal.
He was then placed in a crisis cell where officers attempted to remove his clothes, which is standard policy for a potentially suicidal suspect.
Heisey again became aggressive and Fudally used a “stop kick” to the stomach to knock him off balance and allow the officers to leave the cell.
After the incidents with Heisey, both Holmes and Fudally had minor injuries.
Holmes returned to the hospital where he was treated and released while Fudally made a commitment to see his own physician for a checkup.
In his court appearance, Heisey heard the charges and was assigned a public defender, Bret Roberts, who attempted to prevent his client from making any statement about the case.
“I’ve been here five whole months and haven’t gotten into any trouble,” Heisey said.
Landes imposed bail and set several conditions should he gain release, including no consumption of alcohol or drugs, to stay out of bars and liquor stores and to have no contact with the victims or the police officers involved in Sunday’s incident.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.