Oak Harbor man hits woman, kicks up a fuss on way to jail

A 25-year-old Oak Harbor man who hit his girlfriend, kicked a deputy and repeatedly freed himself from restraints in a police car was sentenced to jail last week.

Patrick Heussmann pleaded guilty in Island County Superior Court March 21 to third-degree assault of a police officer, fourth-degree assault (domestic violence), obstructing a police officer and resisting arrest.

As part of the plea bargain, prosecutors dismissed a second-degree assault charge.

Judge Alan Hancock imposed the three-month sentence recommended by both the prosecution and defense. He also place Heussmann on community custody for a year and ordered him to pay $817 in fines and fees.

Sgt. Rick Norrie with the Island County Sheriff’s Office investigated the incident that occurred in the morning of Jan. 14 at a home on Lato Drive. Heussmann struck a woman with his fists several times, Norrie wrote.

Norrie wrote that a large pool of blood was on the floor. The woman was transported to the hospital where she was treated for a broken scapula, bruised and swollen eyes and a bloody nose.

Norrie caught Heussmann hiding “between mattresses” at a neighbor’s home. He wrote that a teenaged boy was lying on the mattresses “like nothing was going on.”

Norrie and another deputy placed Heussmann, who was handcuffed, in the back of Norrie’s patrol car. A few minutes later, Heussmann started kicking the windows and was able to maneuver so that his handcuffed hands were in front of him.

When the deputies were removing Heussmann, he kicked both deputies. So the deputies re-cuffed him and placed him in back in the car with leg restraints. But again, Heussmann was able to free himself, forcing deputies to repeat the restraint process.

On the way to jail, Heussmann freed himself a third time and started kicking the windows, forcing Norrie to make an emergency stop, the police report shows.

 

Contact Whidbey News Times Assistant editor Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360.675.6611 ext. 5056.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.