Homeless man accused of making threats to officer

A homeless man is accused of threatening and fighting with a police officer who wouldn’t let him sleep in an Oak Harbor city park at night, according to court records.

Prosecutors charged Timothy D. Caren, 58, in Island County Superior Court July 11 with harassment and resisting arrest. If convicted of the charges against him, Caren could face up to 90 days in jail.

An officer with the Oak Harbor Police Department was locking the restrooms at Flintstone Park on Bayshore Drive July 6 when he saw Caren lying on the bench of a picnic table.

The officer told Caren that he had to leave because overnight camping isn’t allowed in the park.

Caren repeatedly asked the officer where he could go, saying the homeless shelter was full for the night. Caren became upset after the officer said he couldn’t stay there and Caren said, “Very respectfully sir, I am asking you where I can go.”

The officer told him it was not his job “to take care of that,” the officer wrote in his report.

Caren became more and more irate, the report states, and walked back to his belongings. The officer followed him, which upset Caren. Caren told the officer that he would “pop” the officer if he followed, the report states.

Fearing that Caren might be armed and dangerous, the officer attempted to take him into custody, but Caren resisted, the report states.

After a struggle, the officer took him to the ground and handcuffed him, according to the police report.

During the arrest, Caren allegedly threatened to kick the officer’s head in, the officer wrote.

Caren said the officer was lucky he was “keeping his Irish promise,” the report states.