A 20-year-old man who was in Oak Harbor jail for stealing beer from Ennen’s is facing a felony assault charge for punching a jailer in the eye, according to police.

Gil Sung Kim, who is considered a transient, was charged with custodial assault, adult facility, in Island County Superior Court Oct. 11. He pleaded not guilty Oct. 19 and was released without bail.

According to the police report, Kim was arrested Oct. 6 for allegedly stealing two 22-ounce cans of Steel Reserve malt liquor from Ennen’s grocery store in Oak Harbor.

In the morning of Oct. 9, Kim started yelling at corrections officers from his cell in the Oak Harbor jail. He screamed and threatened to kill “you pigs,” reports show.

When the officers tried to move Kim to a holding cell, he became violent and allegedly punched Officer Mark Rodney in the eye.

Kim was subsequently transferred to the behavior modification cell at the Island County jail.

You can reach features editor Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whidbeynewstimes.com or call 675-6611.