“Deputies and police officers take a lot of abuse as part of their jobs – even more than newspaper reporters – but prosecutors say an Oak Harbor man recently crossed the line and should pay the price.The Island County Prosecutor’s Office recently charged Travis Whitaker, 36, with third-degree assault for allegedly kicking a deputy after being arrested. He could face up to three months in jail if convicted.Island County Deputy Lane Campbell wrote in an affidavit of probable cause that he and another deputy went to Whitaker’s Altair Place home Jan. 1 to investigate a report that he stole his estranged wife’s boat.The deputies found the boat in his truck. Whitaker, who acted very belligerent, told them that the boat was his, Campbell wrote, but he was unable to find any paperwork to prove it. The deputies finally arrested Whitaker with a struggle, handcuffed his hands behind his back and put him the back of a police car.According to Campbell, Whitaker tried to get out of the police car after the deputy gave him a glass of water he asked for. When Campbell forced him back in the car, he says Whitaker kicked him a number of times in the legs.On the way to jail, Campbell says Whitaker threatened him and tried to slip his hand-cuffed wrists to the front of his body. Whitaker also spit in Campbell’s face after the deputy pulled over and tried to readjust the handcuffs. Whitaker’s bail was set at $10,000 Jan. 2, but he was released on his own recognizance 10 days later. “