A man who had been staying at an overnight, emergency homeless shelter in Oak Harbor is accused of threatening an employee two months ago, according to court documents.

Prosecutors charged 31-year-old Addison C. Vernon in Island County Superior Court Dec. 7 with felony harassment and indecent exposure.

An employee at The Haven reported the incident on Oct. 9 at a church on Wieldraayer Road. The Haven is housed by several churches in Oak Harbor on a rotating basis.

The employee told a deputy with the Island County Sheriff’s Office that she confronted Vernon when he was throwing food and other things on a sidewalk outside.

Vernon allegedly called her an offensive term, told her to shut up and threatened to cut her throat, the deputy’s report states.

After being told to leave, Vernon threatened to “get his boys and they would get her,” the report states. He allegedly threatened to do something to the woman’s car.

In addition, Vernon allegedly exposed himself at an Oak Harbor church the previous day, the report states.

The employee said Vernon had been a guest at The Haven for about five years, the report states.

The Haven is run by the Whidbey Homeless Coalition. In an interview, Executive Director Jonathon Klinesaid Vernon hadn’t been a problem in the past, but the organization takes all such incidents seriously. He was “trespassed” for a year, which means he is banned from the shelter for the period. After a year, agency officials and a county case worker will meet with Vernon to consider whether he can come back.

Kline said the organization has only had such problems with two guests in the last three years. With 450 served during that time, they represent a small percentage of those who are served.

In 2021, Vernon was convicted of assault in the second degree and sentenced to six months in jail for trying to stab a Walmart security guard with a broken wine bottle and a knife, according to court documents.