Nephew of Whidbey cop killer wanted by police

Ryan Hutchinson, the nephew of a South Whidbey cop killer, threatened to murder deputies and is now wanted on a $50,000 warrant, court documents state.

Island County Chief Criminal Prosector Colleen Kenimond said Hutchinson, a 24-year-old Langley resident, failed to show up for a hearing Monday in Island County Superior Court. The judge ordered the bench warrant.

Hutchinson was scheduled to be in court because the prosecution alleged he had broken his pre-trial release conditions by drinking beer at the Edgecliff Bar and Grill in Langley Sept. 23.

Hutchinson is the nephew of Darrin Hutchinson, a South Whidbey man who shot and killed deputies William Heffernan and John Saxerud Nov. 14, 1987. The deputies had taken Hutchinson to the breathalyzer room at the county jail in Coupeville when he pulled out a pistol.

Ryan Hutchinson and another man were arrested July 22 for vandalizing a Clinton home. Hutchinson became immediately combative and made the threats to Island County Deputy John Sawyer.

Hutchinson allegedly threatened to kill a deputy, to harm the deputy’s daughters, blow up a home with C4 explosives while the deputy is sleeping and to blow up the sheriff’s precinct office, court documents state.

Hutchinson threatened that Sawyer “will be the next … Island County deputy killed by a Hutchinson,” court papers state.

Hutchinson also broke out the rear window of Sawyer’s patrol car, spit on the deputy and claimed to have AIDS.

Prosecutors charged him with attempted residential burglary, harassment by threats to kill, malicious mischief in the first degree and threats to bomb or injure property.

Hutchinson was released from jail Aug. 13 after posting $40,000 bail, but his release was conditional on several conditions, including a prohibition on consuming alcohol.