Port Hadlock man arrested for alleged assault of police officer

Posted

A 33-year-old Port Hadlock man arrested for allegedly assaulting a Port Townsend police officer made his first court appearance Friday, was punctuated by exaggerated yawns, a loud belch, and calling the judge an “idiot.”

Zachary Austin Taylor is facing charges of third-degree assault of a police officer, third-degree malicious mischief, third-degree theft, and reckless driving. 

Taylor was arrested Oct. 14 in the parking lot of Henery Hardware in Port Townsend after police were notified that Taylor had been seen earlier damaging property outside Discovery Behavioral Health and speeding away in his car.

Responding officers waiting at a stoplight at the intersection of Sims Way and Haines Place heard a driver “excessively honking their horn” near the McDonald’s parking lot, and then saw a green Kia Soul swerve around another car and speed though the hardware store’s packed parking lot, narrowly missing parked cars and customers. 

When officers tried to stop Taylor, he tried to drive out of the back of the lot but his escape was stopped by two cars blocking the exit.

Taylor then allegedly ran into the hardware store, flipping off the officers as he went into the business, according to a police report of the incident.

An officer caught him at the entrance to the store, where “Taylor continued to yell and scream, exclaiming that he was innocent and did not do anything.”

Taylor refused to pay attention as an officer read him his rights, saying that he wanted to speak to an attorney.

Meanwhile, a store employee came out to tell officers that Taylor had been in the business earlier and had stolen the hat he had on his head.

An officer examined the hat and found it still had the store labels on it; it was valued at $20.72. 

The store employee added the business had a surveillance video of the theft, when Taylor had been in the store at about 11:30 a.m.

Taylor was handcuffed and put in the back of the patrol car and started cursing at officers, and added, “I’ll kill you.”

According to a police report, Taylor spit on the partition in the patrol car between the front and back seats, then began hitting the divider with his head.

Officers then placed a spit hood over Taylor’s head, which he eventually tore open and began spitting again at an officer and at the windows and seat of the police car.

He was taken to the hospital for a jail clearance, where his erratic behavior continued.

Taylor was booked into jail Thursday afternoon.

He made his first appearance in Jefferson County Superior Court via a video link from the Jefferson County Jail Friday morning.

Taylor was again advised of his rights, and told the maximum penalty for third-degree assault of an officer was five years in jail and a $10,000 fine. The other three counts all carry a maximum sentence of 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.

When the charge of reckless driving was announced, Taylor belched loudly and said, “That’s not true.”

“I am a great person. This is all lies,” he added.

Superior Court Judge Keith Harper repeatedly asked Taylor if he needed a court-appointed attorney.

“Sure,” Taylor said finally.

When the court turned to conditions of his release from jail, Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Chris Ashcraft asked bail to be set at $10,000. 

“We believe he is a danger to the county and unlikely to appear,” Ashcraft said.

Ashcraft said Taylor should also be ordered not to return to the hardware store.

Jack Range, an attorney representing Taylor, asked the amount to be reduced to $1,000.

The judge quickly set the bail at $10,000, cash or bond.

Taylor began interrupting the proceedings from the jail.

“I don’t understand anything that this means,” he said.

“So you are releasing me right now?” he asked.

“No,” Harper said.

Taylor continued from his bench seat in the Port Hadlock jail.

“You’re an idiot. I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Taylor said to the judge. “Just shut up.”

“You don’t know anything,” he added.

“Goodbye Mr. Taylor,” the judge said. “Bye,” he said.

Taylor’s arraignment has been set for Friday, Oct. 22.