A Port Townsend man arrested after trying to set a Ukrainian flag on fire in downtown earlier this month entered a pleading of not guilty to multiple charges during his arraignment Friday in Jefferson County Superior Court.

Johnathan Stewart, 31, was arrested just after 4 p.m. Monday, July 11 on the beach near Taylor and Water streets.

Stewart was charged with third-degree assault of a law enforcement officer, second-degree malicious mischief, obstructing a law enforcement officer, and third-degree theft.

Authorities allege he ripped down a Ukrainian flag that was hanging on the front of a restaurant on Water Street, tried to set the flag on fire, then attached it to a sandbag and threw it into the bay.

Stewart allegedly refused to identify himself to police when confronted about the theft, then resisted arrest, warning officers he was going to “go limp noodle on us,” according to the police report, and had to be carried to a patrol car by his arms and feet.

Stewart allegedly spit on a police officer, and is also accused of urinating in the patrol car and putting it out of service.

He was booked into Jefferson County Jail on July 12. Bail was set at $10,000.

During his appearance in superior court Friday, Stewart entered pleadings of not guilty to all four counts.

Attorney Scott Charlton said Stewart has lived in the Port Townsend area for the last six or seven years and asked that he be released from jail on his own personal recognizance.

Deputy Prosecutor Melissa Pleimann said Stewart has a criminal history in Florida and Maine.

She said he pleaded guilty on an assault charge in January and has a prior conviction in Maine.

His conviction in Florida dates to 2012, where he was charged with aggravated battery and attempted first-degree arson, and served three years in prison for the crimes.

Pleimann said Stewart was a flight risk and it was unlikely he would comply with court orders.

Superior Court Judge Keith Harper agreed that Stewart was a high risk of committing additional offenses and was an even higher risk to not show up in court.

In a lot of cases, Harper said, Stewart’s bail would be set even higher.

“The bail will remain as it is,” Harper said.

Stewart’s trial on the charges was set for Sept. 12 through Sept. 15.

Conviction of third-degree assault of a law enforcement officer, and second-degree malicious mischief, can both result in a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

The maximum penalty for obstructing a law enforcement officer, and third-degree theft, is 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.