A deputy on Orcas Island apprehended a suspect in Eastsound after a short chase that involved pulling his service weapon.

Timothy James Brocato, 39, of Lake Stevens, Washington, has been charged with harassment, driving while license suspended or revoked in the third degree, operating a vehicle without ignition interlock and obstructing a law enforcement officer.

The charges stem from a Jan. 6 incident when Brocato allegedly harassed a trio of friends staying at an Orcas Island resort. According to the deputy’s report, he threatened physical harm and made sexually aggressive comments, including threats of rape. One of the victims grabbed his nearby pepper spray and deployed it into Brocato’s face.

The responding officer made multiple attempts to contact Brocato to no avail. On Jan. 8, the deputy saw Brocato in a contracting company’s box truck stop at the intersection of Main St. and North Beach Road. He also saw a passenger in the truck who was later identified as the suspect’s 13-year-old son.

According to the report, “Brocato looked toward me in my marked patrol vehicle and turned the box truck north onto North Beach Road. I subsequently activated my patrol vehicle’s emergency overhead lights and made a U-turn in the intersection and pulled directly behind the box truck to conduct an enforcement stop.”

The vehicle allegedly sped up, continued down North Beach and pulled into the pharmacy parking lot, nearly striking a parked vehicle. According to the deputy, Brocato opened his door, with the truck’s engine running, and began yelling “Run” to his son. Both subjects began fleeing northbound on foot across the parking lot. Brocato did not comply with the officer’s multiple verbal orders to stop. His hands were not visible as he was fleeing.

The deputy wrote, “Fearing Brocato may have a weapon in his possession I unholstered my department-issued sidearm and pointed it at Brocato.” Both the suspect and his son then stopped and complied with the officer’s orders to place their hands in the air. The deputy reholstered his sidearm upon confirming that Brocato did not have a weapon on him.

Brocato’s appearance in San Juan County District Court has been scheduled for Feb. 16 at 8:30 am.