Police: Suspect, 28, taped himself beating a homeless man

A 28-year-old Oak Harbor resident is facing a felony assault charge after he videotaped himself beating up a homeless man, court documents state.

Jon M. Johnson willingly showed the video to the police, according to the police report.

Johnson pleaded not guilty in Island County Superior Court Monday to one count of assault in the second degree. If convicted of the crime, he could face three to nine months in jail under the standard sentencing range.

The police reported that they responded to a 911 report of three men on bikes beating up a transient man near Burger King in Oak Harbor Aug. 25.

Police arrived, however, and spoke with two men who said only Johnson — who had biked away — was involved in the fight.

The men claimed the homeless man attacked Johnson.

Another witness said it was a man matching Johnson’s description who hit and kicked the homeless man, the police report says.

Police contacted Johnson at his home. His stepmother told the police that there was a GoPro video of the fight; Johnson willingly played it for the police more than once.

The video shows Johnson antagonizing the alleged victim and asking his friends if they “wanna wreck this guy.”

The man tries to leave, but Johnson chases him, knocks him down and kicks and “possibly” hits the man as he was yelling “no,” the police report states.

The man suffered a complex fracture of the left elbow and a broken wrist.

The victim had to be transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment.

Photo by Jessie Stensland/Whidbey News-Times                                Oak Harbor resident Jon Johnson, at right, appears in Island County Superior Court Jan. 8 with attorney David Carman. Johnson is accused of videotaping himself assaulting a homeless man.

Photo by Jessie Stensland/Whidbey News-Times Oak Harbor resident Jon Johnson, at right, appears in Island County Superior Court Jan. 8 with attorney David Carman. Johnson is accused of videotaping himself assaulting a homeless man.