Judge orders mental evaluation for suspect

A South Whidbey man with “deteriorating” mental health problems is accused of threatening to exterminate a Clinton resident, according to court documents.

Island County Superior Court Judge Alan Hancock ordered on Dec. 5 that a designated mental health provider evaluate Ryan Smith, 35, in jail to see if he meets the criteria for a 72-hour involuntary hold.

Smith is being held in jail on $50,000 bail, but prosecutors also filed a motion to revoke his bail.

Prosecutors charged Smith Dec. 7 with harassment for making threats to kill and malicious mischief in the second degree. Smith is also known as Ryan Hutchinson, court documents state.

Smith’s attorney in another case — involving the theft of a boat — withdrew earlier this year after obtaining a no-contact order against him, according to court documents. The attorney reported that Smith continuously left bizarre messages and said inappropriate things to her, like claiming they were married.

Smith pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in that case.

In the recent case, a Clinton resident reported finding Smith standing on his front porch, staring through the front window Dec. 4.

Smith walked away but returned and yelled at the man through his truck window, claiming Smith’s mother was inside the house and threatening to kill the man, the police report states. Smith allegedly dented the truck by punching it.

Officers found Smith standing in the middle of the road. He was agitated and claimed his mother was in the woods with her neck slit. The police reported that Smith made about 20 unfounded reports in the prior month to emergency dispatch, claiming that people were being killed, the report states.