Police nab second brother in suspected bat assault in Clinton

The second of two brothers suspected in a baseball bat-related assault and burglary on South Whidbey Aug. 8 faces felony charges in Island County Superior Court. Detectives with the Island County Sheriff’s Office had been looking for 31-year-old Shawn Poolman, a Freeland resident, since the Aug. 8 home-invasion burglary at a Clinton house. He was taken into custody in Port Townsend this past week.

The second of two brothers suspected in a baseball bat-related assault and burglary on South Whidbey Aug. 8 faces felony charges in Island County Superior Court.

Detectives with the Island County Sheriff’s Office had been looking for 31-year-old Shawn Poolman, a Freeland resident, since the Aug. 8 home-invasion burglary at a Clinton house. He was taken into custody in Port Townsend this past week.

Witnesses and victims identified Shawn and Steven Poolman as two of the four assailants.

On Aug. 20, prosecutors charged Shawn Poolman with first-degree burglary and two counts of assault in the second degree. If convicted of the charges, he could potentially face more than nine years in prison under the standard sentencing range.

His brother, 20-year-old Steven E. Poolman, was charged with the same counts earlier this month. He’s facing less time if convicted of the charges — up to four years — due to his lack of a serious criminal history.

According to the deputy’s report, four men broke the door down at a Clinton home and attacked the occupants.

The intruders beat two of the occupants. A 37-year-old resident was injured the most seriously when the Poolman brothers and the two others beat him with baseball bats, the report states.

Paramedics told the deputy that the man appeared to have suffered a broken jaw, a broken hand and arm, a concussion and a head injury of unknown severity. He was transported to Providence Medical Center in Everett, where paramedics said he would require multiple surgeries, the report states.

Another victim was struck in the head and arm and someone hit him on the back with a glass bottle. He said he was knocked unconscious for a few moments, the deputy wrote.