LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Lakeport man who threatened police officers twice in less than three weeks was taken into custody on Thursday night.

Jason Micah Whitcher, 45, remains in the Lake County Jail on a no-bail hold for a misdemeanor probation violation, according to jail records.

Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said that at approximately 11 p.m. Thursday two officers who were working in the department patrol office on South Forbes Street heard someone outside trying to open the door handles and electronic locks. 

The officers contacted the subject, who they recognized as Whitcher, and he then tried to walk inside but was stopped, Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen said the officers saw that Whitcher was highly intoxicated, placed him under arrest and transported him to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for medical clearance. 

At approximately 5 a.m. Friday Whitcher was determined to be OK for booking into the jail, Rasmussen said.

At that time, officers began to secure him for removal from the hospital and transport to the Lake County Jail. Rasmussen said Whitcher became verbally and physically resistive and officers had to use physical force to secure, move and place him in the police vehicle.

During the short transport to the jail, Whitcher spit on the officer through the safety cage in the vehicle and also threatened to physically harm the officer when the handcuffs were removed, Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen said officers booked Whitcher for public intoxication, battery on a peace officer, resisting/delaying and obstructing a peace officer, threatening an executive officer and for violation of probation.

Whitcher was last arrested by the Lakeport Police Department on the afternoon of March 7 when he was reported to be drunk and disorderly in Library Park, Rasmussen said.

During that incident, Whitcher made several threats to kill the arresting officer. That arrest resulted in Whitcher being placed on summary court probation, according to Rasmussen.

Rasmussen said Whitcher has been living in Lakeport since December 2014, during which time he has been arrested by police 10 additional times, mostly for public intoxication. 

In addition to these arrests, Whitcher also has prior arrests for charges including, possession of drugs and paraphernalia, being under the influence of drugs, sales or transportation of drugs, vandalism, theft, possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools, burglary, threatening a school or public officer, battery on a person, challenging to fight, battery on a peace officer and resisting a peace officer, Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen said Whitcher's prior convictions include four for resisting/delaying and obstructing a peace officer and one for battery on a peace officer.