PORT ANGELES – A 58-year-old Port Angeles man is in custody after pointing a handgun at a man at the Deer Park rest stop just east of Port Angeles Tuesday night.
The Clallam County Sheriff’s office reports that at about 6:30pm, a citizen called to report that he was at rest area, where he said he often feeds a homeless man in the adjacent park. When the victim spotted what he thought was the homeless man’s tent he approached, said “hello” and a different man stepped out of the tent. The man was later identified as John Spradlin.
When the victim tried to explain the mistake, he said Spradlin brandished a handgun and asked the victim “Do you want to die?” The victim put his hands up, walked away, and reported the incident to the police.
Deputies with the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office and Officers with the Port Angeles Police Department approached the campsite. Spradlin was seen walking around the tent and was reportedly non-compliant. He claimed a man had harassed him a while ago. Spradlin denied having a firearm, but wouldn’t allow officers to check.
The Crisis Response Team was requested to come in with their armored vehicle. Spradlin disappeared into one of the bathrooms, but when he saw the armored vehicle arrive, he surrendered to deputies.
A search of the restroom led to the discovery of a flare gun in a shoulder holster down in the toilet vault. The flare gun was equipped with a .22 caliber adapter that was loaded. More ammunition was found in his tent after getting a search warrant.
Spradlin has three felony convictions, including a 2003 conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm.