Man Arrested After Threatening Police, Deflating Patrol Tire at Assisted Living Facility

A resident at an assisted living facility in Crawford County was arrested Oct. 15 after making death threats against officers and tampering with a patrol vehicle.

Jason Barrett, 44, has been charged with attempting tampering of a police vehicle, resisting/interfering arrest and fourth-degree assault.

Officers responded to a call about Barrett, a resident at the facility, following reports of aggressive behavior toward other residents and non-compliance with facility policies. Staff asked officers to remove Barrett from the property.

When the officer made contact with Barrett in his room, he quickly became agitated and made verbal threats, stating, “I will eliminate you in a second.” Despite the officer's attempts to de-escalate the situation, Barrett allegedly refused to cooperate. 

After initially agreeing to leave, Barrett exited through a back door but became confrontational again outside the building.

While the officer spoke with staff near the entrance, Barrett was allegedly seen deflating the rear tire of the patrol vehicle. 

When questioned, Barrett responded, “You came here to bother me, so I thought I would bother you.”

The situation escalated further as Barrett allegedly verbally abused the officer and raised his fist in a threatening manner. 

When the officer warned Barrett with a taser, he temporarily complied by lowering his bag. However, he resisted while being placed in handcuffs, attempting to jerk his arm free.

Once restrained, Barrett made more threats, including, “I’ll take you out to the woods and slaughter you” and “I’ll kill all three of you,” referring to the officer and other law enforcement personnel at the scene.

Due to Barrett’s repeated death threats, tampering with police property, and resisting arrest, officers placed him under arrest and transported him to the Crawford County Jail. 

He continued to be belligerent during the transport, making further threats and banging against the patrol vehicle’s cage. Jail staff reported additional resistance as Barrett was escorted into the facility.

The arresting officer confirmed that the incident was recorded on body-worn camera, and Barrett was booked on a 24-hour hold as the investigation continues.