PORT ORCHARD — A convicted, “high-violent” offender is on the loose and believed to be in the Port Orchard area, the state Department of Corrections and U.S. Marshals Office reported Nov. 9.

Both law-enforcement agencies are asking the public to help them find the 43-year-old man, who is identified as Samuel Conklin. He has an outstanding DOC warrant and is wanted in Kitsap County for second-degree assault and illegal possession of a firearm.

Deputies said Conklin choked a woman and pointed a shotgun at her on Sept. 3. She escaped and ran outside to bang on a car window for help. He is described as being 5-foot, 11-inches tall, 194 pounds with brown eyes and hair. He has VC tattooed on his upper right arm and “Loyalty” tattooed on his right forearm.

His criminal record includes first-, second- and fourth-degree assault, protection order violation, first-degree robbery, unlawful imprisonment, tampering with a witness and taking a vehicle without permission, law enforcement officials said.

Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound Washington’s Most Wanted on KCPQ-13 reported that the organization will pay a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to Conklin’s recapture and arrest. Call the hotline at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or use the P3 Tips App on your phone.