Hoodsport resident Joseph David Knutson, 26, has been charged in Kitsap County District Court for assault in the third degree after allegedly breaking a security guard’s arm in a Monday morning scuffle at the Social Security Administration office in Silverdale.

Sheriff’s office deputies were dispatched to the Social Security office, located at 9594 Mickelberry Road NW, at about 10:45 a.m. Monday. The security officer, Dustin T. Cysensky, working on a contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, told deputies that Knutson brought a canned beverage into the office and was asked to leave it outside. Instead, Knutson agreed to put it in his pocket. A short time later, Knutson removed the can and Cysensky asked him several times to leave.

Cysensky and other witnesses told deputies that Knutson tossed the can at Cysensky, who said if he had not blocked it away it may have hit him in the head. At that point, Cysensky took Knutson by the arm to escort him outside and Knutson became more aggressive.

“Cysensky said once they were outside, Mr. Knutson used his two hands and pushed him hard in the chest, knocking him down to the ground, he landed on his right arm and he believes it is broken,” a police report states.

Cysensky’s distal radius, the larger of two bones in the forearm near the wrist was, indeed, broken.

Knutson told deputies that Cysensky was “lurking around him and watching him and that made him nervous and ‘on alert,’” according to a police report. Knutson also said, I didn’t push him all that hard and the guard threw himself on the ground, he’s some actor. I asked Knutson to tell me about the drink can and if he threw it at the security guard and he said ‘no,’ but after further recollection he said, I did not mean to throw it, it just slipped.”

While being transported to jail, a police report states Knutson “continued to scream, curse, kick, jump around and tried to talk his way out of the arrest.”