Assaulting an officer
Brett Isaac Hickman, 45, of Eastsound, was charged with Assault in the Third Degree – Law Enforcement Officer in San Juan Superior Court.
During his arraignment on Oct. 27, he displayed inappropriate behavior, including disrobing. A competency evaluation was ordered due to a previous history of mental illness. Paul Cognac, public defender for San Juan County, represents Hickman, who has been homeless off and on for the past 20 years.
The results of the evaluation were presented on Nov. 17. The report concluded, due to Hickman staying current on medication and refraining from substance use while in jail, “It is more likely than not that Mr. Hickman currently has the capacity to understand the nature of the legal proceedings against him and the capacity to assist his attorney in his defense.”
Hickman entered a plea of not guilty, and an attorney status hearing is set for Dec. 8.
On Oct. 19, a deputy responded to Harrison Point, on Lummi Tribal Lands, regarding a report of a screaming woman. An established campsite was located, and Hickman was found occupying a tent. The deputies were familiar with Hickman as an unhoused individual. When he was asked to leave, he refused. Deputies then located the screaming woman, who was determined not to be injured or suffering a mental health crisis. She was angry with her boyfriend, who was living with her on Harrison Point. They had both been issued trespassing letters.
As the officer was leaving, Hickman and the woman followed him to his patrol car. Both were yelling and ranting. Another vehicle approached, and the woman threw a glass bottle at it as it drove away. The officer tried to place her under arrest, and Hickman charged and pushed him. The deputy was able to get Hickman on the ground, but he continued to resist arrest. The woman began grabbing the deputy’s arms and trying to free Hickman. The officer called for backup, and both suspects were arrested.
In March 2025, Hickman was charged with Burglary in the First Degree and Assault in the Third Degree — Law Enforcement Officer. Once he was found competent to proceed, the charges were dismissed in Superior Court and refiled in District Court, where Hickman pleaded guilty to the reduced charges of Assault in the Fourth Degree and Criminal Trespass. He was then placed on supervised probation.
Assault in the first degree
Francis Dennis Black, 22, of San Juan Island, has been charged with two counts of Assault in the First Degree. His arraignment was held on Nov. 3, and a competency evaluation was ordered.
Black was admitted to a mental health facility shortly after his arrest and then recently transferred to a more intensive treatment facility. If he leaves the facility, he is ordered to immediately turn himself in to the sheriff so the court can reevaluate the bail requirement. Review hearings have been set to monitor his progress.
On Oct. 19, four deputies and a detective responded to Pear Point Road after a report of gunshots being fired into a residence. The reporting party said Black, who has a history of psychosis, was outside and shooting a gun into the house.
Upon arrival, officers turned on their vehicles’ headlights and spotlights, and saw Black, who had a firearm, running to the street, waving his arms, and then back to the residence. They established contact with him, and eventually the suspect walked toward them, put a Glock 9MM on the ground and was placed in handcuffs. Black was highly agitated and said a family member had raped him, there were police in his residence and he shot into his parents’ bedroom windows while they were sleeping.
According to the probable cause statement, he said, “I wish I could have shot him,” in reference to his father. It was determined that Black discharged the gun into three of the bedroom windows.
Stolen vehicle
Luis A. Muro-Camba, 26, of Orcas, has been charged with Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle. He pleaded not guilty, and a pre-trial omnibus hearing is scheduled for Dec. 8.
According to the reporting party, she left a work truck at the American Legion on Oct. 15. The GMC Sierra was left unlocked, with a spare set of keys in the glove box. The following morning, she returned to retrieve the car, but it was gone. After inquiring with family and friends, she determined it had been stolen, not borrowed. The Legion’s security footage confirmed that an unknown person had taken the vehicle and used a flashlight equipped with a strobe function. The surveillance video was not clear enough to provide a positive suspect identification.
On Oct. 17, the deputy was searching for the stolen vehicle. He was traveling on Mt. Baker Road when he spotted it. He pulled the driver over and called for backup. The driver was identified as Muro-Camba. According to the probable cause statement, the suspect was close in build to the person seen on surveillance video stealing the pickup truck. He was also in possession of a flashlight equipped with a strobe function. When questioned about how he came into possession of the stolen motor vehicle, he initially claimed a person he met drove up to him at Country Corner, told him “happy birthday” and gave him the truck. On the second telling of the story, he changed the location, stating he was admiring the car at the Crescent Beach parking lot when this person gifted it to him.
