A 24-year-old Clinton man has been charged in a bizarre attempted carjacking on South Whidbey earlier this month.

Larry Hatlestad, who recently moved to Whidbey Island from Yakima, was charged Feb. 5 in Island County Superior Court with attempted robbery in the first degree, second-degree vehicle prowl, two counts of possession of stolen property in the third degree and possession of marijuana.

According to court documents, a 21-year-old Langley woman reported Jan. 30 that she was at the Chevron gas station in Clinton when a strange man walked up and started staring at her. She said the man lunged for her and she ran to her car. The man followed, then started pounding on the car window and yelled at her to open it.

The woman said the man put his hand in his pocket in a way that made her think he had a weapon. He then ran off.

A deputy who responded to the 911 call found Hatlestad walking on Highway 525. The deputy wrote that Hatlestad ran away, but was caught climbing a fence. The deputy’s report said Hatlestad was carrying, among other things, a razor knife, marijuana and a car stereo.

The deputy linked Hatlestad to a car prowl in Clinton that had occurred that night. A report by Sheriff’s Sgt. Rick Norrie said Hatlestad told officers he was really drunk and didn’t remember where he got the car stereo.

Investigators also believe Hatlestad entered the apartment of another man after the resident passed out from drinking and stole money, the knife and other items that night, the report said.

If convicted on the robbery charge, Hatlestad could face between 24 and 30 months in prison.