Intoxicated kayaker punches deputy after harassing fishermen.

LUDINGTON — An intoxicated kayaker who apparently was harassing fishermen along the pier Saturday night has ended up in jail after fleeing conservation officers in a kayak and then later allegedly punching a sheriff’s deputy.

Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole said a Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officer received a complaint Saturday night of an intoxicated man harassing fishermen who were on the north breakwater.

“When the conservation officer attempted to make contact with the man, the suspect yelled vulgarities at the conservation officer and then paddled over to Crosswinds,” Cole said.

When a sheriff’s deputy approached the man at Crosswinds, the suspect punched the deputy in the face, Cole said. The deputy received a cut to his mouth but the injuries were not serious, Cole said. A Life EMS ambulance was called to the scene.

The 56-year-old Ludington man was arrested by the DNR and charged with felonious assault of a law enforcement officer and also a misdemeanor of being a disorderly person.