Officer Joseph Putulowski said he recognized Perry from prior contacts.

Scott Michael Perry, 30, is a frequent flyer in San Diego County’s court system, he has at least 25 case files. His public record began in the year 2008, when he was 19 years old.

Perry’s most recent contact with law enforcement happened two weeks ago, after a female called police to say he smashed her phone and shoved her to the ground during a “domestic dispute.”

It was a few hours later, just after midnight on October 15 when an Escondido police officer spotted Scott Michael Perry on West Washington Avenue. Officer Joseph Putulowski said he recognized Perry from prior contacts. The suspect was wearing long pajama pants which covered the top of his combat boots and when the cop pulled up the the pajama pants, “I observed the handle of a fixed blade knife” in one boot. The double-edged knife was in a leather sheath, according to Putulowski’s testimony in court on Wednesday, October 30.

At the same hearing, Escondido policeman Richard Rivera testified that he was trying to put the suspect into a holding cell when they began to push each other. It escalated into a fracas with multiple officers participating.

Perry is described in jail records as six feet tall and 200 pounds, and is held in lieu of $50,000 bail. While the defendant listened to officers’ testimony he continuously bounced his left leg, appearing nervous and aggravated.

The smashing of the cell phone and scuffle with officers were each charged as a misdemeanor, but the concealed dagger was charged as a felony.

The prosecutor referred to Perry’s prior criminal record when he claimed, “He has displayed that he will use a knife, in an unprovoked way.” Judge David Brown replied that he was aware of Perry’s “strike prior,” and the judge said the young defendant could face up to six years in prison for the current charges.

Defense attorney Chris Stapleton pleaded with the court, and Judge Brown agreed to reduce the concealed-knife charge to a misdemeanor. Defendant Perry pleads not-guilty to three misdemeanors and is next due in San Diego’s North County Superior Courthouse on November 5.