Senator Mike Chapman Shields Elderly Neighbor in Brutal Port Angeles Attack
Washington State Senator Mike Chapman is being credited with saving the life of his 71-year-old neighbor, after throwing his own body over the elderly man to shield him from a vicious, unprovoked beating over the weekend.
However, despite the severity of the attack, the suspect’s violent resistance against arresting officers, and his erratic behavior in court, Clallam County Superior Court Judge Brent Basden set bail at $15,000.
A Vicious, Unprovoked Assault
The violent incident unfolded on Saturday, March 28, 2026, in a quiet residential neighborhood on the 1300 block of South Laurel Street in Port Angeles.
According to the Port Angeles Police Department’s probable cause report, the victim, 71-year-old Robert L. Graud, was outside mowing the grass near the property line he shares with his neighbor, 46-year-old Joseph “Wes” Beeman.
Graud told investigators that he saw someone approach out of the corner of his eye before he was suddenly and brutally struck in the side of the head.
The unprovoked blow knocked the elderly man to the ground. Once Graud was down, Beeman—who police note is 6-foot-8 and weighs 220 pounds—allegedly stood over the defenseless senior citizen and continued to assault him with clenched fists and kicks to the head and torso.
A Senator Steps In
Across the street, Senator Mike Chapman was looking out his dining room window when he heard yelling and saw Graud’s lawnmower flipped over.
Seeing the massive attacker “winding up and wailing on” Graud, Chapman told police he was terrified Beeman was “going to kill” his elderly neighbor.
Chapman immediately ran outside to intervene. The state senator “jumped on top of Bob to protect him from Wes,” effectively using his own body as a human shield.
According to Chapman’s statement to police, Beeman kept charging at them, screaming at Graud to get off his property. Chapman feared he was about to be struck next.
Eventually, Beeman stormed off and retreated into his home, allowing Chapman to help the battered 71-year-old to safety and call 911.
Chapman’s wife managed to capture a portion of the assault on her cell phone, providing police with photographic evidence of Beeman standing over the victim with a clenched fist.
A Hostile Takedown
When Port Angeles Police arrived on the scene, they found Graud bleeding from the ear with visible bruising on his face and neck.
Officers located Beeman walking away from the scene. According to the arrest report, Beeman refused to comply with multiple commands to stop and take his hands out of his pockets.
When officers grabbed his arms, Beeman physically resisted and shouted that the police were assaulting him, forcing officers to use a “partner take down technique” to bring the 6-foot-8 suspect to the ground.
Even while being read his Miranda rights, Beeman continuously interrupted and spoke over the arresting officers.
Judge Basden Undercuts Prosecution’s Bail Request
Beeman made his preliminary appearance in Clallam County Superior Court on Monday, March 30, before Judge Brent Basden.
Court minutes paint a picture of a highly uncooperative and volatile defendant. During the hearing, Beeman explicitly refused to answer any of the Court’s questions.
His erratic behavior in the courtroom prompted his appointed public defender, Harry Gasnick, to officially make a record regarding potential competency and crisis issues.
The Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office officially requested that bail be set at $50,000.
Judge Basden rejected the State’s recommendation.
Despite finding probable cause for the felony charges of Assault in the Third Degree, Obstructing a Law Enforcement Officer, and Resisting Arrest, Judge Basden drastically slashed the prosecutor’s requested amount, setting bail at a mere $15,000.
Basden also ordered Beeman to have no contact with Graud or his residence upon release—a standard condition that offers little physical protection to a victim living directly next door.
If it weren’t for the swift and fearless intervention of Senator Chapman, authorities suggest the outcome for the 71-year-old victim could have been fatal. Now, due to Judge Basden’s leniency, the victim and the neighborhood are left to wonder how soon the attacker will be back across the street.
Following publication, Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Nichols responded to our inquiry.
While confirming the details of the hearing and his office’s $50,000 bail request, Nichols politely explained that he is ethically constrained from commenting further on the active case.
He noted that strict guidelines—specifically the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC 3.6 and 3.8) regarding trial publicity and special prosecutorial responsibilities, as well as the state’s Bench-Bar-Press Guidelines—prevent him from making additional statements at this time. We appreciate his office taking the time to respond and clarify these legal boundaries.
(This article was updated on March 31 at 8:35 AM to include comment from the prosecutor.)
It becomes even more obvious to me that we the people have a major issue with a justice sitting on the bench.
I’ve heard stories and have been witness to abuse of the system by this “justice”.
Now I’m seeing his name repeatedly in association with irregularities in his court.
We have got to do better than this.
Thank you Senator Chapman for your swift action, we appreciate your courage.
What is wrong with Basden?
The more violent a defendant is the more he seems to use his power to.allow them to continue endangering citizens .
If a woman and/ or children are involved he seems to take delight in putting them in harm' s way even more . Now an elderly citizen is attacked and he acts like it is nothing to worry about .
After years of his sociopathic decisions it seems he has no.plans to change .
Citizens deserve better , and I am grateful Anthony is doing the needed work to let us know what we are up against .
Chapman needs to help us as he bravely saved his elderly neighbor.