PUNTA GORDA — A Charlotte County Sheriff’s deputy arrested a father and his son on charges of stalking for harassing their 64-year-old neighbor for months. Arrested for stalking were Douglas Cole Everly, 49, and Ryan Cole Everly, 23, both of the 32100 block of Oil Well Road, Punta Gorda. The neighbor contacted CCSO about the Everlys yelling profanity, making obscene hand gestures, honking their horn, and generally harassing him whenever they see him regardless of who is around. The victim kept a log of the incidents that began, including three witnesses who were at his home on different occasions and saw the actions of the Everlys. The victim said on Oct. 17 Douglas Everly pulled up to his house in a white pickup, got out, and placed a piece of hose with nails in it in his driveway. The victim showed video he took of the incident. The deputy spoke to Douglas Everly and he denied he did it. He was given a warning that if he continued to harass his neighbor, charges would be brought against him. The victim began keeping a log of all of harassment incidents.

On Feb. 27, deputies contacted Douglas Everly by phone and asked to meet with him and his son. Doug Everly told the deputy, “I give that man the finger every time I pass his house and I’m going to keep giving him the finger. I cuss at him and call him “faggot” every time I see him. If I ever come across him in Walmart, there is going to be a problem because I (expletive deleted) hate that guy.” He told the deputy he would have to catch him and his son when they are home on the weekend as he would not come to CCSO. Saturday, the deputy met with Douglas Everly at his home. At first, he denied the Walmart threat against the victim, and then changed his story, saying if he saw the man in Walmart “the Sheriff’s Office might have to come and arrest him.” The deputy reported that the pattern of harassment committed by the father and son has no legitimate purpose other than to cause the victim emotional distress. Both have willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly, followed and harassed the victim for the past four to five months. Douglas Everly was arrested Saturday and taken to the Charlotte County Jail. His son, Ryan Everly, turned himself in at the jail on Sunday. Both were released after they posted a $1,000 bond each.