A Watertown police officer went to a motel outside the city Sunday night to investigate a theft that was reported in the city, and said he found a man ignoring stay-away terms of an order of protection.

Harvey L. McCrae, 40, of 128 Parker St., was charged with second-degree criminal contempt at 10:30 p.m. at the Relax Inn, 19325 Route 11, and is ordered to appear in town of Watertown Court. He is accused of violating a City Court order of protection which requires him to stay away from his 2-year-old son, police said.

An officer went to the motel at about 6 p.m. to speak to Mr. McCrae about a theft investigation which was subsequently closed without an arrest. Mr. McCrae was found to be with Natasha S. Butts, 23, and the child in a motel room, police said.

After leaving the motel, the officer learned of the protection order, and returned to make the arrest.

The court document stems from an arrest in April 2011, when Mr. McCrae was cited in a domestic fight with Ms. Butts. He was convicted of endangering the child’s welfare, and he served a 180-days jail sentence.

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