HAYDEN — Police arrested a man who they said violated a protection order by lingering near his former wife’s residence while armed.

The 41-year-old is charged with stalking in the first degree, a felony. He is also charged with driving under the influence, a misdemeanor.

Police responded Sunday evening to a call from a woman who said her former husband frequented a house across the street from her Hayden residence.

A protection order specified that the man could not come within 100 feet of her residence.

The woman told police her ex sometimes stood in front of her home while holding handguns or rifles.

She said she’d found items on her car that she believed were left by her ex and that she hid inside her house whenever she saw him, according to court documents.

Police said the woman was shaking uncontrollably when she said she believed it was “only a matter of time” before her ex killed her.

The man was reportedly across the street when police arrived. After he left in a vehicle, police initiated a traffic stop.

He was wearing a handgun in a holster when he was pulled over, police said, and a second handgun was visible inside the vehicle. Both guns were loaded, according to court documents.

The man allegedly told police he carried the guns because he was afraid of cougars.

Police said the man smelled of alcohol but refused to provide a breath sample.

He was cited for driving under the influence and arrested for stalking.

Judge Timothy Van Valin ordered Monday that the man be held on $25,000 bail.