Man accused of threatening staff at Oak Harbor Middle School: Suspect appeared to be intoxicated

Oak Harbor police found and arrested a man who they believe threatened staff at Oak Harbor Middle School Thursday morning.

Oak Harbor police found and arrested a man who they believe threatened staff at Oak Harbor Middle School Thursday morning.

Before school began at around 7 a.m., a man in his 20s who appeared to be drunk entered the school and confronted employees, according to a message sent to parents by the school district.

Staff called police, but the man left the school shortly after the encounter.

Within minutes police arrived and searched the school and nearby neighborhoods. About half an hour later, they received a call that there was a man matching the description of the suspect downtown at the Island County Transit Station.

While on their way to the transit station, police received another report that the man was walking eastbound on Pioneer Way.

Police found the man and arrested him on suspicion of intimidating an administrator at a school facility, disrupting a school facility and harassment. The suspect was booked into the Oak Harbor jail.

“We are glad to share that no one was harmed, and no students were directly involved,” wrote Oak Harbor Middle School Principal Raenette Wood in a message to parents. “Based on the reports and what police already know of this suspect, this man is not connected to any staff or families at OHMS or in the school district.”

The school district placed security cameras to the entrances of both middle schools and police were able to view the tapes from that morning, which helped identify the suspect, said district spokeswoman Kellie Tormey.

The district is in the middle of installing security cameras at the elementary schools.