Oak Harbor Police investigating faux bomb

Police are investigating the faux bomb as a criminal case.

Oak Harbor police haven’t been able to determine who built an object that caused a bomb scare at a bus stop last Thursday, according to Chief Kevin Dresker.

Officers responded to a report at 10:45 a.m. of a possible pipe bomb near the city limits on the north end. The caller reported that the object was a large plastic pipe with duct tape at both ends, according to the police department.

Officers blocked off the section of the road and set up a perimeter around the suspicious object. The police called officials at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island for assistance, and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team responded.

The EOD team analyzed the suspicious pipe with its specialized equipment and decided to destroy it. After nearby residents were evacuated or told to shelter in place, the Navy team destroyed the pipe.

It was determined that the object was not a bomb, according to a press release.

On Monday, Dresker said investigators believe the object may have been purposely made to look like a bomb, but there’s no conclusive evidence. Even if someone built it as an ill-advised prank, Dresker said police take the incident very seriously and are investigating it as a criminal case.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Capt. Bill Wilkie at 360-279-4603 or ICOM dispatch at 360-679-9567.