Oak Harbor police are looking at security video and talking to possible witnesses to try to identify the suspect in an armed bank robbery and foot pursuit that occurred this morning.

Police Chief Kevin Dresker explained that the suspect forced his way into Washington Federal on Southwest Barlow Street as an employee was arriving at about 8:30 a.m. The man in a black ski mask brandished what appeared to be a firearm and forced the employee to give him cash.

The suspect is identified as a black male in his early 20s, about 5-foot-2 to 5-foot-6, with a medium to thin build. He was wearing all black.

A detective happened to be about a half block away and investigated after hearing screaming coming from the bank, Dresker said. The detective saw the man running from the bank toward the back of Donut Master. The detective called on his radio to report the incident and chased the suspect, who was carrying a dark-colored bag and dropping money, according to the police.

Two police officers responded and joined the pursuit, but the suspect got away. Dresker said they think he jumped over a fence and ran into an area of thick brush.

The police searched the area for hours, with the help of law enforcement from the Island County Sheriff’s Office, Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the State Patrol. The sheriff’s office used a drone to search an area of blackberry bushes.

A black ski mask and a small amount of money was recovered. Dresker said the amount stolen is not being disclosed at this point.

Dresker said he asked the school district to do a “lockout” at the schools as a precaution, even though the incident was not near a school.

The investigation is ongoing. A photograph of the suspect was obtained from a security camera in the area. Anyone with information regarding the suspect can call the Detective Lisa Powers at 360‐279‐4632 or the Oak Harbor Police Department at 360‐279‐4600.