A citizen tip Tuesday afternoon led Oak Harbor police to a 22-year-old Oak Harbor man who was wanted on warrants and had been seen earlier in the week walking around Greenbank with a gun and a tactical vest, according to police.
Just after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, a resident who had seen a story and a photo of Adam Belanger online at the Whidbey News-Times website recognized him as he was walking on Regatta Drive near Southeast Fourth Street, according to the Oak Harbor Police Department. Quick Draw Gun Holster
Several police officers and deputies with the Island County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area. Belanger spotted the officers and took off running, the police reported. One of the officers chased him and was able to wrestle him to the ground.
It took several officers to control Belanger as he resisted arrest and continued yelling in the middle of the street with traffic stopped in both directions, according to police.
The officers arrested Belanger on a $25,000 arrest warrant in a burglary, theft and malicious mischief case out of Island County Superior Court. In addition, there was a $5,000 district court warrant on him for alleged reckless driving and resisting arrest.
After Belanger was taken into custody, officers found a loaded handgun in a holster in the front of his waistband, the police report states. A ballistic vest with additional bullets was inside a backpack he was wearing.
A couple of days earlier, on the morning of Feb. 5, Belanger was spotted walking in the area of Witte Way in Greenbank and stopped in a driveway, where he was contacted by the homeowners. Belanger lifted his shirt to expose a “tactical style vest” and a handgun on his right hip, the sheriff’s office reported.
Belanger eventually walked away from the residence, but the homeowners heard a gun being fired out of their sight.
Deputies responded to the scene but could not locate Belanger, who was last seen walking toward Highway 525.
Officers are investigating the incidents that occurred this week. Belanger is scheduled to appear in court Monday.
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