Officer Shoots Armed Man in Downtown Oak Harbor, Woman Safe

On the evening of December 9, multiple 911 calls brought Oak Harbor police and Island County deputies to downtown Oak Harbor after reports that a man with a gun was forcibly holding down a woman near Hal Ramaley Memorial Park. Responding officers said the suspect was armed and that shots were fired when the man failed to comply with commands. The 21 year old suspect was struck in the arm and transported to Harborview Medical Center, where his injuries were described as non life threatening. The woman involved is OK and no officers were injured.

Multiple Oak Harbor officers and Island County deputies converged on the scene, and eyewitnesses described a rapid and heavy police presence. Local businesses in the immediate area temporarily locked their doors while the response unfolded, and several bystanders watched as officers secured the scene. The Skagit Multi Agency Response Team, known as SMART, is conducting the investigation into the shooting and the officer involved has been placed on administrative leave pending the inquiry.

The incident has immediate implications for downtown safety and for residents who witnessed the confrontation. Business owners reported a brief disruption to evening trade as staff and customers sheltered in place, and neighbors expressed concern about violent incidents occurring in public spaces near parks and commercial corridors. The deployment of multiple law enforcement agencies underscored the seriousness with which authorities treated the calls and the need to restore public confidence through a transparent investigation.

For Island County residents the case highlights questions about police response in high tension incidents, and the ongoing SMART investigation will determine whether departmental policies and state law were followed. Authorities have not released the names of those involved. As the community awaits further findings, local officials and law enforcement face the task of communicating results and addressing safety concerns in downtown Oak Harbor.