CAMANO ISLAND — Some say he used to run barefoot from police through the south Camano Island woods.
Others tell tales that he climbed trees and slept under the stars.
Now, several people believe that Colton Harris-Moore, the elusive teenage burglar has returned and again is prowling vacation homes.
“They don’t know what the hell they’re talking about,” the teenager’s mother, Pam Kohler, said Tuesday. “I know he’s not around here and the Island County Sheriff’s Office knows that, too.
There’s been a string of burglaries recently and last weekend someone broke into the Mabana Fire Station and an Island County sheriff’s deputy’s vehicle.
A rifle was stolen from the patrol car along with expensive electronics. Officials won’t yet say what was missing from the fire station.
“I’m not saying it’s not Colton,” Island County Sheriff Mark Brown said. “We have nothing positive yet. If I did, I’d come clean with it. I’m certainly not ruling him out as a suspect, I’d be stupid to do that.”
Many of the stories about Harris-Moore’s fleet-footed escapades are myth. The teen, now 18, was arrested in February 2007 after several months on the run.
He was suspected in a number of burglaries in vacation homes. Detectives believe he slept on couches and ate food from pantries.
Harris-Moore escaped from a Renton group home more than a year ago after being ordered to serve a three-year sentence for residential burglary.
Last July, the 6-foot-5-inch teen returned to Camano Island and was involved in a police pursuit that ended when he crashed a stolen Mercedes-Benz into the back of the Elger Bay Grocery. He ran off and despite efforts by professional man hunters, the teen eluded capture.
Police released a self-portrait Harris-Moore apparently took July 8 using a stolen digital camera.
In August, officials said they believed Harris-Moore had left the island.
Three weeks ago, sheriff’s deputies saw an increase in home burglaries on south Camano Island.
“It seems to fit (Colton’s) method of operating but just a little more bold,” said Josh Flickner, president of the Camano Island Chamber of Commerce and the Elger Bay Grocery manager.
Customers are saying that some of the same people who were burglarized last year are again finding doors ajar and missing property.
“That seems like a really big coincidence to me,” Flickner said.
It’s one thing to break into homes and steal food, another to take weapons, he said.
“Instead of this punk kid that deserves to be in jail, now you had this guy who’s armed,” Flickner said.
Kohler said she’s been in touch once in a while with her son. She doesn’t believe he’ll return to Camano Island or that he’ll turn himself into authorities.
In March, Island County prosecutors stacked 10 new charges against Harris-Moore relating to his island visit last summer, Island County deputy prosecuting attorney Peter Simpson said. The new counts include taking a motor vehicle without permission, attempting to elude police, possession of stolen property, theft, identity theft and malicious mischief.
Harris-Moore was charged in juvenile court but likely will face prosecution as an adult when he’s arrested, Simpson said.
When the teenager failed to appear in court, an Island County judge issued a warrant for his arrest.
For now, Island County detectives are trying to recover the deputy’s stolen rifle and stop the string of burglaries by arresting whoever is responsible, Brown said.
They’re working with other law enforcement agencies and keeping the investigation details under wraps.
“We’re working very hard to solve the problem,” the sheriff said.
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.
Help find fugitive
Island County sheriff’s officials ask people on Camano Island to keep doors to homes and cars locked to discourage burglaries.
Anyone who spots Colton Harris-Moore, described as 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 200 pounds, is asked to call 911.
Information also can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.
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