PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles police were looking Thursday for a 37-year-old Port Angeles man wanted for investigation of multiple domestic-violence-related offenses after serving a search warrant at a house associated with him and finding a small explosive device.
Andrew David Nilsson, who also goes by Andrew Stanger, remained at large late Thursday afternoon.
Police consider him likely to be armed and potentially dangerous.
Police seek to arrest Nilsson for investigation of second-degree assault, felony unlawful imprisonment, felony harassment, fourth-degree assault and third-degree theft.
All the charges are domestic-violence-related and stem from an incident that began Sept. 29 with a single individual, said Port Angeles Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith.
Port Angeles police served a warrant at about 1 p.m. Wednesday at a house in the 200 block of East Eighth Street, Smith said.
Police did not find Nilsson but found a pingpong-ball sized device thought to contain explosives, prompting a call for the State Patrol bomb squad, Smith said.
Bomb technicians confirmed the device contained explosives and took it with them.
No other explosive devices were found at the house, Smith said.
Nilsson is described as white, 5-foot-10 and weighing 190 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. He has no known distinguishing marks.
Police believe he may be driving a white 1990 Honda Prelude with Washington license plate AHK8429.
Police suspect Nilsson may be armed with an AK-47 and potentially dangerous, Smith said.
Port Angeles Police Sgt. Barb McFall, the lead investigator on the search, said Nilsson is known to own an AK-47, though no such weapon was found at the house in the 200 block of East Eight Street believed to be his residence.
Although Nilsson has no known diagnosis of mental health issues, McFall said his girlfriend and other witnesses to the alleged domestic violence offenses believe Nilsson may be suffering from some sort of paranoia.
Police have no clues as to where Nilsson might be, McFall said, though his girlfriend reported the pair enjoyed hiking in the Hurricane Ridge area of Olympic National Park.
“They do like to hike, so that’s a possibility,” McFall said.
Nilsson reportedly told his girlfriend he was heading into a wooded area of some sort and could possibly plan to travel south to Oregon, McFall said.
McFall said police have no indication Nilsson is a direct threat to the public but urged that no one approach him.
Instead, anyone who sees him or knows of his whereabouts should phone 9-1-1.
Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.
