An undercover cop bought a half pound of military-grade explosives Thursday night in a sting operation at Freeland Park. Police arrested a 32-year-old Freeland man for allegedly trying to sell explosives, plus possession of stolen property and obstructing police.

Thelan Hutchinson allegedly sold C-4, a variety of plastic explosives used by the military, to an undercover officer cop at about 9 p.m.

Hutchinson was arrested for selling/possession of explosives, possession of stolen property, possession of a dangerous weapon and obstructing police.

He was arraigned in Island County Superior Court Friday.

Hutchinson is known to sheriff’s deputies for numerous violations of no contact orders and restraining orders.

A member of his family, Darin Hutchinson, murdered two Island County Deputies in 1986 in a holding room in the courthouse.

The incident came to a head Thursday when a joint task force involving several law enforcement agencies staked out Freeland Park to watch the illegal transaction.

“The undercover officer purchased approximately one-half pound of the explosive from Hutchinson for $450 dollars. Detectives from the different agencies quickly surrounded the suspect’s vehicle as it left the park area and Hutchinson was arrested at the scene,” said Cmdr. Mike Beech of the Island County Sheriff’s Office.

The effort was a joint operation of the Island County Sheriff’s Office, the Oak Harbor Police Department, the Naval Criminal Investigation Service and the State Patrol’s canine unit.

“That much C-4 would do a lot of damage,” Beech said.

Beech said the arrest was made without incident. Hutchinson is not cooperating with police, however..

“We were hoping he would lead us to his contact,” Beech said. “He obtained it somewhere.”

Beech said they had the area staked out while the undercover cop made the buy.

“Once he was finished we moved in and made the arrest,” he said. “We had complete control of the situation.”

The C-4 has been taken to Seattle for testing. Beech described the C-4 as half the size of a brick with the consistency of grayish Play-Doh.

Gayle Saran can be reached at 221-5300 or gsaran@southwhidbeyrecord.com.