A Belpre man was arrested over the weekend for intimidating a witness scheduled to testify against him in Wood County Circuit Court.

Local drug task force agents discovered 25 year old Patrick Ryan Marte was circulating posters and attempting to locate an individual who had been utilized as a confidential informant against him in Wood and Washington Counties to allegedly purchase crack cocaine, morphine, and illegal prescription medications.

Marte had obtained information about the Confidential Informant from his defense attorney during the discovery process in preparation for a trial.

Several individuals were interviewed and indicated Marte was attempting to intimidate the informant and cause him to leave town. Marte was offering $70,000 for the location of the individual.

Over the weekend, agents searched Marte’s residence. He attempted to flee and had to be physically restrained. He was subsequently arrested and transported to the Washington County Jail.