A 22-year-old South Whidbey man is accused of stealing a car, leading police on a short car chase, crashing the car and leading police on a foot chase before surrendering on April 25, according to court documents.
Carl H. Chapman appeared in Island County Superior Court April 28. Court Commissioner Eric Ohme found probable cause exists to believe Chapman committed the crimes of taking a motor vehicle without permission in the second degree, reckless driving, escape in the third degree and driving while license suspended.
Ohme set Chapman’s bail at $25,000.
At about 5:40 p.m. on April 25, deputies with the Island County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report that Chapman, who was wanted on warrants, was walking along Highway 525. Deputies arrived and saw him get into a family member’s car and drive away northward; the family member said Chapman didn’t have permission to drive the car, according to a deputy’s report on the incident.
Three deputies chased after the car, but Chapman ignored them and continued to drive erratically. A deputy attempted to block the car at the intersection of Highway 525 and Bayview Road, but Chapman swerved into the oncoming lane and continued speeding north, the report states.
Chapman tried to turn into Thompson Road at a high rate of speed but instead drove into an embankment and came to a halt in a large bush. The pursuit lasted only 2.27 miles, according to the report.
The deputies arrested Chapman and placed him in handcuffs while waiting for an ambulance to arrive. The deputy removed his handcuffs at the request of medical personnel.
But once released, Chapman fled on foot across the highway. The deputies ran after Chapman, who eluded them by jumping over a fence of a nearby residence. The deputies set up a perimeter and asked a detective to respond with a drone to help look for him.
After running from the cops and hopping fences, Chapman eventually walked up to a deputy and gave himself up. A deputy transported him to the hospital in a patrol vehicle. He was released from the hospital an hour later and brought to the jail.
