$400,000 in warrants for alleged Oak Harbor truck thief

A 31-year-old man accused of trying to elude a state trooper in a stolen pickup truck and crashing it into a house is wanted on $400,000 worth of warrants after missing his own trial. Derek J. Cartmell also forfeited a $50,000 bond he posted when he was released on bail and is facing a new charge for bail jumping. Cartmell, an Anacortes resident, is charged in Island County Superior Court with possession of a stolen vehicle, attempting to elude police, possession of methamphetamine and hit and run.

A 31-year-old man accused of trying to elude a state trooper in a stolen pickup truck and crashing it into a house is wanted on $400,000 worth of warrants after missing his own trial.

Derek J. Cartmell also forfeited a $50,000 bond he posted when he was released on bail and is facing a new charge for bail jumping.

Cartmell, an Anacortes resident, is charged in Island County Superior Court with possession of a stolen vehicle, attempting to elude police, possession of methamphetamine and hit and run.

A state trooper spotted a man driving a stolen truck on the edge of Oak Harbor Nov. 21, 2012. The truck had been taken from the Life Church of Oak Harbor.

The trooper tried to pull the truck over, but the driver continue to speed. The trooper chased the pickup for about five miles at speeds up to 100 mph. It ended abruptly when the driver lost control at the intersection of West Beach and Hastie Lake roads and plowed through a yard before hitting a brick house.

The driver ran off and police were unable to find him, but he left behind a bag of meth and a backpack, which contained Cartmell’s drivers license, his Social Security card, his Department of Corrections offender ID card and a Quest card, according to the police report.

Cartmell didn’t appear at his Jan. 29 hearing. The judge issued a $200,000 arrest warrant. In addition, the prosecutor filed a charge of bail jumping, which came with another $200,000 arrest warrant.

Deputy Prosecutor David Carman said the bail bond company is out the $50,000 bond that was posted for Cartmell, but the company will be able to recover it if Cartmell ever makes a personal appearance.