A Coupeville man is accused of fleeing a traffic stop and leading police on a medium-speed chase north of Oak Harbor on June 21, according to court documents.

Michael Dunsmore, 50, was wanted on warrants out of the state Department of Corrections, Island County Superior Court and Island County District Court when he was arrested.

Dunsmore appeared in Island County Superior Court June 24, and Judge Carolyn Cliff found probable cause existed to believe he committed the crime of attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle.

Chief Criminal Deputy Attorney Eric Ohme asked that Dunsmore’s bail be set at $25,000. He pointed to the current warrants and the fact that warrants had been issued a total of 17 times in Dunsmore’s previous criminal cases.

Dunsmore’s attorney said he has been living in Coupeville, taking care of his ailing father.

The judge agreed with the prosecution and imposed the bail.

An officer with the Oak Harbor Police Department was patrolling just before noon when he clocked a red Jeep SUV traveling at 50 mph in a 30 mph zone. The officer pulled the vehicle over and contacted the driver, who was identified as Dunsmore.

After obtaining Dunsmore’s ID, the officer returned to his car and contacted dispatch about the stop and was advised about the warrants. The officer called for backup.

As the officer approached the Jeep, Dunsmore sped off north of the highway, the officer’s report states. The two officers chased him with lights and sirens, but Dunsmore didn’t pull over, the report states.

Dunsmore ran a red light and turned onto Ault Field Road and then ran a red light at the intersection with Goldie Street. The officer reported that the maximum speed of the chase was 40 mph, which is below the speed limit in some stretches of the road.

About a mile later, a deputy with the Island County Sheriff’s Office boxed in the fleeing car and Dunsmore was arrested. When asked why he was “being stupid,” Dunsmore indicated that he was concerned about being able to see his father again.

In March, Dunsmore was arrested on suspicion of possessing a stolen vehicle when an officer found a truck stolen from a construction company parked at his home, court documents state.