A Port Orchard woman was ordered held on $25,000 bail Monday following her arrest Sunday on allegations of eluding a pursuing police vehicle and driving under the influence.

Michelle Lynn Whitmarsh made her first appearance in Jefferson County Superior Court on Feb. 13 via a video link from the county jail.

Whitmarsh, 30, was first reported by a QFC employee who saw her parked at the grocery store on Irondale Road just after 4 p.m. Sunday in a Chevrolet SUV. 

The worker told emergency dispatchers that a woman, later identified as Whitmarsh, was slumped over the steering wheel of the SUV and didn’t respond to knocks on the window.

When a sheriff’s deputy arrived, he noted Whitmarsh “appeared to be suffering the poor health of prolonged drug abuse” and her eyes looked heavy and droopy and she appeared to be under the effects of an opioid drug, according to court documents.

When the deputy began to knock on the driver’s side window, however, she started the SUV and tried to put the vehicle in gear.

The deputy quickly opened the door to the SUV and tried to grab Whitmarsh’s arm away from the gear shifter, but Whitmarsh put the vehicle in drive and quickly accelerated.

The deputy said in his report he tried not to get dragged or run over by the Chevy. Whitmarsh allegedly sped away from the store, cutting across parking lot stalls and apparently driving over a sidewalk and curb in her haste to get away, according to court documents.

The deputy said Whitmarsh had a near collision with another vehicle on Irondale Road as she sped away going north.

A police pursuit followed but the deputy lost sight of the Chevy. Witnesses said the driver had turned onto Fifth Avenue and pointed out her vehicle after it was abandoned at Swaney Street and Ninth Avenue.

Witnesses said Whitmarsh had fled into the woods nearby, and she was soon found by the pursuing deputy.

During a search of Whitmarsh, a deputy found a loaded syringe and several pills in her pockets, and she later allegedly told law enforcement that the syringe contained methamphetamine and the pills were fentanyl.

According to court documents, Whitmarsh also admitted to being addicted to opioids and said she fled because she had outstanding warrants for her arrest.

Her purse was later found in the woods where she was arrested. It allegedly contained syringes, two bags containing a white crystal substance, and aluminum foil with burnt residue and multiple straws.

During Whitmarsh’s appearance in court Monday, Deputy Prosecutor Melissa Pleimann noted the defendant’s long history of warrants for her arrest, as well as a pending DUI charge.

Whitmarsh also has pending charges in other jurisdictions for reckless endangerment, DUI, and two charges of second-degree possession of stolen property. 

Pleimann said Whitmarsh was a risk to not show up in court and asked bail be set at $25,000.

Superior Court Judge Brandon Mack agreed.

He also set her arraignment for Friday, Feb. 17.

Including charges pending in other counties, Whitmarsh’s total bail amount is $104,180.

Attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle is a felony that can result in a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Conviction of DUI can result in a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.