Police chase ends in arrest of Rathdrum man

POST FALLS — A traffic pursuit that began in Post Falls ended in the arrest of a Rathdrum man in Coeur d’Alene on Friday night.

Idaho State Police reported that Kevin Patterson, 37, is facing charges of felony eluding, resisting and obstructing, malicious injury to property and reckless driving following a traffic complaint eastbound on Interstate 90 from milepost 5 in Post Falls.

The suspect vehicle was described as a white Dodge pickup with Kootenai County plates. An ISP trooper located the suspect driving erratically eastbound on I-90 near milepost 7 and attempted to stop the vehicle. Patterson failed to stop and a traffic pursuit ensued on eastbound I-90 to Coeur d'Alene, police reported.

The ISP trooper discontinued the pursuit near Northwest Boulevard out of concern for public safety.

Patterson's pickup was again located by ISP troopers a few minutes later. The vehicle ran over deployed stop sticks, deflating one tire, police reported. Patterson fled eastbound on I-90 again before exiting at the 15th Street exit and turning south, according to police Patterson traveled east on Spokane Street and then north on 14th, driving into a residential yard and fleeing on foot.

ISP, Kootenai County Sheriff's deputies and Coeur d'Alene City Police established a perimeter. With the assistance of a K9, the suspect was found nearby and was taken into custody.