Registered sex offender hospitalized after leading officers on pursuit - East Idaho News
Pocatello

Registered sex offender hospitalized after leading officers on pursuit

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INKOM — A Rigby man is in critical condition after leading officers on a high-speed, cross-county chase through southeast Idaho on Friday afternoon.

According to authorities, at approximately 4:45 p.m., an officer with the Bannock County Sheriff’s Department attempted to pull over Andrew Patterson, 33, a registered sex offender, who was driving an SUV erratically on Interstate 15 southbound near Inkom. Patterson refused to pull over and increased his speed to up to 120 mph. Officers ran the plates of the vehicle and determined it had been stolen out of Idaho Falls.

As Patterson crossed into Oneida County, he tried to strike an officer who was attempting to deploy spike strips. Patterson’s vehicle avoided the strips and continued south on Interstate 15 before rear-ending a vehicle operated by a female driver. Her vehicle spun off the road and rolled. She was uninjured. Local law enforcement say that according to witnesses, Patterson struck the female driver’s vehicle on purpose in an attempt to slow pursuing officers.

Authorities say Patterson continued south and attempted to take the Malad exit. He lost control of his vehicle and drove off the road and wrecked. The entire pursuit took approximately 20 minutes. Authorities said when Patterson was apprehended, he had a can of beer in his hand.

Patterson was taken to Portneuf Medical Center via Life Flight, where hospital officials said he will enter the intensive care unit.

In December 2011, Patterson was charged with sexual exploitation of a child.

This article was originally published in the Idaho State Journal. It is used here with permission.

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