Man found up a creek after police chase

Authorities arrested a Kalispell man following a high-speed chase through Kalispell involving a stolen pickup on Sunday morning.

Ernest Pattee, 32, is in custody at the Flathead County Detention Facility on charges of obstructing a peace officer, bail jumping, criminal endangerment, resisting arrest and revocation of a suspended sentence, according to Kalispell Investigations Captain Doug Overman.

Kalispell Police officers responding to the Wal-Mart parking lot at Hutton Ranch Plaza at around 7:30 a.m. located a truck matching the description and plates of a vehicle stolen out of Idaho. Officers found two people sleeping inside.

The woman in the passenger seat exited the vehicle when instructed. The driver, identified as Pattee, refused to exit the vehicle, according to police, forcing an officer to break the driver’s window with a flashlight. According to police reports, Pattee then started the truck before officers could take control of the vehicle and fled the scene.

According to Overman, Pattee drove at a high speed through the Kalispell area before returning to the Wal-Mart area and continuing west.

Flathead County Sheriff’s SWAT team and deputies, and a Two Bear Air helicopter were dispatched to assist in the pursuit.

Pattee fled on foot once he reached Vonderheide Lane, abandoning the vehicle, which caught fire soon after.

Pattee was found in a creek following a two-hour search, He was arrested and treated for hypothermia.

The female involved was released without charges.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.