A 35-year-old Colville, Washington, man who led police on a high-speed chase north on Highway 95 from the Ponderay Walmart, where he’d been reported for commercial burglary, to the top of Peterson Hill on March 21, passing dangerously and forcing numerous vehicles off the highway will serve from one to four years in prison.
Local law enforcement was alerted of the pursuit by the Ponderay Police Department at about 3:37 p.m., when the gold or tan vehicle was passing Samuels at 100 miles per hour. A Boundary County deputy responded and attempted to set a spike strip out at the north end of the Naples Bridge but was unable due to heavy traffic and he joined in pursuit behind three Bonner County police vehicles.
Passing Brown Creek Road, the Buick Park Avenue was still traveling at 100 miles per hour, passing on double yellow lines and forcing other vehicles off the highway.
Another deputy was able to deploy a spike strip near mile 501, slowing the car to about 80 miles-per-hour as other Boundary County deputies and Bonners Ferry police officers deployed and set up additional spike strips near mile 501.8. About three-tenths of a mile further, the vehicle made an abrupt turn onto a driveway, then turned south on a muddy gas line access road.
One of the Bonner County units in pursuit got stuck, but within moments the Buick also got stuck near mile 502.3 and the driver was caught and taken into custody moments later by a Boundary County deputy while running south along the guard rail on the east side of Highway 95.
A search of the vehicle turned up methamphetamine, marijuana, prescription drugs not his, a debit card not his, ab drivers license not his, drug paraphernalia and several items in Walmart bags.
Patrick Robert Springer was charged with felony eluding a peace officer, felony possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, driving without privileges and driving under the influence.
In a plea agreement, he pled guilty to eluding a peace officer, for which he was sentenced August 20 by Judge Susie Jensen to one to four years in prison with credit for 57 days served and $245.50 costs, to felony possession, which added an additional $417.50 in costs, and to DUI, receiving 57 days in jail with credit for 57 days served and $202.50 costs.
In his final post on Facebook March 11, Springer pinned a cash app post seeking donations. “Trying to get sober and bact (sic) to Spokane start work tomorrow time for the bounc (sic) back pleas (sic) help…”