Man arrested after forklift foray

Sat., Sept. 18, 2004

The Spokesman-Review

A man allegedly took a stolen forklift for an early morning joyride Sunday.

Spokane Valley Police Department officers found themselves chasing the forklift as it reportedly wove down Spokane Valley roads at less than 10 mph.

The driver eventually drove the forklift down a hill at Wilbur and Cataldo, crashing it and cutting his forehead, according to a police press release. Officers arrested the driver, identified as Gerald L. Patten, 33, 10420 E. Desmet Ave.

The incident started about 2:10 a.m. Sunday when a security officer at Kaiser Aluminum Corp. called to report that a man stole a forklift by driving it through Kaiser’s security gate.

A citizen called to report that the forklift was westbound on East Mission Avenue near North Pines Road. Officers attempted to stop the forklift driver, but he continued driving, at times running stop signs, police said, before he drove off the road.

Patten was booked into the Spokane County Jail on suspicion of felony theft, felony burglary, malicious mischief and attempting to elude a police vehicle.

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