After crashing into house, driver faces 10 charges, stiff penalties
An Oklahoma City woman who allegedly gave a false name to a Kingfisher police officer at a traffic stop last weekend before fleeing in her vehicle and driving through the wall of a local residence now faces up to life in prison.
Tabitha Nicole Patterson, 37, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to four felony and six misdemeanor charges filed against her in Kingfisher County District Court.
The felony charges include endangering others while attempting to elude a police officer; possession of a firearm after a former felony conviction; malicious injury to property in excess of $1,000 and false personation.
Misdemeanor charges include driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, carrying a firearm while under the influence, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, driving with license canceled, suspended or revoked and failure to pay taxes due to the state (expired license tag).
The charges were filed after 13 prior felony convictions from 2016-19 in Oklahoma, Noble and McClain counties, including drug, burglary and gun charges and two other charges of false personation.
Based on the prior convictions, Patterson now faces a potential sentence of up to life in prison if she’s found guilty on any one of the first three felony offenses filed against her last week.
Patterson was driving a 2004 Jeep when she was stopped by Kingfisher Police Officer Aaron Schlegel near Seventh Street and Bowman Avenue last Sunday morning for an apparently expired tag.
She first identified herself to the officer as Keara Dawn Harrison and gave a false date of birth, according to Schlegel’s police report.
When asked about drugs in the vehicle, Patterson allegedly handed over a THC vape pen and said she did not have a medical marijuana card.
After Schlegel removed Patterson from the vehicle and returned to his patrol car to retrieve a leash for the pit bull in the backseat of the Jeep, Patterson allegedly got back in the driver’s seat and fled south on Seventh Street, eventually crashing into the front wall of a residence at a T-intersection at Chisholm Drive.
Patterson was transported to Mercy Hospital Kingfisher, where she was examined for possible injuries and agreed to submit to a blood test before being transported to the Kingfisher County Criminal Justice Center.
Officers investigating the crash allegedly discovered separate quantities of marijuana and methamphetamine and a handgun, which Patterson later admitted was hers, according to the report.
Patterson was released from jail Wednesday on $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear back in court Aug. 20.
In addition to possible imprisonment, Patterson could be assessed a maximum of $20,500 in total fines, plus restitution for damage to the house and court costs.