Law enforcement involved in standoff on Quincy’s north side following theft of police car

At 3:40 a.m. Wednesday, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of three trucks that were stolen in the 2000 block of Highway 61 in Houston Township, Adams County.  Around 7:00 a.m., the Sheriff’s office located one of the stolen trucks that was abandoned in Camp Point.

While deputies were in Camp Point, they received an additional report of a stolen blue Hyundai passenger car from a resident in Camp Point.  

At approximately 8:30 a.m., deputies located the stolen Hyundai traveling east on Illinois 61 near Illinois 336. Deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle however the vehicle failed to pull over and fled from the attempted stop at a high rate of speed. Deputies maintained visual contact with the suspect vehicle as it made its way toward Quincy and Quincy Police Department was notified of the situation.  

The suspect vehicle was observed traveling west onto the Bayview Bridge and crossed into Missouri. Missouri law enforcement was notified and they located the vehicle in West Quincy before turning back into Illinois.

Officers with ACSD and QPD then observed the vehicle once it came back into the Quincy city and it was moving eerratically at a high rate of speed.  At the intersection of 4th and Spring, the suspect vehicle struck a parked truck and the vehicle was damaged.  The suspect driver, later identified as Mercedes N. Patterson, 25 of Quincy, managed to get into a Quincy Police Department squad car that had pulled over to check on the traffic crash. She then fled from the scene in the police car.

Officers lost the suspect, but quickly learned she had wrecked squad car and abandoned it near the area of 3rd and Maple.  She fled on foot from the crashed squad car to a residence at 209 Maple Street.  

ACSO Deputies along with Quincy Police Officers set a perimeter around this residence and efforts were made to make contact with Patterson inside the residence.

At approximately 2:15 p.m., deputies executed a search at the Maple Street address.  Patterson was located inside and was taken into custody without further incident.

Patterson faces the following charges:

• Theft over $10,000-Government property/vehicle
• Possession of stolen vehicle-Improper lane usage
• One way street, wrong way-Improper lane usage
• Leaving the scene of an accident-vehicle damage
• Leaving the scene of a property damage accident-Reckless driving-Speeding (35mph or more over a posted 30mph limit)
• Burglary to motor vehicle
• Aggravated Fleeing or attempt to elude a peace officer
• Theft over $10,000 under $100,000
• IDOC Parole Warrant.

Patterson was lodged in the Adams County Jail with no bond.  Additional charges and arrests are pending.

The Sheriff’s Office and Quincy Police Department were assisted by the Adams County Ambulance service, along with numerous tips and information from the community.