Chase leads to arrest
By Larry Hurrle
ARGUS OBSERVER
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 10:56 AM PST
PAYETTE COUNTY — Two people were arrested Monday following a high speed chase through Payette County that topped speeds of 90 mph.
According to a press release distributed by the Payette County Sheriff’s Office, Elzie Hatfield, 33, of Payette, and Jennifer Fitch, 28, of New Plymouth, were arrested near Big Willow Road in rural Payette County after leading law enforcement officers on the high speed chase around 12:30 p.m.
According to the release, Fruitland Chief of Police J.D. Huff spotted a blue Chevrolet pickup traveling at a high rate of speed south on U.S. Highway 95 in Fruitland. Huff attempted to stop the vehicle, but the pickup, which was reported stolen out of Boise, turned east on Northwest First Avenue and continued at a high rate of speed to New Plymouth. Eventually, the pickup turned on Big Willow Road and then left the maintained roadway and continued into the foothills northeast of New Plymouth.
Fruitland City police officers, Payette County Sheriff’s Deputies, Idaho State Police Office and Bureau of Land Management Rangers were called to assist.
An aircraft spotted the vehicle in a ravine approximately one mile north of Big Willow Road. Four wheel drive police units were used to converge on the pickup, but when officers arrived the occupants of the vehicle had fled on foot.
Officers then followed tracks to a ravine approximately 200 yards from Big Willow Road, where they found the suspects holed-up in the bushes.
Hatfield was identified as the driver of the vehicle and was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, felony eluding, felony injury to a child, two misdemeanor warrants, driving without privileges, resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Fitch, who had her 3-year-old son with her during the pursuit, was charged with felony injury to a child. The child was unrestrained in the pickup during the chase.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare took custody of Fitch’s 3-year-old son, as well as her 5-year-old son, who was not in the vehicle during the chase.
Both Hatfield and Fitch were scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon at the Payette County Courthouse.
