By Aileen Wingblad
The Oakland Press, Sterling Heights, Mich.
ROYAL OAK, Mich. — Royal Oak police have released additional information about a woman crashing her vehicle into the Ulta Beauty store on Woodward Avenue early Sunday morning — alleging she had been fleeing officers and is suspected of drunk driving.
Katrina Deann-Renee Patterson, 26, is charged with multiple felonies:
• Fleeing police — third-degree
• Assault/resist/obstruct police
• Two counts of felonious assault
• Malicious destruction of a building
• Malicious destruction of personal property
• Malicious destruction of police property
Katrina Patterson booking photo
According to a news release from Royal Oak Police Lt. Rich Millard , the incident unfolded at around 12:40 a.m. Nov. 9 when officers responded to a report of a white SUV driving on the railroad tracks near West Fourth Street and South Center Street. Officers reportedly spotted an open container of alcohol in the SUV, which had a tire “going flat,” and the driver — identified as Patterson — refused to cooperate with them. She then took off in her SUV, down Washington Avenue.
The police pursuit continued onto Farnum Avenue, onto Oakridge Avenue and then into an alley paralleling Woodward where Patterson reportedly turned; she accelerated and lost control of her vehicle, crashing into the Ulta store, the release states.
Patterson allegedly tried to flee while her SUV was fully lodged in the building, “backing up and ramming a patrol car,” the release states. She kept trying to drive away, moving the SUV further into the store where she caused thousands of dollars in damage, the release states.
After the SUV became lodged on debris, Patterson was taken into custody without further incident, the release states.
Patterson is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol at the time, but that determination is pending blood test results, the release states.
The amount of damage caused in the crash has not yet been determined.
An unidentified worker removing debris from the store on Sunday ( Jeff Payne/MediaNews Group )
Patterson and a male passenger — who was cited for having open alcohol in the vehicle — were medically evaluated for minor injuries suffered in the crash. No officers were injured.
“We are extremely fortunate this suspect did not seriously injure or kill our officers, herself, her passenger or anyone else during this reckless incident,” said Police Chief Michael Moore.
Of the criminal charges Patterson faces, malicious destruction of a building carries the stiffest possible penalty — up to 10 years in prison. The other crimes have possible penalties ranging from two years to five years incarceration.
Patterson is held in the Oakland County Jail with bond set at $50,000 — with no 10% provision. Her next court appearance is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 21.
Patterson’s criminal history includes a 2023 conviction for operating while intoxicated in Port Huron.
Recent similar incidents
This is the third reported incident in recent days of vehicles crashing into buildings in Oakland County. Last Thursday, six people were hurt when a 77-year-old Bloomfield Hills woman drove into the Thai Taste To Go restaurant on Telegraph Road near Long Lake Road in Bloomfield Township . And on Oct. 27 in Troy , a 45-year-old woman reportedly crashed a Chevy Equinox into the side of a residence on Woodside Trail . In that incident, police said witnesses reported that prior to the crash the woman hit a trailer while making a left turn, and then her vehicle rolled down the hill into the building. After she refused to submit to a breath test, officers were granted a search warrant to have medical personnel draw her blood and the case was subsequently turned over to the detective bureau, police said.
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