An Ottumwa man was arrested in Wapello County with Washington warrants. Ottumwa officials were holding 26-year-old Colton Pategas on the charges of escape from custody, a class D felony, and interference with official acts, a serious misdemeanor. According to court records, on September 2nd Pategas was inside the Ottumwa Residential Facility, where he was court ordered to reside due to having three felony convictions in Washington County. Pategas was inside his assigned room, directed by staff to move from his room to a bathroom for a strip search to be conducted. Pategas first refused to go to the bathroom, then got up and started to walk. He ran down a hallway, out an emergency escape door, and was captured approximately one block away while attempting to gain entry into a business. 

In June of last year, the Washington Police Department arrested Pategas on five counts of third degree burglary, class D felonies, and two counts of attempted burglary, aggravated misdemeanors. This was in relation to several break-ins that took place in Washington businesses. Pategas pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary in the third degree; the other charges were dismissed.  

Pategas is being held in the Wapello County Jail. An arraignment date has been set for September 24th in Wapello County.