OKC Police Release Name Of Suspect Tackled By Homeowner After Chase

An Oklahoma City man is getting credit for stopping an alleged thief who led police on a high-speed chase late Monday night.

Police say the chase began near S. W. 89th Street and S. Penn after officers spotted a stolen truck. When police attempted to stop the driver of that truck, now identified as 26-year-old Patrick Collateta, they say he sped off and eventually ditched the vehicle in a neighborhood near N.W. 10th Street and Council.

A man living nearby saw Collateta running and decided to tackle and hold him until officers arrived and placed the suspect in handcuffs.

"One of the neighbors grabbed ahold of him and kind of slowed him down until we got there," said Oklahoma City Police Lt. Rod Strecker. "They thought [the suspect] had burglarized the house. They weren't sure, but they knew he wasn't supposed to be in the area."

Police say they're happy the neighbor helped, but it's not something they recommend people do.

"That's pretty dangerous of them," said Lt. Strecker. "They don't know what's going on and they had no idea who he was or what he was capable of doing. "

Police say they found a gun inside the stolen truck. Officers arrested Collateta on complaints of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle after former felony conviction, possession of a firearm after former felony conviction, and attempting to elude after former felony conviction.