Firefighters rescue alleged car thief who got stuck inside a bridge beam

ST. CHARLES, Mo. (KMOV/Gray News) – Firefighters in Missouri rescued a man from a bridge beam who police say was on the run after stealing a vehicle.

Video shows firefighters rappel down to reach the man who was stuck on a beam of the Blanchette Bridge in St. Charles.

Police said the man had jumped over the bridge with hopes to reach the water, but instead he landed on a support beam. Officials said that might be the reason he is alive today.

According to charging documents, it all started when a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper spotted two cars, a Dodge Challenger and a Honda Accord, stopped around 5:45 a.m. Sunday on the bridge.

When the trooper activated the lights on his cruiser, a man jumped out of the passenger window of the Dodge and into the Honda. The trooper pulled his gun and yelled for the person to stop, but the Honda pulled away, according to charging documents.

Another trooper arrived a minute later and pursued the Honda. The car then stopped in the far-left lane of the bridge, and two men jumped off the bridge and disappeared, the documents state.

The troopers began a search and located one of the men, later identified as 21-year-old Dekayo Patterson, hiding inside one of the bridge beams.

Troopers said the second man jumped into the water and died. He was not identified.

Police said the operation went from a chase to a rescue to get Patterson to safety.

“He was just asking for help, begging for help, he was terrified,” said Aaron Buchanan, the firefighter who rappelled down the bridge to rescue Patterson.

Buchanan had to navigate the one-foot-wide beam, while hovering 70 feet above water, to rescue Patterson.

St. Charles City Fire Protection District rescued him just after 7 a.m. Sunday from the bridge beam, troopers said. Patterson was then taken into custody.

“We have compassion and integrity in everything we do,” Buchanan said. “That’s something we pride ourselves in with the St. Charles Fire Department. He’s still someone who needs my help, so we helped him.”

Officials said both the Dodge and the Honda were stolen, according to charging documents.

Patterson posted bond and is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 26. He is charged with first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle and felony resisting arrest.

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