Colton Pategas

A stolen vehicle was found in a ditch after it had rolled, west of Washington, Thursday night.

According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, at 10:24 p.m. a caller stated there was a single vehicle in the south ditch on Highway 92, west of Highway 1. Washington County Sheriff’s deputies, Iowa State Patrol, West Chester QRS, Washington County Ambulance, Washington Fire and Rescue all responded to the scene where no driver was located. Authorities then contacted the registered owner who said her vehicle had been stolen. Washington County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 18-year-old Colton Pategas of Wayland for violation of an instruction permit, failure to maintain control, possession of stolen property, theft in the fourth degree, and operating without owners consent; charges are also pending per DCI results for operating while intoxicated. He was taken to the Washington County Jail.