A late-night police chase that ended with an SUV buried in the front of a Royal Oak Ulta Beauty store now carries a staggering price tag for the driver. Katrina Patterson of Canton has been ordered to pay more than $258,000 in restitution and was placed on probation after her vehicle plowed into the Woodward Avenue shop.
The judge handed down one-year jail terms on each count, then held the time in abeyance pending a review hearing. The sentence also includes community service requirements and strict limits on her ability to drive.
Sentence and restitution
The court ordered Patterson to pay a total of $258,563, with $233,164 going to Ulta Beauty and the rest to the city of Royal Oak. She must also complete 30 days of community service and have her vehicle immobilized for one year, according to CBS Detroit.
How the chase unfolded
Royal Oak police say the chase kicked off after officers spotted an SUV traveling on the train tracks near West Fourth and South Center streets. One tire appeared to be flat, and officers reported seeing an open container in the vehicle before the driver took off.
Dashcam footage shows the SUV turning into the Ulta parking lot at 27844 Woodward Avenue, barreling through the storefront, then backing up and slamming into a patrol car before getting stuck on debris, according to ClickOnDetroit.
Plea and court review
Patterson pleaded guilty on Jan. 20 and was sentenced on March 10 to one year in jail on each count, with credit for time already served. The jail time is being held in abeyance pending a 60-day review, court records show.
The sentence also includes three years of probation and an order to stay away from all Ulta locations, according to CBS Detroit.
Retail restitution and the bigger picture
Major retail chains have increasingly leaned on restitution to claw back losses from theft, damage, and other costly incidents, and large dollar amounts have become more common. In a separate, widely reported case, a federal plea deal required an accused retail-theft ring leader to pay millions in restitution to Ulta and other retailers, highlighting how aggressively companies now pursue financial remedies, per CNBC.
What’s next
The case is scheduled to return to court for a review hearing, where compliance with the sentence will be evaluated and the city can continue to pursue collection through the courts.
After the crash, the Ulta on Woodward was boarded up and remained closed in the immediate aftermath. Downtown merchants say they are watching for repairs and any word on when the store might reopen, according to an earlier local report.
