COTTAGE HILLS – A Cottage Hills man accused of recklessly fleeing from a police traffic stop at high speeds remains in custody pending felony charges.
Joseph A. Pate, 43, of Cottage Hills, was charged on Dec. 9, 2025, with two Class 4 felony counts of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer and a Class A misdemeanor count of driving while license is revoked.
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Pate allegedly knowingly attempted to flee from a Madison County Sheriff’s Deputy on Dec. 8, 2025, reaching speeds at least 21 miles per hour over the limit and disobeying two or more traffic control devices. He is also accused of operating a 2013 Ford Taurus on College Avenue in Alton while his license had been revoked.
The Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to deny Pate’s pretrial release from custody, stating Pate fled from an attempted traffic stop conducted by a Madison County Sheriff’s Deputy.
“During defendant’s flight, he traveled at speeds in excess of 128 mph. Defendant was observed passing multiple vehicle in various no passing zones,” the petition states. “Defendant disregarded multiple traffic control devices during his flight. He was observed swerving in and out of traffic and driving on the shoulder of the roadway.”
Eventually, Pate reportedly abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot through a nearby tree line before being located and arrested by deputies with the assistance of a K9 unit.
The state’s petition was upheld, with a Detention Order filed in this case adding Pate briefly stopped the vehicle before continuing his flight from officers.
“Defendant fled from officers for an extended period of time at [a] high rate of speed,” the Detention Order states. “At one point, he pulled over to let two female passengers out of the car, then continued to flee. Defendant swerved in and out of traffic.”
The Detention Order adds Pate has history of fleeing, driving under the influence, and failing to appear and court, showing he “cannot comply with conditions of release.”
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office presented the case against Pate, who currently remains in custody at the Madison County Jail.
All individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
