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COURTS Woman who tried to kidnap baby referred to mental health court By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 11, 2015 @ 11:15 am Updated at 2:00 PM By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 11, 2015 @ 11:15 am Updated at 2:00 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> A woman who attempted to kidnap a baby from a Medford hospital and is accused of committing a string of other crimes has been referred to the Jackson County mental health treatment court. Celeste Kathleen Patton of Central Point was arrested on March 8 after she posed as a Department of Human Services worker and foster parent at Providence Medford Medical Center. According to court documents, she claimed to be taking an infant into protective custody but fled the scene when hospital staff questioned her further. In the past year, Patton has had a string of cases involving law enforcement. On March 3, Patton was arrested on charges of improper use of 911 after she demanded to speak with Sheriff Corey Falls. When supervisors at the Sheriff's Office reached out to Patton instead, she called 911 and refused to state her emergency before becoming uncooperative with the operator. She then demanded the media be sent to the Sheriff's Office before making a second 911 call. She refused to state an emergency during the incident. In May and June, she was charged with three misdemeanor counts of telephonic harassment after sending a Medford police officer "very lengthy" text messages that were rambling in nature and irrelevant to requesting police assistance or reporting a new crime. In July she was arrested on a charge of soliciting another to assault a public safety officer. Patton was arrested on felony charges in a March 5 incident of eluding a police in a vehicle. According to court documents, Medford and Central Point police attempted to stop her while she was driving about 40 mph near Merriman and Mace roads, and ignored emergency lights for one mile until the tires in her 1999 Ford truck were spiked by Central Point police. She attempted to flee on foot before she was arrested. Jackson County Mental Health Court can set up a process in which defendants are required to seek mental health treatment when serious and persistent mental illness is the primary factor in a suspect's crime. A psychological evaluation report from the Oregon State Hospital was submitted to the court on Aug. 17, relating to those charges along with a misdemeanor charge of violating a stalking order. A plea change hearing on the charges is planned for Nov. 24. According to Mail Tribune archives, Patton was arrested in February 2013, in an erratic impaired driving incident at the North Medford Fred Meyer store. Police said Patton parked her Hummer sports utility vehicle on the sidewalk before entering the store, where she purchased a bottle of wine and began drinking as she drove off. The SUV swerved through traffic on Poplar Drive, and as Patton turned onto McAndrews Road the vehicle veered onto the sidewalk, sheared off a light pole and knocked a wheel off the Hummer. Reach reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Posted Nov. 11, 2015 @ 11:15 am Updated at 2:00 PM » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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