Priest Arrested on Luring Charge

By Jeff Kirsch
KPTV
April 12, 2014

http://www.kptv.com/story/25229663/priest-arrested-on-luring-charge

A Catholic priest from Vancouver is under arrest accused of trying to lure a 14-year-old girl into his car. According to court documents, the girl identified 57-year-old Michael T Patrick as the man who tried several times to get her into his car.

The incident happened on March 10 as the girl was walking home from school on Northeast 28th Street near Northeast 138th Avenue. The girl says the man urged her several times to get in his car as he drove past, including saying "Come on Cutie" at one point.

Patrick was arrested April 2 at the Los Angeles International Airport as he returned to the U.S. from Australia. He is currently lodged at the Los Angeles County Jail with a court date set for April 18. It is unclear when he will be extradited to Clark County.

Patrick is a pastor at the St. Wenceslaus Parish in Scappoose, but lives in Vancouver.

In a statement, the Portland Archdiocese says, "Father Patrick will be suspended from his ministry functions until the matter is concluded, even though the criminal charge had nothing to do with his parish assignment in Scappoose, Oregon. "