SPIRIT LAKE — An armed theft suspect who climbed up a tree in a failed bid to avoid being arrested has a history of trying to outrun law enforcement.

Sean Allen Patterson was convicted of felony eluding in Bonner County in 2005. He was also convicted of the same offense in Ada County in 2013, according to Idaho’s iCourt database.

Patterson, 46, was sought for arrest on an Ada County warrant for failing to report to authorities on an attempted grand theft charge involving a generator/welder that belonged to a paving company. He was also wanted in trespassing case in which he was accused of failing to depart from St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, court records show.

Patterson made an initial appearance in Bonner County Magistrate Court on Tuesday, although minutes from the hearing were not immediately available.

Deputies were investigating suspicious activity in the area of Krupp and Kohler roads when Patterson allegedly tried to speed off on a motorcycle. Patterson allegedly took off on foot while holding a handgun.

Patterson climbed up a tree, but descended and ran off, a sheriff’s deputy said. Patterson climbed another tree, but was coaxed down and arrested without incident.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.