State troopers, with help from other law enforcement agencies, apprehended five juveniles early Sunday morning who were on the run from a facility in Wyoming.
The teens were arrested after a state trooper chased their two stolen SUVs for about 25 miles, followed by an lengthy manhunt, Nebraska State Patrol spokesman Cody Thomas said.
Thomas said it started in the wee hours pf Sunday morning, when the NSP was told that five juveniles were believed to be eastbound through Nebraska in a stolen vehicle. Troopers were told later that the teens were thought to have stolen another vehicle in North Platte and the two vehicles were traveling together.
Around 4:15 a.m., a trooper found both vehicles, a Dodge Durango and a Chevrolet Tahoe, eastbound and traveling at more than 100 mph on I-80 near Gothenburg. The trooper tried to pull them over, but they exited I-80 at the Cozad interchange and headed south on Neb. Highway 21, driving in the northbound lane at times, Thomas said.
Near the intersection of Neb. Highways 21 and 23, the Durango left the road and ended up in the ditch. Both occupants ran into a field south of the intersection. The Tahoe drove south a few miles farther before stopping. The three people who were in the Tahoe also ran off.
More troopers, along with Dawson, Frontier, and Gosper County sheriffs’ deputies, arrived.
After searching for several hours, all five juveniles were taken into custody. They ranged from 14-17 years of age and were turned over to probation officials, Thomas said.
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“They ranged from 14-17 years of age and were turned over to probation officials…”
They should be turned over someone’s knee and given a good paddling…before going to jail.
They are danged lucky they chose “not” to steal a vehicle from someone armed. Our legislature should be concentrating on allowing people to defend themselves. Not, on taxing non tobacco products.
Instead of turning them over to the probation officials they should be charged as adults and locked up in jail until their trial. They should also be denied bail because they have shown that they are flight risks and any sentence handed down should include restitution for the stolen vehicles and restitution for the time and money spent chasing these hoodlums!
Unfortunately because of their ages they can’t be jailed at the time of arrest. Probation is responsible to handle them until they can be returned to Wyoming. Lincoln County probably won’t file charges for the vehicle stolen in NP!! Without knowing why they were placed in the juvenile facility in Wyoming. I retired from a 40 year career in Law Enforcement almost 3 years ago, so the above statements may not be how juveniles are handled in 2025.