Three teenagers are in custody after Lincoln police say they drove around in a stolen car Tuesday threatening people with a gun. Captain Todd Kocian says the blue Kia Optima was taken from a driveway near 10th and Washington around 11:00 a.m.
At around 4:35 p.m. Kocian says they were called to the area of NW 50th & West Superior by a 66-year-old man who said he walking to his mailbox when a blue vehicle drove past him. “As the vehicle passed, a passenger was hanging out of the vehicle pointing a black firearm at him,” Kocian says.
About an hour later officers were called to 5th & West ‘A’ Street by a 46-year-old man who said he was driving eastbound on West ‘A’ and merging into a turn lane when a blue vehicle passed him at a high rate of speed.
“He caught up to the vehicle as it was preparing to turn and commented on their driving behavior,” Kocian says. The man said the car followed him to the area of 9th & ‘B’ Street where the front seat passenger displayed a black gun. but did not point it at him or his passengers.
Kocian says at 6:45 p.m. officers saw the stolen Kia traveling westbound on West ‘O.’ The car tried to turn into the driveway at 37th and West ‘O,’ lost control and struck a light pole. The 14,15 and 16-year-old boys were taken into custody following a short foot pursuit.
The 16-year-old was booked into the Youth Detention Center for Terroristic Threats. The 14-year-old was booked for theft by unlawful taking and accessory to a felony. The 15-year-old was referred for refusing to comply with a police order and released to a parent.