A 27-year-old Lincoln man is facing charges in Saline County, with additional charges pending in Lincoln, after police say a stolen vehicle and alleged kidnapping led to a multi-agency effort that ended with authorities remotely disabling the vehicle in Crete.
Lincoln Police say Angel Lopez was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon after Nebraska State Patrol aircraft tracked the vehicle as it traveled into Saline County.
The incident began around 11:15 a.m. Wednesday when Lincoln Police responded to a report of a stolen blue 2020 Chevrolet Suburban. According to LPD, a 30-year-old Lincoln woman told officers she had met Lopez only hours earlier and allowed him to drive her vehicle.
Police say when the woman got out of the SUV near 13th and F streets, Lopez drove away without her permission.
Police Say Woman Later Forced Into SUV
Lopez allegedly drove the Suburban to the area of South 89th Street and Heritage Lakes Drive. The investigation subsequently developed into an alleged kidnapping and pursuit as authorities worked to locate Lopez and the vehicle.
The Nebraska State Patrol Air Wing eventually located and followed the SUV from above as Lopez traveled south.
LPD Lieutenant Jason Goodwin said the aircraft allowed authorities to maintain surveillance as the vehicle entered Saline County. “NSP Air Wing tracked the vehicle from the air as Lopez drove into Crete in Saline County,” Goodwin said.
Police then turned to technology already installed in the stolen vehicle to bring the incident to an end. Goodwin said, “LPD worked with the vehicle’s owner to connect with the vehicle’s OnStar system and remotely disable it.”
Once the Suburban was disabled, several law enforcement agencies moved in. “Crete police officers, Saline County deputies, and NSP troopers took Lopez into custody,” Goodwin said.
Lopez was taken into custody at about 1:30 p.m., roughly two hours after the initial stolen-vehicle report.
Charges in Two Counties
Goodwin said Lopez faces several charges stemming from what happened after the vehicle entered Saline County. “Lopez faces charges of possession of stolen property, leaving the scene, willful reckless driving, obstructing an officer and DUI in Saline County,” Goodwin said.
Additional charges were still pending in connection with the Lincoln portion of the incident. “Charges are pending for the incidents in Lincoln, including false imprisonment, theft by unlawful taking, and felony flee to avoid arrest,” Goodwin said.
Goodwin said no injuries had been reported. The investigation involved the Lincoln Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol Air Wing and troopers, Crete Police Department and Saline County Sheriff’s Office,