The search is on for three people who fled from Lincoln Police late Tuesday night in a car that was stolen over the weekend. Captain Todd Kocian says an officer spotted the 2007 Hyundai Sonata that was stolen Saturday from a UNL fraternity after it had been left running with the keys in it.
Kocian says officer spotted the Sonata parked near 28th and Potter. Additional officers responded to the area. As the vehicle took off an officer attempted to make a traffic stop at 28th & Clinton, but the vehicle failed to pull over.
LPD officers used stop sticks at 27 & Potter and one of the tires was deflated, but the vehicle continued to flee. “The vehicle eventually arrived at a dead-end street near 17th & Y where it briefly stopped,” Kocian says. “The officer exited his cruiser and began to approach when the vehicle quickly backed up and rammed the police cruiser before fleeing again.”
Kocian says during the chase a passenger pointed a handgun at another officer. The pursuit was terminated at 35th & Vine and the vehicle was found abandoned in a construction zone near 35th and T.
Damage to the police cruiser is estimated at $5,000. Investigators are continuing to follow-up and attempting to identify the occupants of the vehicle and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Lincoln Police Department at 402-441-6000 or Crime Stoppers at 402-475-3600.