Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) and several other law enforcement agencies coordinated to apprehend a Lincoln man following a pursuit spanning three counties overnight.
The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. on Monday, when NSP received notification from Butler County Sheriff’s Deputies about a Toyota Rav4 fleeing a deputy’s attempt to inspect it while parked on the roadside. NSP joined the pursuit, which was headed westbound on Highway 92.
The chase traversed through Polk County before entering Merrick County. NSP took lead position in the pursuit and the Central City Police Department deployed stop sticks in Merrick County. The Toyota slowed down and eventually stopped west of the Highway 14/Highway 92 intersection.
Troopers made verbal commands to the driver, later identified as 36-year-old Matthew Ross of Lincoln, to exit the vehicle. Ross failed to comply, and after a brief standoff, resumed fleeing westward. A trooper executed a tactical vehicle intervention, bringing the pursuit to an end. Ross was taken into custody without further incident.
Ross was booked into Butler County Jail, charged with flight to avoid arrest and willful reckless driving.