Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested one person after a pursuit near Broken Bow Thursday evening.
At approximately 7:05 p.m., a trooper attempted a traffic stop on a Volkswagen sedan that was driving on the shoulder of Highway 2 between Merna and Broken Bow. The driver initially stopped, but as the trooper approached the vehicle, the driver accelerated and fled at a high rate of speed, causing a pursuit to ensue.
The driver fled westbound on Road 801, with speeds at approximately 100 miles per hour. The vehicle then turned northbound on Road 433 and continued toward Merna. After the vehicle reached Merna, the vehicle fled westbound on Highway 2, with speeds above 100 miles per hour. Approximately 2 miles north of Merna, the driver pulled over to the shoulder and the driver was taken into custody without further incident. NSP dispatchers discovered that the vehicle had been reported stolen out of North Platte.
The driver, Joseph Pittman, 37, of Cozad, was arrested for flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, theft by receiving stolen property, DUI with 3 prior convictions, driving under suspension, and numerous traffic violations. Pittman was also arrested for an outstanding warrant from Dawson County. He was lodged in Custer County Jail.
The entire pursuit lasted less than ten minutes.
