(Greenwood, NE) -- One person is in custody following an incident Sunday at the I-80 Speedway, near Greenwood.
The Nebraska State Patrol says around 1:30 Sunday afternoon, they were made aware of a pickup that had driven through a fence adjacent to I-80 near Greenwood. The state patrol says troopers responded to the area and learned that subject had since gone to the Cubby’s gas station at the Greenwood I-80 interchange. Investigators say the man was reportedly armed with a hammer and had threatened to carjack a driver.
The NSP says pilots in the NSP helicopter then observed the person attempting to break into several vehicles around I-80 Speedway, across Highway 63 from the gas station. The pilots directed troopers and Cass County deputies to the area where a trooper was able to locate the person. Investigators say man then ran across the track and into the grandstand area on the west side of the facility. A trooper caught up to the person and began speaking with them. During that time, investigators say the trooper observed the person attempting to harm himself with a shard of glass. NSP says the man ignored the trooper’s commands to drop the glass, so the trooper deployed a taser. The man was then taken into custody without further incident.
The person has been placed in emergency protective custody at the Lancaster County Mental Health Crisis Center. The state patrol says once released from protective care, the man will be booked into Cass County Jail for attempted robbery, flight to avoid arrest, and vandalism.