Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested two people following separate pursuits on I-80 that ended in Lincoln and Omaha.
The first pursuit began around 2:30 Monday afternoon when troopers located a stolen vehicle driving southbound on Highway 31 near the Gretna I-80 interchange. The vehicle, a 2016 Ford F-150, fled westbound on I-80 while troopers initiated a pursuit. During the pursuit, the suspect vehicle was traveling consistently near 110 miles per hour.
As the vehicle approached Lincoln, it exited I-80 at the 56th Street exit, drove into the ditch on the exit ramp, struck a sign and then back across the exit ramp before proceeded southbound on 56th street. Seconds later, a trooper was able to perform a tactical maneuver to bring the vehicle to a stop near the I-80 eastbound on-ramp at 56th street. The driver, a sixteen year old boy, was immediately taken into custody by multiple troopers on scene and transported to the Sarpy County Juvenile Justice Center.
The second pursuit began around 5:30 Monday night when troopers received information about a driver going the wrong way on westbound I-80 near 42nd Street in Omaha. As the suspect turned around and started driving westbound, a trooper saw that the vehicle was unable to stay in its lane. When the trooper attempted to make a traffic stop, the driver fled, which initiated a pursuit.
As the suspect vehicle, a 2001 Chevrolet Suburban, exited Omaha on I-80, the trooper was able to perform a tactical maneuver near mile marker 438 to bring the vehicle to a stop. The driver, 22 year old Ronald Blue of Omaha, then refused to obey commands from multiple troopers. After repeated attempts to get Blue to exit the vehicle, and he reached toward the passenger seat of the vehicle multiple times, a trooper deployed a taser in order to take Blue into custody.
Once in custody, Blue was transported to CHI Midlands Hospital in Papillion to be medically cleared. While at the hospital, Blue spit on a trooper. After receiving medical clearance, Blue was lodged in Douglas County Corrections for Flight to Avoid Arrest, Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, Driving Under Suspension, Failure to Obey a Lawful Order, Assaulting an Officer – Bodily Fluid and an outstanding warrant.