The Nebraska State Patrol SWAT Team has arrested a Colorado man following a pursuit and search near Brady.
The incident began at approximately 1:00 p.m. Saturday, when the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a vehicle fire on Interstate 80 near Hershey. A witness reported that the driver of the vehicle was running away from the scene toward the Interstate Lakes area.
The man was then seen breaking into and stealing a pickup with a camper attached. He then ran over the owner of the pickup as he fled in the stolen vehicle. The owner of the pickup sustained serious, but what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.
Lincoln County deputies began a pursuit of the suspect as he fled eastbound on I-80. As the suspect vehicle passed the North Platte interchanges, troopers took over the pursuit. As the suspect fled eastbound it crossed the median and began driving at a high rate of speed in the westbound lanes of I-80.
Additional units worked to slow westbound traffic to avoid any collisions. The suspect nearly struck a westbound trooper and continued driving against traffic for several miles before exiting at the Brady interchange, at mile marker 199. At approximately 1:25 p.m., suspect parked the vehicle in a parking lot and fled on foot into a wooded area. Troopers and deputies arrived on scene immediately and established a perimeter. The NSP SWAT Team was activated.
The North Platte Police Department and Dawson County Sheriff’s Office also responded to assist. Drones were used to search the area and the NSP Aviation Support Unit responded as well. Once troopers believed they had an approximate location the suspect, the NSP SWAT Team began a closer search of the area, using a light armored vehicle. An NSP K9 was then able to track the suspect to a muddy area on the bank of a pond. The K9 was used to take the suspect into custody at 7:25 p.m.
The suspect, identified as Abraham Pacheco, 32, of Thornton, Colorado was transported to Great Plains Health in North Platte for medical clearance and has since lodged in Lincoln County Jail on numerous charges. The investigation remains ongoing.
