On September 5, 2024, at approximately 11:21 AM a Scottsbluff Officer located a stolen 2016 dark blue Hyundai Sonata with New Mexico license plate RNJ208 driving near Avenue B and West 24th Street. The vehicle and plate were confirmed stolen out of New Mexico, having been reported stolen on September 2, 2024. A traffic stop was attempted, but the vehicle failed to yield to emergency lights and fled to avoid arrest. A vehicle pursuit was initiated as the stolen vehicle turned west onto West 27th Street and continued west, leaving the City of Scottsbluff and eventually reaching Highway 26.
The pursuit continued until the officer lost sight of the vehicle as it appeared to turn northbound onto County Road 19 from Highway 26. The pursuit was terminated at this point. A short time later, several reports came into the Communication Center stating that a vehicle had possibly been abandoned on County Road 18 near Thomas Drive, and a male and female were seen fleeing the area. After responding to the reported location, a Scottsbluff County Deputy located the abandoned stolen vehicle.
A combined search was conducted with the assistance of the Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Department and the Nebraska State Patrol. A 17-year-old juvenile male suspect, later confirmed to be the driver, was apprehended in a bean field north of the intersection of County Road 18 and County Road G. The female suspect, identified as 20-year-old Alliance resident Bianca Moreno, who was believed to be the passenger, was apprehended a short time later while contacted walking in the area.
Moreno was placed under arrest and booked into jail on charges of obstruction and theft by receiving stolen property. The juvenile male was transported to a juvenile detention facility and will face juvenile charges of theft by receiving stolen property, flight to avoid arrest, obstruction and willful reckless driving.
