A 46-year-old Lexington man was arrested late Thursday afternoon in connection with burglaries to campers in the Gallagher State Recreation area south of Lexington. Dawson County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to an initial report of burglaries to campers in the area around 1:30pm Thursday. No suspect was located at that time and deputies left the scene after completing their investigation.
About an hour later, a camper heard glass breaking in another camping trailer. Sheriff Mark Montgomery says deputies returned to the scene and attempted to locate the suspect who was last seen jumping into the lake. They requested assistance from Nebraska Game and Parks and Nebraska State Patrol. Drones were deployed at the scene.
About an hour-and-a-half later, the suspect Arvene M. Nitsch was located in the water hiding under a rock at the water’s edge. Two drone operators confirmed the suspect’s prescence and Nitsch was taken into custody without further incident.
Nitsch was evaluated at the scene by Eustis Fire and Rescue and then transported to the Dawson County Jail on charges of Theft, Possession of Burglary tools, Criminal Mischief and Possession of a Weapon to Commit a Felony in connection with a handgun that was seized.
Sheriff Montgomery expressed appreciation to all of the agencies responding to the scene.
According to the Nebraska Game and Parks website, Gallagher Canyon is a 400-acre irrigation impoundment with 24 acres of recreation land.
