Stanton County officials looking for man involved in alleged high-speed pursuit
STANTON, Neb. (KCAU) — The Stanton County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's assistance in locating a man who was allegedly involved in a high-speed pursuit.
According to a release , at about 3:30 p.m on Friday, the sheriff's office received notice of a "reckless and speeding" vehicle headed east on Highway 275 near Stanton. Officials found the vehicle and clocked it at 118 mph in a 65 mph area, the release says.
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The pursuit began soon after as the vehicle sped east. The driver turned north near Pilger and continued speeding that direction, at one point even passing another car by going around in a ditch, according to the sheriff's office.
At the county line bordering Wayne County, the vehicle crashed into a ditch. Officials say that the man driving the vehicle exited and ran away on foot into the cornfield.
While officials tried to set up a perimeter, a six-year-old boy emerged from the cornfield near the crash. He said he was in the vehicle with his father, the driver, and had been left in the field, according to the release. The boy was not injured.
The Stanton County Sheriff's Office later identified the suspect as Jason Waddell, 50, last known to live in the Sioux City area. Officials were not able to find him through their "exhaustive search" with a drone.
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According to the release, Waddell has an "extensive criminal history" and may be armed. Because of this, several nearby area farms were evacuated
A witness claimed that in Pierce County about an hour before the pursuit, they saw the vehicle speeding and a visible handgun in a bout of "road rage."
Officials also say that at about 6 p.m., a red 2011 Chevy Silverado with plate PLJARIG was stolen near the search area. The sheriff's office believes Waddell stole the Silverado and fled, perhaps towards Sioux City.
Anyone with additional information is asked to call 911 or the sheriff's office at 402-439-2212.
