Three people are now in custody after a dramatic police chase in western Nebraska earlier this week.
It all began around 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday evening near the town of Bridgeport. A Nebraska State Patrol trooper spotted a Ford F-150 truck with a license plate issue traveling along Highway 385. When the trooper tried to pull the truck over, the driver decided to make a run for it, speeding north on the highway instead of stopping.
The chase quickly turned dangerous as the truck veered west onto Link 62A, even driving in the wrong lane. After about two miles, the truck came to a halt in the driveway of a home. That’s when things got even more chaotic. The driver jumped out of the truck and ran off, leaving a female passenger behind. She was arrested on the spot without any trouble.
Backup arrived fast, with additional troopers, deputies from the Morrill County Sheriff’s Office, and a K9 unit from the Gering Police Department joining the search for the runaway driver. During their search, they came across a semi-truck parked nearby with a man resting in its sleeper cab. When officers looked closer, they discovered the runaway driver hiding under the bed in the sleeper. Both men were taken into custody.
A search of the Ford F-150 revealed some alarming items, including two sets of brass knuckles and suspected methamphetamine. This discovery led to a series of serious charges for everyone involved.
The driver of the truck, identified as Thomas Tagg, 42, from Denver, faces a long list of charges, including fleeing to avoid arrest, reckless driving, drug possession, having drug paraphernalia, possessing a weapon as a prohibited person, and obstructing a peace officer, along with numerous traffic violations.
The passenger, Corie Kolthoff, 36, from Brighton, Colorado, was also arrested. She’s charged with drug possession, carrying drug paraphernalia, failing to disclose a concealed weapon, and obstructing a peace officer.
The third person, Benjamin Franklin, 27, from Mitchell, Nebraska, was charged with obstructing a peace officer and helping to commit a felony.
All three suspects were taken to the Morrill County Jail, where they are now awaiting further legal proceedings.