Nebraska State Patrol recovers stolen vehicles, firearms after multi-county pursuit

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Nebraska State Patrol arrested three people and found multiple stolen firearms Saturday after a multi-county pursuit.

Troopers were made aware of a pursuit on Interstate 80 around 12:15 p.m. Mountain time involving the Ogallala Police Department.

The police were chasing a Ford F-150 that was stolen in Wyoming, according to officials.

Police said once the pursuit entered Ogallala, they stopped the chase due to public safety concerns.

But a short time later, a trooper said he saw the same pickup as it exited Interstate 80 at the Brule interchange.

The trooper tried to pull the pickup over, but the driver refused to stop and fled west on Highway 30, according to the state patrol.

After entering Deuel County, the pickup turned south and continued to flee on county roads.

The pickup came to a stop at a house near County Road 209 and County Road 4.

All three people in the pickup got out and ran off, according to officials.

The patrol said two of the occupants then stole a Ford F-350 at the farm residence.

Troopers said they kept chasing the two people in the second stolen pickup, while others remained at the farmhouse to search for the third suspect.

The suspects in the F-350 fled down multiple county roads in Deuel, Perkins and Keith counties before getting back on Interstate 80 and going east, according to the patrol.

As the pickup passed the Ogallala interchange, Ogallala Police said they laid down stop sticks, which brought the pickup to a stop a short time later.

The two people inside were arrested around 1 p.m., according to officials.

Officials said the third suspect was arrested after a search near the farmhouse where the first pickup was abandoned.

All three suspects were lodged in the Keith County Jail.

Troopers said they found stolen firearms, credit cards and methamphetamine inside the first stolen vehicle.

All three suspects were charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen firearms, possession of meth, possession of a stolen financial transaction device, obstruction and criminal mischief.

The driver, 20-year-old Michael Ayala, was also arrested on suspicion of flight to avoid arrest and willful reckless driving.

The patrol did not name the two passengers, who are 18 years old, officials said.

The investigation remains ongoing.