UPDATE: Officers released from hospital, reports $8K+ in damages
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) —
Story updated Dec. 4 at 11:45 a.m.
Following up on a string of disturbance reports, a Lincoln Police officer and Nebraska State Trooper were sent to the hospital when the suspect rammed the police cruiser to avoid arrest.
Today, Lincoln Police report that both officers have been released from the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. However, the police officer will remain off duty until he fully recovers from his injuries.
The total damage to the police cruiser is estimated at $8,000, with $450 worth of damage done to the gas pump also clipped during the ramming.
Related Content: EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: LPD officer, state trooper struck by suspect’s car
The suspect has been identified as 29-year-old Connor Sweeney. He has been arrested on two counts of assault on a police officer, criminal mischief, and robbery.
Officers were initially called to a Casey’s General Store, 4141 S 48th St, where Sweeney reportedly asked for money and stole a cup of coffee.
Witnesses said Sweeney drove away in a red Oldsmobile Intrigue and provided a license plate number.
Lincoln Police were familiar with the suspect, as they had received calls from at least seven other gas stations where Sweeney was the subject of a disturbance.
Just before 8 a.m., police were called to a U-Stop, 7100 Pioneers Blvd., for another disturbance.
A 59-year-old employee reported that a man entered the store, demanding she put $5 of gas into his car.
While a 35-year-old U-Stop employee claimed she heard the man yelling at people in the store parking lot. So she went to ask him to leave. Instead, Sweeney followed her back inside the store and got behind the counter.
Both employees were cornered by Sweeney behind the counter, where he continued yelling at them and stole a box of cigars. They reported fearing for their lives as they called 911.
(Watch the full video of the U-Stop encounter attached at the top of this story)
A Lincoln Police officer and a Nebraska State Trooper responded to the U-Stop. Both officials noted the same red Oldsmobile parked by the U-Stop gas pumps.
Officers blocked the Oldsmobile in with their vehicles, the police cruiser packed behind it, to keep Sweeney from leaving as he exited the store.
(Watch the full security video of Sweeney ramming the police cruiser here, or attached at the top of this story.)
The trooper and a police officer approached Sweeney while he attempted to get into his car and tried to take him into custody.
However, he successfully got into the driver’s seat, pinning an officer in his car door before reversing into the police cruiser.
Both the trooper and the police officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital.
An “officer emergency” was declared over the radio when the on-scene authorities were injured. This declaration prompted the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office (LSO) to get involved.
An NSP trooper found the Oldsmobile fleeing the area and began a pursuit westbound on Pioneers Blvd. When they reached an area of no traffic, between Normal Blvd. and Van Dorn St., the trooper performed a ‘tactical vehicle intervention’ to force the suspect to stop.
The Oldsmobile then wrecked into the curb.
Sweeney was taken into custody around eight o’clock without further incident.
Story updated Dec. 3 at 10:41 a.m.
Lincoln Police have identified the suspect as 29-year-old Connor Sweeney. He has been arrested on two counts of assault on a police officer and several other charges.
Officers were initially called to a Casey’s General Store, 4141 S 48th St, where Sweeney reportedly asked for money and stole a cup of coffee.
Witnesses said Sweeney drove away in a red Oldsmobile Intrigue and provided a license plate number.
Lincoln Police were familiar with the suspect, as they had received calls from at least seven other gas stations where Sweeney was the subject of a disturbance.
Just before 8 a.m., police were called to a U-Stop, 7100 Pioneers Blvd., for another disturbance. Lincoln Police officers, and a Nebraska State Trooper on the scene, noted the same red Oldsmobile parked by the U-Stop gas pumps.
Sweeney was allegedly walking behind the U-Stop counter, threatening employees, and stole cigars.
Lincoln Police parked behind the Oldsmobile to keep Sweeney from leaving when he exited the store. The trooper and a police officer approached Sweeney while he attempted to get into his car and tried to take him into custody.
However, he successfully got into the driver’s seat, pinning an officer in his car door before reversing into the police cruiser.
Both the trooper and the police officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital.
An “officer emergency” was declared over the radio when the on-scene authorities were injured. This declaration prompted the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office (LSO) to get involved.
An NSP trooper found the Oldsmobile fleeing the area and began a pursuit westbound on Pioneers Blvd. When they reached an area of no traffic, between Normal Blvd. and Van Dorn St., the trooper performed a ‘tactical vehicle intervention’ to force the suspect to stop.
The Oldsmobile then wrecked into the curb.
Sweeney was taken into custody around eight o’clock without further incident.
Story updated Dec. 3 at 9:45 a.m.
Just after 5 a.m., Lincoln Police officers were called to Casey’s convenience store, 4141 S 48th St., on a reported theft.
An employee claimed a man had been visiting gas stations in the area asking for money. He entered Casey’s and began threatening people.
Lincoln Police say officers were familiar with the suspect as they had responded to similar reports before.
Witnesses said the suspect was driving a red car.
A short time later, just before 8 a.m., police were called to a U-Stop near 70th and Pioneers Blvd concerning a man walking behind the counter and threatening employees.
The suspect allegedly stole cigars during the disturbance.
When officers arrived, they noticed the red car described by witnesses early in the U-Stop parking lot.
Police attempted to contact the suspect at his vehicle as he exited the store. The suspect instead rammed the police cruiser behind him and fled the area.
The officer in the vehicle was significantly injured. He was taken to a local hospital by Lincoln Fire and Rescue and is conscious in stable condition. Police say the officer’s injuries are not considered to be life-threatening.
Five minutes down the road, near 70th and Van Dorn St., the suspect wrecked. It is unclear what led to the crash at this time.
He was arrested around 8 a.m. and his identity has yet to be released.
The investigation into this incident remains ongoing.
This is a developing story and we will keep you updated as more details become available.
Original story posted Dec. 3 at 8:54 a.m.
This morning a suspect rammed a police car multiple times, before fleeing the scene and crashing.
The incident began at the U-Stop near 71st St and Pioneers Blvd. A Lincoln Police officer was responding to a disturbance involving the suspect who was allegedly stealing from the convenience store.
According to Lincoln Police, when the officer attempted to contact the suspect, he enters his vehicle and rammed the police car. The officer was inside was alert and taken to a local hospital by Lincoln Fire and Rescue in stable condition.
The suspect fled in his vehicle, ultimately crashing near 70th St and Van Dorn St.
This is a developing story and we will keep you updated as more details become available.
