Lincoln man arrested for kidnapping, theft

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The Lincoln Police Department (LPD) is investigating a kidnapping and vehicle theft that led to a multi-agency arrest.

LPD responded to a report of a stolen vehicle about 11:15 a.m. The suspect, Angel Lopez, 27, of Lincoln, reportedly took the vehicle from a 30-year-old Lincoln woman.

The victim told officers she had just met Lopez a few hours prior. She allowed Lopez to drive her vehicle, and when she exited the blue Suburban, he left without her permission.

Lopez drove the vehicle to a residence. Officers tracked the Suburban’s location using an AirTag the victim had in the vehicle.

At the residence, Lopez convinced a 22-year-old woman who was known to him to get into the stolen vehicle. When she did, Lopez drove away against her will.

As officers arrived on the scene and ordered Lopez out of the vehicle, he fled. Lopez hit a police cruiser as he left.

According to LPD, officers could hear the 22-year-old screaming for help from the vehicle’s window. Shortly after Lopez fled the scene, she was able to jump out of the moving vehicle.

Lopez drove from Lincoln to Crete, all while being tracked by Nebraska State Patrol’s (NSP) Air Wing. LPD accessed the vehicle’s OnStar and remotely disabled the vehicle.

Crete Police officers, Saline County deputies and NSP troopers took Lopez into custody.

In Saline County, Lopez faces charges of possession of stolen property, leaving the scene, willful reckless driving, obstructing an officer and driving under the influence.

In Lincoln, charges are pending including false imprisonment, theft by unlawful taking and felony flee to avoid arrest.

LPD said there are no reported injuries.