LPD: man flees traffic stop, locks himself in shed

Police negotiated with the man for over an hour, and eventually sent in a K-9 to force him out.

Lincoln Police arrested 45-year-old Joseph Rolenc after he fled the scene of a traffic stop and locked himself in a shed.

Police say the Rolenc was seen driving a 2002 PT Cruiser near 48th and Holdrege with a suspended driver’s license. During the traffic stop, officers told Rolenc his vehicle would be towed, per protocol, and Rolenc told officers they would need to kill him first before driving.

Officers arrived at Rolenc’s home, and saw him exit his vehicle with a metal pipe and run into the backyard. As an officer attempted to follow him, Rolenc sprayed the officer with pepper spray then barricaded himself inside a shed in the yard.

Officers attempted to safely talk Rolenc out of the shed, and then broke a window to attempt to spray him with pepper spray. Rolenc proceeded to point a blow torch at officers through the window before barricading it again.

After an hour of negotiations, police forced the shed door open, sending a K-9 in, and noticed Rolenc was lying on the ground wearing a motorcycle helmet and was covered in debris.

The K-9 and Rolenc were both pulled from the shed, Rolenc was arrested for obstructing a police officer and driving with a suspended license.

Rolenc was also treated and released for bite marks to his hand and shoulder, and the K-9 received injuries to his stomach and mouth, but is expected to be fine.

No officers were injured.