Man wielding machete carjacked van in drive-thru of Lincoln restaurant, police say

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A man was arrested Monday after police say he used a machete to steal a van in the drive-thru of a Lincoln restaurant.

Around 1 p.m., two people were in a construction van in a drive-thru near Northwest 22nd and O Streets, according to police.

The only drive-thru in that area is D’Leon’s.

Police say 28-year-old Gilberto Antoni Portillo Barrientos, who was carrying a machete, then carjacked the van and drove off.

About an hour later, a person spotted the van near the intersection of 27th and O Streets and reported it to police.

A Nebraska State Patrol helicopter then found the van, giving officers an updated location.

Eventually, officers laid down stop sticks to bring the van to a halt.

Barrientos ran away, but officers caught up and took him into custody.  He was arrested on suspicion of robbery.

Officers found the machete in the van, police say.

An investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to call Lincoln Police at 402-441-6000 or Crime Stoppers at 402-475-3600.

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