Officer hospitalized after being hit with bullet fragments at south Lincoln Arby’s

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — An officer was hospitalized on Tuesday night after they were hit with bullet fragments at an Arby’s in south Lincoln.

Around 9:45 p.m., officers with the Lincoln Police Department were sent to the Arby’s near the intersection of 27th Street and Nebraska Parkway.

According to the police department, a male had called police, and dispatchers heard what sounded like a male and female fighting in the background.

When the first officer arrived on scene, they found the caller — 36-year-old Joseph Bertolino of Jacksonville, Florida — in the restroom.

A “struggle” occurred between Bertolino and the officer in the restroom, according to the police department.

During the struggle, authorities said Bertolino was grabbing for the officer’s firearm. At some point during the struggle, the officer’s firearm discharged, hitting the bathroom floor.

Additional officers arrived moments later, hit Bertolino with a Taser and took him into custody.

As per standard procedure, Bertolino was taken to the hospital to be evaluated following the Taser deployment.

The officer was also taken to the hospital with injuries consistent with being hit by bullet fragments, the police department said.

Bertolino was lodged in the Lancaster County Jail on suspicion of attempted first-degree assault on an officer.