Tennessee man arrested after multi-county pursuit near Gretna, authorities say

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A Tennessee man was arrested on Saturday after a multi-county aerial pursuit in eastern Nebraska.

Juan Avant, 42, was arrested on suspicion of flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, tampering with physical evidence, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Just before 7 p.m., a trooper with the Nebraska State Patrol tried to pull over a Ford Fusion for failing to stop at a stop sign near Gretna.

According to the state patrol, Avant didn’t pull over and accelerated north on Highway 6 through Gretna, sparking a chase.

The Omaha Police Department’s Able-1 was in the area and took over the chase from the air.

Avant eventually turned west on West Q Road and then continued speeding west on Highway 92 into Saunders County, according to the state patrol.

Authorities said the chase continued for over an hour, traveling through Saunders County and eventually into Lancaster County.

The state patrol’s AirWing took over for Able-1, tracking the vehicle as it moved south on Highway 79 towards Lincoln.

Lancaster County deputies used stop sticks to stop the vehicle on Highway 79 just north of Highway 34.

Avant was taken into custody without further incident, according to the state patrol.

He was lodged in the Sarpy County Jail.