Suspect arrested after auto theft in Antelope County

A 35-year-old South Carolina man is lodged in the Antelope County Law Enforcement Center following a multi-county chase, Thursday.

Robert Wagle, of Summerville, South Carolina, was arrested for felony flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, assault and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Additional charges are pending.

The incident began after an auto theft was reported in Antelope County Thursday morning.

Several law enforcement agencies in northeast Nebraska were alerted to be on the lookout for a stolen 2017 Dodge Ram pickup after it had been spotted in the area multiple times Thursday morning.

During that time, several area schools, including Clearwater Public School, Neligh-Oakdale Public School and Elgin Public School, went on lockdown or lockout.

Clearwater Principal Mike Sanne confirmed the school went on lockout for approximately 45 minutes. During that time, students were free to move throughout the building but were not allowed to go outside.

"We more closely monitor the entrances and vehicles on our property or on the road out front," Sanne said.

At approximately 1:45 p.m., law enforcement received a report that the truck was on Highway 15 south of Wayne. Multiple agencies pursued the vehicle, which made contact with units from both the Wayne County Sheriff's Office and the Wayne Police Department during the pursuit. The suspect was able to flee south of Wayne.

A short time later, at approximately 2:10 p.m., a State Trooper located the stolen truck on 575th Ave, about five miles south of Wayne. The trooper notified the Nebraska State Patrol Aviation Support Division, which tracked the vehicle from the air as it entered a minimum maintenance road. The pickup then became stuck near 851st Road and 575th Ave.

The driver fled on foot and was located a short distance from the vehicle by an NSP K9.

The investigation involved sheriff's offices from Antelope, Madison, Stanton, and Wayne counties, police departments from Neligh, Norfolk and Wayne, as well as the Nebraska State Patrol.

The investigation is ongoing.