Auburn man faces 12-count arraignment after officer injured

A 22-year-old Auburn man faces a 12-count arraignment in Holt County district courtroom in O’Neill on June 11.

Jacob L McVay recently signed a waiver to his right to preliminary hearing. Five felony counts were bound over to the district court by the Honorable Kale Burdick on June 13, with jurisdiction for misdemeanor and infraction counts waived to the district court as well.

Charges include: First-degree assault on an officer, a Class 1D felony; window-tint violation, a Class 5 misdemeanor; willful reckless driving, a Class 3 misdemeanor; following to close; leaving the scene of an injury accident, a Class 3A felony; disturbing the peace, a Class 3 misdemeanor; false reporting, a Class 1 misdemeanor; obstructing a peace officer, a Class 1 misdemeanor; terroristic threats, a Class 3A felony; third-degree assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor; operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, a Class 4 felony; and driving under the influence – cause serious bodily injury, a Class 3A felony, all alleged May 24 in Atkinson.

McVay is currently held on a $200,000 bond, with payment of $20,000 required for release from the county jail. A bond review hearing was held June 6, when Burdick denied a request for reduction, journaling, “the defendant is a flight risk and poses a public safety risk. Bond is appropriate as previously set and is continued.”

McVay is accused of deliberately driving into an Atkinson police officer, Sgt. David Mincer, in front of Mincer’s residence, where the defendant had allegedly followed a witness. After allegedly shouting at the witness, the defendant allegedly backed up, and then drove directly at Mincer, striking him. When the officer went to the side of McVay’s vehicle, he took off again, striking Mincer a second time, throwing him to the ground, according to an arrest affidavit filed by Holt County investigator Steven Binkerd.

The witness followed the alleged assailant as he drove across area lawns to get away, to an Atkinson motel, then returned to the scene to aid Mincer, according to the affidavit.

Mincer was transported to West Holt Memorial Hospital for treatment of his injuries.

The case was investigated by the Holt County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance of the Atkinson Police Department and Nebraska State Patrol.

McVay is represented by Holt County public defender Rod Smith.