Man arrested after high-speed July 4 flight, crash in downtown Neligh

A 23-year-old Oakdale man has been charged with one Class 4 felony count of operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, alleged July 4 in downtown Neligh, during the city’s 150th birthday/Old Mill Days celebration.

Rider C. Short faced the Honorable Donna Taylor in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh on July 5 for a bond hearing. Taylor set bond at $20,000, 10% cash, which Short posted the same day. Antelope County public defender Pat Carney was appointed to represent him. Further arraignment is set July 19.

Short was allegedly observed by a Neligh police officer driving a Polaris Razor at a high rate of speed on L Street. The vehicle did not stop when the officer attempted a traffic stop, with activated lights and siren. At one point during the pursuit, he came to a stop on Main Street but took off again.

Officer Darin Ternus said, in an arrest affidavit, that as the Razor was traveling on Main Street, approaching 2nd Street, Short lost control, the vehicle slid sideways and both driver’s side tires hit the curb on the south side of 2nd Street before the vehicle struck two lawn chairs and a wagon/stroller.

Short then allegedly hit the accelerator and again lost control as he approached 3rd Street, colliding with two trash dumpsters and, finally, the wall of the ESU building on the northwest corner of 3rd and Main streets. Three individuals also alleged they had to climb a fence to avoid being hit by the Razor before it struck the dumpsters.

As Short was being placed under arrest by Ternus, assisted by Antelope County sheriff Bob Moore, the reported owner of the Razor arrived at the scene and, according to the affidavit, said he had not given Short permission to take the vehicle.

Wade Silbernagel, 28, of Orchard, who was scheduled for preliminary hearing on a Class 3A felony allegation of violating the Nebraska Sex Offender Registration Act, entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of obstructing government operations, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Taylor ordered a presentence investigation and set sentencing for Aug. 16. Bond is continued in the amount of $10,000, 10%, with a modification in terms to allow out-of-state travel. Silbernagel is represented by Carney.

Michael R. Pulis, 46, of Atkinson appeared on three counts, Count I, no proof of financial responsibility, a Class 2 misdemeanor; Count II, no valid registration, a Class 3 misdemeanor; and Count III, careless driving, an infraction. Pulis waived his right to counsel and pleaded guilty to all three counts. Sentencing is continued to Aug. 2, at the request of Antelope County Attorney Joe Smith, so he can notify a victim. A warrant, issued for Pulis’ arrest after he failed to appear in court in April, was withdrawn.

According to an affidavit filed by a former Antelope County deputy, he and another deputy responded to the site of a two-vehicle accident Dec. 21, 2022, near the intersection of Highway 275 and 513 Avenue. The officer reported Pulis had looked down at his phone for a moment and struck the rear of a pickup that had slowed to turn into a driveway.

A preliminary hearing scheduled for Max S. Kerkman, 34, of Oakdale is continued until Aug. 16, on a pair of Class 4 felony drug charges, possession of methamphetamine and oxycodone.

According to a motion to continue, filed on Kerkman’s behalf by attorney Dennis Morland of Norfolk, he is being detained, until Aug. 10, at North Point Recovery in Omaha. Kerkman is not allowed to leave the facility, pursuant to an order issued by the US district court.

He was arrested following a June 6 federal probation search at his Oakdale residence. Kerkman posted 10% of his Antelope County $20,000 bond June 8.