Former police chief fined for firing duty weapon

Former Neligh chief of police, Michael D. Wright, was fined $500 last week for firing his service weapon and injuring 38-year-old Josie Auld of Norfolk, while on duty in Neligh in May 2022.

Wright pleaded no contest to a Class 1 misdemeanor, third-degree assault, when he faced the Honorable Ross Stoffer in the Antelope County courtroom in Neligh.

Wright was represented by Gary Young Jr. of Lincoln and the case was prosecuted by assistant Nebraska Attorney General David Bydalek. The case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.

Bydalek announced a plea agreement in the case. He said Wright would plead to the original charge and voluntarily surrender his law-enforcement license and the state would recommend no jail or probation. He said Wright had begun the process of surrendering his license.

The assistant AG said the agreement was reached prior to filing the complaint, which was filed in lieu of a more serious charge, following an extensive investigation by NSP. The investigation determined the former police chief had “used excessive force” in firing the weapon.

He said it was one of the most difficult cases he had ever prosecuted, from both a legal standpoint and a factual-basis standpoint.

Bydalek said, “Auld became very belligerent, showed signs of mental illness... started her car and put it in drive, when Wright took out his service weapon and put it in the window.”

“(Wright’s) option was to take information and take chase or obtain a warrant...(Auld’s) only offense was stealing the keys of another driver.”

“Up until Ms. Auld threw the car in drive, Chief Wright was doing an exemplary job,” he said. “Ms. Auld was very scattered; Mr. Wright did a good job of trying to de-escalate...we sympathize with the fact that he had only a split second to make a decision.”

Stoffer, after passing sentence, said Wright had suffered the loss of his job, his occupation and his reputation.

“He lost a lot of things...I don’t think there is a need for a jail sentence.”

On May 8, 2022, Antelope County Law Enforcement Center dispatchers received a report of a road rage incident occurring on Highway 275. A convenience store employee called 911, reporting a disturbance in the parking lot.

Wright responded, locating one of the involved vehicles. The officer performed a traffic stop at the entrance of a business on Highway 275, near V Street. He contacted the driver, identified Auld.

According to the NSP in 2022, preliminary investigations showed Auld attempted to drive away from Wright, causing the vehicle to drag the officer along the road. Wright discharged a duty weapon, striking the driver, before falling from the vehicle. Auld continued driving west, until a citizen witnessing the events forced Auld’s vehicle off the road, where it came to rest.

Wright and Auld were both transported to Antelope Memorial Hospital in Neligh and Auld was later transported to University of Nebraska Medical Center for further treatment.