At about 2:30 a.m. on Monday morning the Stanton County Sheriff’s office monitored radio traffic of a vehicle failing to stop for Norfolk Police on South First Street in Norfolk and the vehicle was last seen eastbound from First Street. Shortly after the Sheriff’s office attempted to stop that vehicle after it violated a stop sign on 558th Avenue. The vehicle a 2007 Dodge Van then fled southbound on 558th Avenue at high speeds which initiated a vehicle pursuit. The vehicle continued south for about eight miles violating several stop signs, before turning west onto Hwy 32 and continued to flee on the highway at speeds of over 110 mph. The fleeing van crossed over Hwy 81 and entered Madison and then fled west from Madison on Hwy 32 again at high speeds as the Madison Police Department and Madison County Sheriff’s office assisted. The van continued westbound until turning onto Hwy 45 north of Newman Grove and then travelled south through Newman Grove at high speeds and entered Platte County. After crossing over Hwy 91 and the suspect van travelling at high speeds on a gravel county road, the pursuit was terminated due to the hazardous driving of the van and unfamiliarity with those area roads. Later on Monday the suspect vehicle was located abandoned at a residence South of Lindsey by the Platte County Sheriff’s office and shortly after a male subject was located walking in the area and was then detained at the request of the Stanton County Sheriff who had identified that male as a suspect. Joseph Hrbek, 27, of Verdigre was then taken into custody by the Stanton County Sheriff’s office and was then booked on charges of Multiple Stop Sign Violations, Speeding, Reckless Driving, Operating a Motor Vehicle to Avoid Arrest, No Operators license and jailed pending the posting of a cash bond. Hrbek admitted being the lone occupant and having used methamphetamine prior to the pursuit.
