On Friday at about noon the Stanton County Sheriff’s office received a complaint of a male and female acting erratic near the Stanton County fairgrounds. The suspected male was located by the Sheriff near 8th and Cedar in Stanton and refused to identify himself. The male was ultimately detained by the Sheriff and a deputy that arrived to assist. During this time, an arrest warrant out of Lancaster County was confirmed on the male, Conner Shafer, 21, Homeless. It was also during this time that a bulge was observed in his front waist band covered by a hoodie jacket he was wearing. Shafer then advised he had a gun on him and immediately was detained further at gunpoint. A replica BB pistol was located in his waistband and seized. Shafer advised he had the gun for “protection from Coyotes”. Due to Nebraska’s very liberal concealed weapons law, Shafer could not be charged with unlawful possession of the replica pistol, even though this placed the Sheriff and deputy at great risk of escalation. The replica gun was seized and will not be returned. Shafer was booked on the Lancaster County Arrest Warrant and posted a bond in that case. Both Shafer and the female who was released after a short detention have significant criminal records. “This is an example of our broken criminal justice system where criminals have the upper hand and places law enforcement in no win situations and can lead to deadly force situations that no officer wants.” Stated Sheriff Unger.
