At about 4:00 a.m. on Monday morning the Stanton County Sheriff’s office became involved in a pursuit that had started in O’Neill around 2:00 a.m. The fleeing vehicle had led authorities through Holt, Antelope and Pierce Counties where contact with the fleeing vehicle was lost several times and then it again was observed before entering the City of Norfolk. Attempts to deflate the tires were undertaken in Norfolk, but the vehicle was able to avoid them driving into yards. The vehicle then fled east into Stanton County on Omaha Avenue (Hwy 275) and it was at this time that the suspect rammed a Stanton Sheriff’s patrol unit spinning it out. The Sheriff’s office then continued to pursue the vehicle along with a Madison County Sheriff’s unit east on Hwy 275 where another attempt to spike the vehicle was unsuccessful near Pilger. The vehicle then fled east into Cuming County and at the City limits of West Point the vehicle was successfully spiked by West Point P.D. and began to lose a front tire. The vehicle continued to flee east on Hwy 275 and was nearly stopped on the Elkhorn River bridge when a good samaritan semi truck driver attempted to block the highway. The fleeing vehicle was able to squeeze by the semi trailer and continued east into Dodge County on Hwy 275 losing a second tire and then turned south on Hwy 91 and entered Washington County. The pursuit continued on Hwy 91 into the City of Blair, where the suspect finally was stopped in a residential area and taken into custody at gunpoint. The suspect Tyler Kocian, 28, of West Point was booked into the Washington County jail after being taken into custody by the Stanton County Sheriff’s office with assistance from the Washington County Sheriff’s office, Blair P.D., Nebraska State Patrol and Beemer PD. The pursuit involved many agencies from start to finish that began over an alleged theft in O’Neill. Kocian was charged in Stanton County with Speeding, Operating a Motor Vehicle to Avoid Arrest, Assault on a Police Officer, Use of a Weapon to Commit a Felony, Criminal Mischief, Terroristic Threats. Kocian faces additional charges in multiple counties across Northeast Nebraska. During the pursuit Kocian called into Norfolk P.D. communications and made comments about not stopping and threatening law enforcement that was actively pursuing him. Fortunately no one was injured during this very dangerous event.
