By Troy Brown
Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy
On Thursday October 26, 2023, at around 10:56 p.m., Deputy with the Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Office attempted to contact a suspect wanted out of Colorado on charges involving sex crimes against children. The Deputy located the vehicle, a 1999 Black Jeep Wrangler with Colorado plates that the suspect was reported to be driving in the Maverick parking lot.
The Deputy attempted to contact the suspect, who then fled the parking lot north bound on Hwy 71. During the pursuit it was reported that the suspect fired several shots toward the Deputy.
The pursuit turned west on Experiment Farm Rd heading toward Mitchell. Mitchell PD officer was able to set up spike strips in CR 17 and Experiment Farm Rd and the suspect vehicle ran over the spikes.
The suspect fled on foot south bound from Experiment Farm Rd into an open field with Deputy, NSP Trooper and Mitchell Officer assisting. During the foot pursuit the suspect fired at the Officers causing them to back off and set up a perimeter.
It was decided to send out a Panhandle Alert notifying residents of the dangerous suspect in the area.
The Sheriff’s Office deployed a Drone over the area and immediately located the suspect lying in the field. Deputies utilized a patrol car for cover and approached the suspect.
When the Officers got close, they observed that the suspect was deceased from a self-inflicted gun shot wound.
The name of the suspect is being withheld at this time until confirmation that his next of kin have been notified.
Assisting with the investigation were the Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, Mitchell Police Department, Morrill Police Department, Gering Police Department, Scottsbluff Police Department, Mitchell Rural Fire Department, and Valley Ambulance.