Police say a North Platte man suspected of breaking into lockers at Great Plains Health and stealing items has been arrested.

Police were called to the hospital on January 19 after staff reported that someone had rummaged through employee lockers and stolen numerous items including, cash and medication. One staff member reported that her car keys were stolen and so was her 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix.

After viewing surveillance video, investigators identified 24-year-old Benjamin Beauvais as the suspect but were unable to locate him.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Grand Prix was located in the 2500 block of West 21st Street.  Police say some of the missing property from Great Plains Health, including identification cards, keys, and bank cards were found in the vehicle. Also located in the vehicle were an owner’s manual to a different car, a road map, and several other items.

The owner’s manual had a name on it and when officers contacted that person, it was reported that during the evening of January 19 or early in the morning on January 20, someone had entered their vehicle in the 5600 block of Eshleman Road and taken several items, including the road map and owner’s manual.

That same day, the North Platte 911 Center received a call from a person identifying themselves as Beauvais, stating that he was at a residence in the 700 block of East Philip and wanted to turn himself in.  Officers responded and searched the residence, but didn’t locate Beauvais.

On January 21, at around 12:41 p.m., an officer responded to Cenex South, 3002 South Jeffers, after it was reported that Beauvais was in the store.

As the officer arrived, Beauvais was exiting the store.  The officer made contact with Beauvais, who gave a false name, and placed him under arrest.

Police say a plastic pen barrel was located in Beauvais’ pocket which contained a powdery substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine.

Beauvais was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center and charged with felony vehicle theft, misdemeanor theft and felony possession of a controlled substance.

According to police, no other items stolen from Great Plains Health were recovered.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A Lexington man who took a plea deal in a campus sex assault case has been sent to prison.

Court records say 20-year-old Jorge Gutierrez-Alavez was sentenced Wednesday to three to 10 years and given credit for eight days already served. He’d pleaded no contest and was convicted of attempted sexual assault after prosecutors lowered the charge.

Prosecutors say Gutierrez-Alavez was a student at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on April 26 when he assaulted another male student in a campus residence hall.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that would end Nebraska’s status as the only state which prohibits meatpackers from owning hogs is facing resistance in the Legislature.

Supporters said Thursday that the measure would help preserve Nebraska’s hog industry. Critics say it would give packers too much leverage over small farms by allowing them to control the entire supply chain.

Sen. Ken Schilz of Ogallala says he introduced the bill to keep Nebraska’s hog industry growing on pace with nearby states and to prevent meatpackers from leaving.

Opponents say the contracts offered by packers impose tight controls on how the hogs are raised and place many of the risks onto producers, who are often saddled with debt to build their operations.