The Nebraska State Patrol in conjunction with the Seward County Attorney has released the names of the suspects involved in a fatal pursuit on Friday, May 10.
Nathan D. Brokaw, 28, Brainard, was killed after exchanging gunfire with Nebraska State Patrol troopers. A second suspect Joseph J. Pritchard, 31, Stromsburg, was taken into custody after falling out of the passenger side of the vehicle.
The incident began during the early evening hours on Friday, May 10, as investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol were conducting surveillance on Brokaw and Pritchard at a residence at 310 East 7th Street, in Stromsburg. Brokaw was wanted on active felony warrants out of Platte and Colfax Counties for Terroristic Threats and Witness Tampering, while Pritchard was wanted for Absconding Parole. Around 7:00 p.m., investigators observed the two males sitting in a car parked in an alley behind the residence. Investigators approached the vehicle at which time the vehicle accelerated through the yard. Pritchard was thrown from the passenger side door. He was taken into custody. Pritchard was transported to the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center in Lincoln on the arrest warrant for his parole violation
A pursuit ensued traveling on county roads in Polk, Butler and Seward Counties. During the pursuit Brokaw, the driver of the vehicle, fired multiple rounds at NSP units. Just north of the community of Bee, the suspect vehicle was rammed by NSP units and came to rest in the east ditch off County Road 252 in Seward County. Once the vehicle was stopped Brokaw fired multiple rounds at troopers who returned fire, fatally wounding Brokaw. No troopers were injured during the pursuit. There were two primary patrol units involved in the pursuit. Approximately 8-10 units responded to the scene to assist in intercepting the fleeing suspect.
The investigation continues. An autopsy will be conducted. Investigative reports, once completed, will be forwarded to the Seward County Attorney. Nebraska law requires a grand jury be convened anytime someone dies while in custody or in the process of apprehension.