(Updated 8/14)

NORTH PLATTE, Neb.- Once reports were  made of the suspicious man knocking on doors claiming to be an assessor, residents of Lincoln County have had their eyes peeled.

At this time two additional reports have been made regarding this mystery man.

Monday some time near 2:20 PM a North Platte Police Department Officer responded to the 1300 block of West 3^rd.

On Tuesday August 14^th an Officer from NPPD responded to a complaint very similar. This time the suspect reported was on foot. According to a release from the NPPD he had the following details:us man had been spotted. At the residence the Officer was told that the suspicious white male was described as heavy set and driving a “white sedan”. According to Officer Rodney Brown, the complaint told police that the man was asking questions about the home and asking for details such as the number of rooms, then asking to “come in”. After denied access to the home he walked to the street and took a picture of the house then left.

• Described as a white male
• 5’5”-5’6”
• Around 250 pounds
• No facial hair
• Perhaps wearing a black toupee
• No glasses
• Wearing tan khaki pants and white button up shirt with stripes

The suspect claimed to be a local realtor, asking specific questions such as square footage of the home, rooms and occupants.

The male suspect requested access to the home claiming he was there to assess the property.

In a report earlier Monday the suspicious man had allegedly been seen in a “dark”, “blue” or “black” colored “SUV” type vehicle with no front license plate. Today (August 14^th)  the suspect had been spotted in a “white sedan” a “white, older, rusted Oldsmobile” and on foot.

So far four complaints are known of a suspicious suspect and it’s unclear how many individuals are involved.

In one complaint the suspect was not wearing glasses.

Officers did call the local real estate company the suspect claimed to be affiliated with. The company confirmed with the officers they have no connection to the described man in the complaints.

The public is encouraged to report any activity similar to the complaints reported or suspicious behavior so the NPPD can identify the suspect or suspects and gather details of their intent. At this time there is no probable cause to arrest anyone in regards to the complaints. a market analysis of a property and not an assessment.

 

Anyone with information regarding this incident or any similar incidents are encouraged to call the North Platte Police Department 308-535-6789. Anonymous information can be given by calling 534-8400 or online at www.lincolncountycrimstoppers.com

 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. – Lincoln County Sheriff Jerome Kramer received a tip at the Lincoln County Commissioners meeting Monday morning that a suspicious man has been taking photos, and attempting to gain access to homes around Lincoln County.

The man is described as a heavyset man with a blue SUV.

On one occasion the man requested to enter the home where only a 16-year-old girl was present. On another occasion the man showed up to an elderly woman’s home, and refused to answer questions or show any identification.

Assessor Julie Stenger received a call from the elderly woman asking if he was an assessor but apparently all of her staff were in office at the time.

Anyone approached by the described suspect is asked to immediately contact law enforcement.

(Update: 8/14) On Monday at 12:45 Lincoln county sheriff office deputies were alerted of a masked man demanding money at the Wallace Farmers State Bank. Authorities were tipped on the vehicle the suspect was driving, and broadcasted the message to surrounding law enforcement.

The suspect was seen near imperial around 2:05, the officer stropped the vehicle, and they were brought the Lincoln County Detention Center.
The suspect’s names and charges are as follows;
1) Drew Alexander Steier, 20 year old resident of Evanston, WY.     Charged with Robbery and Use of a Firearm to Commit a Felony, Bond is $500,000.00

2)    Tracy Neal Black 52 year old resident of Evanston, WY.   Charged with Robbery, Bond is $500,000.00

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is working closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the case remains under investigation.

(Update) 4:23:   There’s two males confirmed  in custody

Vice President of Farmers State Bank Bob Mayber said in a statement to the North Platte Post

“At approximately 12:47 today a single individual wearing a ski mask and carrying a back pack and hand-gun entered our bank, demanded money from our personnel, our personnel informed the individual that the money is locked up, he turned around and left.”

says Mayber and continues

 “The only thing we care about was that no one was hurt. We feel very fortunate with how it ended up”

Mayber also mentioned there was one customer in the bank at the time. The customer recognized the situation and exited the building and alerted the authorities. The Lincoln County Sheriff responded as well as the Nebraska State Patrol.

Mayber stressed his highest concern was of the safety of his staff and how grateful he was that there were no casualties.

At this point North Platte Post is waiting to hear back from Deputy Kramer for additional information.

Wallace, Neb. – The Farmers State Bank in Wallace  has been robbed at gun point. This is a developing story.

The North Platte Post is talking with Lincoln County Sheriff Jerome Kramer and more information will be released as it is given.

Today: Partly sunny. Isolated thunderstorms late in the afternoon. Highs around 90. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the lower 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny. A 20 percent chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 90s. West winds 10 to 15 mph.

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — The Scottsbluff chief has acknowledged having sex with a woman who has since sued him and the city in federal court.

Chief Alex Moreno acknowledged the affair in his response to an amended complaint filed by Tamara Villanueva. She alleges that he harassed her and violated her rights after their sex affair ended.

The lawsuit says the chief took advantage of Villanueva’s emotional state after she sought police help with a domestic situation. She says the police department ignored her reports.

Court documents say Villanueva has denied those allegations.

She is seeking unspecified damages for emotional distress and humiliation, loss of earnings and reputation. A trial is scheduled to begin in June next year.

Moreno has been chief since January 2005.

Update 8/13:   An Update from Officer Rodney Brown reports that as of today when the report was filed approximately 200 reports regarding the vandalism of business windows and vehicle windows were reported. The BB gun damage totals to nearly $62,000.00.

Not all incidents are done being processed, and investigators have yet to receive all official estimates so the number of total damage value may grow.

No information regarding charges have been released.

Anyone who is a victim should turn in a receipt of repair from a glass specialist to the North Platte Police Department.

Update (Rod Brown) (8/7) 6PM: The following businesses were affected in the BB gun window shooting

Update(8/7) 8AM:An update from Rod Brown of North Platte Police Dpt. so far around 180 cases have been reported so far, though reports are not yet finished.

North Platte Neb.(NORTH PLATTE POST)-

North Platte Police have been responding to calls across North Platte that report vandalism to commercial and vehicle vandalism. Officers are still responding to calls as of 11:30 am Monday.

A release from the N.P.P.D. says

“At around 1245 AM an Officer from the North Platte Police Department responded to the parking lot of the Platte River Mall in regards to vandalism to a vehicle.  The juvenile victim alleged that unknown persons had slit both rear tires and damaged several windows with what appeared to be a blunt object.”

This was only one of countless calls officers responded to throughout the morning hours that led to the arrest of one adult male who was in partnership with three juveniles.

Reports suggested that the suspects were traveling in a light colored van. Around 3:30 AM a NPPD investigator stopped a “light gray” colored Chevrolet Lumina van that matched the description driven by 20 year old Justin Belsky.

Belsky notified the officer that he had BB guns in the van, along with three juveniles.

After further investigation officers arrested Belsky on probable cause of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Belsky was then jailed in Lincoln County Detention Center.

None of the suspects have been cited because the total value of damages are at this point unknown as officers continue to respond to calls. One of the juveniles was cited for  Curfew Violation. All three juveniles were released to their parent or guardian.
At this point officers have responded to a total of 125 reports and the number may continue to grow.

Become an Insider, if you are a victim send us the picture and we will post it.

http://www.northplattepost.com/become-a-post-insider/

North Platte,Neb. -(NSP) A motorcycle rider is jailed after leading troopers on a Monday morning pursuit on I-80 in Lincoln County.

Just before 9:30 a.m., Monday, August 13, the Nebraska State Patrol Troop D Headquarters – North Platte was alerted by a motorist to a motorcycle traveling at a high rate of speed headed west on I-80.

A trooper observed a westbound 2002 Suzuki motorcycle about seven miles east of North Platte near mm 185. The motorcycle was clocked it at 105 mph. The trooper attempted a traffic stop. The motorcycle failed to stop and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit continued down I-80 and came to an end when the motorcycle driver pulled off the road at the Hershey exit.

The driver of the motorcycle, Erick R. Osborne, 29, El Paso, Texas, was lodged in the Lincoln County Jail on charges to include speeding, flight to avoid arrest, and willful reckless driving.

The pursuit lasted approximately 10 minutes and reached speeds up to 145 mph.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — Firefighters from more than a dozen departments have controlled a grass fire that blackened an estimated 10½ square miles near Ogallala in western Nebraska’s Keith County.

Officials blame a hot wheel bearing on a trailer for starting the blaze on Sunday south of U.S. Highway 30, near Nebraska Highway 61.

No injuries and no damage to structures have been reported.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — Record drought this summer seems to have brought nothing but bad news to farmers and homeowners in Nebraska. But at least one insect expert his found a silver lining: fewer grasshoppers.

Entomologist Dave Boxler tells local reporters that the drought has kept grasshopper numbers low in central Nebraska.

Boxler says Lincoln County, where he’s based, saw large numbers of grasshoppers last year, and experts were expecting big numbers again in the area this summer.

But above-average temperatures in March caused grasshopper eggs to hatch early, and cold spells in April killed many of them. The extreme drought this summer has killed many of the ones that survived.