Update (Jan. 23, 3:03 p.m.)

Charges against Todd Warren have been amended.

Authorities originally filed charges of attempted murder and resisting arrest.

On Thursday morning, the Lincoln County Attorney’s Office amended those charges to attempted 2nd degree assault-aiding and abetting, terroristic threats and being a habitual criminal.

The North Platte Police Department has not released any further details on the investigation at this time.

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UPDATE (Jan. 23, 1:50 p.m.)

According to a statement from North Platte Police Department Public Information Officer, Rodney Brown, the second suspect in this case has been identified and questioned.

Brown said that information gathered from the second suspect may refute earlier statements made by the victim, which were included in the original NPPD news release.

The second suspect has not been charged and Brown said no additional arrests have been made.

The investigation is ongoing.  The Post will bring you further details as they become available.

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A North Platte man has been charged with attempted murder following an alleged machete attack on a North Platte resident.

According to Officer Rodney Brown, North Platte Police responded to a residence in the 2300 block of East 6th Street at around midnight on Thursday, after receiving a report of a male subject pounding on the house and attempting to break a windshield out of a vehicle.

Police arrived to find the victim, a 51-year-old male, and 46-year-old Todd Warren on the ground fighting.

Warren then fled the area and a foot pursuit ensued.  He was apprehended a short time later following a brief struggle with officers.

Police then spoke to the victim who alleged that Warren and a second unknown male subject came to his residence and attempted to break the windshield out of his vehicle.  He said Warren left and returned a short time later.

The victim said he then heard what sounded like fireworks outside the residence.  He claims that when he exited the residence, Warren and another man attacked him.  He said while Warren punched, kicked and choked him, the other man attempted to strike him with a large “machete” style knife.  Brown said the victim was able to fend off the knife attack.

Following further investigation, police charged Warren with attempted 1st degree murder and resisting arrest.

Warren was initially transported to the Great Plains Regional Medical Center ER where he was treated for deep lacerations to his right hand.  He was then jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center, where he’s being held without bail.

The identity of the second alleged attacker is still unknown.

 

 

(AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker is proposing legislation that would prevent cities and counties from enacting stricter gun regulations than the state.

Sen. Bill Kintner of Papillion introduced the bill on Wednesday. The measure would also attempt to prevent the enforcement of federal gun restrictions in Nebraska, with criminal charges for anyone who violates the law. A first-offense violation would be a misdemeanor, and additional violations would be a felony.

Kintner says the bill is designed to make gun laws uniform throughout the state. Kintner says that, in Omaha, residents have to register their handguns unless they have a state permit to carry a concealed handgun.

He says the bill also protects Nebraskans from federal overreach.

• Today: Sunny, with a high near 25. Wind chill values as low as -20. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 6 to 11 mph in the afternoon.
• Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 11. Wind chill values as low as -5. Southwest wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Wind chill values as low as -3 early. Breezy, with a west wind 13 to 18 mph increasing to 19 to 24 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph.
• Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. Blustery, with a west northwest wind 15 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Northwest wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
• Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.

(AP) — Lawmakers are still debating a bill that would ban the retail sale of novelty lighters in Nebraska.

The Legislature adjourned on Wednesday without voting on the issue. Opponents have mounted a filibuster to block the legislation, which would prevent retailers from selling lighters that resemble animals, tractors or other items that could be mistaken as toys.

Sen. Les Seiler of Hastings says he introduced the bill to keep a potential fire hazard away from children. The proposal is backed by firefighters’ groups in Nebraska, but opponents argue that the novelty lighters pose no greater threat than regular lighters or candles.

Debate is expected to resume on Thursday.

(AP) — Two murder cases against a 58-year-old south-central Nebraska man have been advanced to district court for trial.

Michael Petersen appeared in Hall County Court on Tuesday and waived his right to preliminary hearings in both cases. Petersen is charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Prosecutors say he used a rifle on Nov. 13 to shoot Nancy Petersen outside her home in Buffalo County and then drove to Grand Island and killed a 52-year-old lawyer, Todd Elsbernd.

Elsbernd represented Michael Petersen in his 2005 divorce.

Petersen, who lives near Glenvil in Clay County, was arrested Nov. 14 about a mile east of Hastings. Police say he was armed but offered no resistance.

(AP) — State Auditor Mike Foley says Nebraska has been given 30 days to repay nearly $22 million to the federal government because of the state’s troubled effort to privatize child welfare services.

Foley said Wednesday that Nebraska could face annual interest fees of more than 10 percent if the state fails to repay the money immediately.

The announcement came after the state auditor’s office received two federal letters related to the Department of Health and Human Service’s child welfare reform efforts. Some of the concerns related to how the use of federal aid was documented.

The repayment demand was for nearly $7.9 million in fiscal year 2012 and $14.1 million in fiscal 2011. Foley says the fiscal 2013 audit is ongoing, and could lead to other questionable expenditures.

(AP) — Republican Pete Pirsch has won the endorsements of Nebraska’s two U.S. senators and 19 state legislators in his campaign for state auditor.

The Omaha state senator announced the support from U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer and Mike Johanns on Wednesday. Pirsch, an attorney and former prosecutor, is vying to replace Republican State Auditor Mike Foley, who is running for governor.

Pirsch also has secured backing from Republican state Sens. Dave Bloomfield, Lydia Brasch, Mark Christensen, Colby Coash, Al Davis, Tommy Garrett, Galen Hadley, Tom Hansen, John Harms, Bill Kintner, Scott Lautenbaugh, John Murante, John Nelson, Jim Scheer, Ken Schilz, Les Seiler, Jim Smith, Dan Watermeier and John Wightman.

State Sen. Amanda McGill of Lincoln is running unopposed for auditor in the Democratic primary.

The North Platte Public School Foundation is accepting nominations for Teacher of the Year, Staff Member of the Year and Administrator of the Year.

Anyone from the North Platte Community can submit a nomination.

The NPPSF offers the following guidelines when considering a nominee:

• Dedication to the teaching profession or their specific duties at NPPS
• Innovation in curriculum and/or style of teaching
• Relationship to students, parents and colleagues
• Contributions to the educational community, subject area and student accomplishments
• Other information or personal characteristics you believe are important

Nomination forms are required and can be found at the NPPSF office, 301 W. F Street, or on the their website, www.nppsf.org.

If you have questions, contact the NPPSF office at 308-696-3325.

Nominations are due by March 1, 2014.

The Nebraska State Patrol at the request of the Scottsbluff Police Department is investigating the officer involved shooting of an armed man during a disturbance call.

Just before 8:00 p.m., (MDT), on Tuesday, January 21, Scottsbluff Police responded to reports of a man armed with a gun and a knife causing a disturbance at 117A Mary Lane. Upon their arrival, Scottsbluff police officers made contact with an armed man who then fled into a motorhome parked outside a residence at 117A Mary Lane.

The Scottsbluff Police Department requested additional assistance and units from the Nebraska State Patrol, Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Office and Gering Police Department responded to the scene.

Attempts made to contact the man, identified as Matthew Schwab, 29, 117A Mary Lane were unsuccessful.  At approximately, 10:30 p.m., (MDT), Schwab, came out of the motorhome, pointing a handgun at officers.  An officer with the Scottsbluff Police Department fired two rounds at the suspect.

Schwab, who was struck twice in the upper body, was transported by ambulance to Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, where he is listed in stable condition.

The Scottsbluff Police Department has identified the officer who fired on the suspect as Officer Matt Herbel.  Herbel, an 11-year veteran of the Scottsbluff Police Department has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

NSP investigative reports, once completed, will be forwarded to the Scotts Bluff County Attorney.