Chadron police had a busy time Thursday night with 2 felony incidents about an hour apart that each landed one person in jail, a local woman who allegedly attacked police and a Crawford man accused of threatening 2 men with a gun after stalking 2 women.
Interim Police Chief Rick Hickstein says the first case started about 10:30 when officers responded to a report of a bar fight. As they interviewed witnesses and victims, one suspect, 25-year old Taure Lame, began arguing with them.
The confrontation intensified with Lame assaulting and kicking an officer, then biting and kicking a second. Police finally subdued her with a Taser. She was checked out by EMTs, then taken to jail for 3rd-degree assault on a police officer and misdemeanor resisting arrest. Lame’s bail was set at $25,000.
About 11:30, officers were called to Chadron State College, where 2 female students said as they were driving to town another vehicle followed them in a harassing manner from around Chadron State Park into the city.
When the women reached the college campus, they called 2 male student friends for help. The men confronted the driver of the other vehicle, who reportedly brandished a sawed-off shotgun at one of them.
The men walked away and called police, saying the driver had fled east on 10th Street. Between interviews with all 4 students and video from college security, police were able to find the vehicle and driver about 8 blocks away a short time later.
Officers detained 25-year old Dean Hawley of Crawford at a residence and, after obtaining a search warrant for the house and several vehicles, found a short shotgun, several rounds of ammunition, and 2 pellet guns.
Hawley was then booked for terroristic threats, felony possession of a deadly weapon, felony use of a deadly weapon, and possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person with additional charges pending. Bail was set at $100,000.
Chief Hickstein is grateful for assistance on the case by the Nebraska State Patrol, Dawes County Sheriff’s Office, CSC Security, and the college Housing and Residence Life office.