Police chased a stolen car through Omaha and across the river into Iowa last night, with speeds up to 130 miles an hour. Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker says deputies were alerted by Omaha Police to the pursuit of a black Acura, stolen from an Omaha Acura dealership, occupied by two men and a woman, all of whom were from Omaha.
Danker says deputies picked up the chase after the car crossed the Missouri River into Iowa, off of Interstate 480. Danker says the vehicle entered Interstate 80 and Council Bluffs at speeds of up to 100-miles per hour and as it left town, the car was traveling up to 130-miles per hour, passing cars on both shoulders and driving recklessly.
Omaha Police helicopter “Able 1” followed the pursuit from the above. Danker says a deputy was about to deploy stop-sticks at the Neola exit, but the car was traveling too fast. The driver saw the deputy redeploy the stop-sticks east of the Neola exit and took evasive action.
The car jumped the median and began heading westbound on I-80 and got off at the Neola exit. The car went out of control and ended up in a ditch. Danker says the two men bailed out of the car and took off on foot. The rear seat passenger, a female, also got out of the car, but stayed with the vehicle and surrendered to authorities.
The driver of the car is identified as 22-year-old Robert Frederick. The front seat passenger was identified as 20-year-old Jake Scripter. The female was identified as Samantha Garbez. Danker says investigators in Omaha believe Scripter was the one who stole the car.
Both men face 1st-degree theft and interference with official acts. Frederick faces additional charges of reckless driving and operating without a valid license. Garbez was not charged. She was transported by Neola Rescue to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, after complaining of chest pains.
Frederick and Scripter refused medical treatment. Both men were scheduled to appear in court this morning. Their bonds were set at $10,000 each.
By Ric Hanson, KJAN, Atlantic