Three Arrested After Pursuit in Cheyenne County

OCTOBER 3, 2024 (SCOTTSBLUFF, NEB.)  — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested three people following a pursuit in Cheyenne County.

This morning, at approximately 1:05 a.m., a trooper attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a silver 2007 Buick Lucerne at the intersection of Old Post Road and Silverberg Drive in Sidney, Nebraska. The vehicle fled the scene, and the Trooper initiated a pursuit. The vehicle proceeded eastbound on I-80 reaching speeds of 130 miles per hour.

During the pursuit, the vehicle utilized the median to turn around and eventually exited I-80 into Sidney. Another trooper deployed stop sticks, but the vehicle continued fleeing. A trooper then successfully performed a tactical vehicle intervention to bring the vehicle to a stop in a ditch near the intersection of L17J and Old Post Road.

Troopers smelled smoke and all three occupants of the Buick exited the vehicle and were taken into custody. Shortly after, the vehicle caught fire. During the fire, troopers heard live ammunition popping inside the vehicle. The fire also spread to the field to the east, north of the Walmart area. The Sidney Police Department and Sidney Fire Department responded, and the fire was extinguished.

All occupants were arrested for drug and weapons charges. The driver, John Harmon, 32, of Sterling, Colorado, was arrested for flight to avoid (felony) and possession of a weapon during the commission of a felony. Passenger Kyrie Riggle, 38, of Sterling, Colorado, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance (meth). The second passenger, Dakota Schrecengost, 22, of Sterling, Colorado, was arrested for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and had a warrant.