Hall County, Courtesy. Jose Martinez
GRAND ISLAND — After attempting to evade law enforcement multiple times, the pursuit involving a Grand Island driver came to an end in the Lincoln Elementary school yard during the late evening of Tuesday, Sept. 12.
Jose Martinez was arrested for flight to avoid arrest, three counts; red light violation; traffic signal violation; reckless driving; willful reckless driving, two counts; resisting arrest and obstructing a peace officer, two counts.
According to the Grand Island Police Department, around 9:45 p.m. a traffic stop was attempted on a Dodge Dakota at Stolley Park Rd. and S. Locust St. Officers had previous contact with the vehicle where the driver was identified as Martinez by verbally stating his name and comparing a jail booking photograph.
After emergency overhead lights were activated, the Dakota began driving at a high rate of speed, 55 mph in a 30-mph zone on S. Locust St. and 55 in a 35-mph zone on Stolley Park Rd.
The Dakota began to pass other vehicles on the road in a no passing zone and continued at a higher rate of speed, creating farther distance between the vehicle at the officer’s patrol vehicle.
The vehicle would later flee from the Nebraska State Patrol in the area of 15th and Sycamore St.
Around 11:05 p.m., the Dakota was located by police southbound on Sycamore St. and the officer turned around to get behind the vehicle as the Dakota went through a red light at 10th and Sycamore. Another traffic stop was initiated but the vehicle continued accelerating at a high rate of speed and the stop was terminated.
Later the Dakota was observed traveling eastbound on 3rd St., and it was later seen on Capital Ave. and then turn south on St. Paul Rd. Officers were successfully able to deploy stop sticks, which disable two of the pickup’s tires.
A traffic stop was attempted on St. Paul Rd., where the vehicle continued at a constant rate of speed. The driver eventually continued onto Lambert St., where it drove into the Lincoln Elementary school yard and became inoperable.
Police say Martinez refused to comply with officers’ commands and was subsequently tased to gain compliance. As he was being taken into custody, Martinez would tuck his hands under his body to prevent officers from arresting him.
Martinez was booked into the Hall County Department of Corrections at 1:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13.
