Man arrested in Merrick County within 24 hours of being released from jail

Merrick County, Neb. (KSNB) - A Hall County man evaded police in Merrick County following a vehicle pursuit just hours after being released from jail on a separate incident, according to the Merrick County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said a tan Cadillac DeVille was spotted traveling eastbound on Highway 30 from Chapman, at faster than the posted speed limit just before 10 p.m. on Wednesday.

According to the sheriff’s office, a deputy attempted a traffic stop and the driver, later identified as 61-year-old James Chastain of Hall County, who recklessly evaded law enforcement and failed to stop. Chastain continued to travel northbound on Seventh Road.

Deputies initiated a pursuit, and the driver continued northbound on Seventh Road past Chapman Road.

At Seventh and I roads, Chastain attempted to turn westbound on I Road. He failed to navigate the turn and ended up in the ditch on the north side of I Road.

The sheriff’s office said Chastain then exited the car and ran into a field just north of the ditch. Due to weather conditions, deputies lost track of the man. A passenger was found in the vehicle. The passenger, who did not flee the scene, was identified and later released without being charged.

According to the sheriff’s office, a perimeter was set up by members of the Central Nebraska Special Response Team and the Nebraska State Patrol. Thermal-imaging drones were used to find Chastain. Nebraska State Patrol K-9 attempted to track for the man. After five hours, the law enforcement called off the search.

Around 10 a.m., a rural county local in the area of Seventh and J roads reported finding an unknown man in a camper on their property and reported the man left towards Archer Road.

At 10:30 am, a second rural Merrick County resident reported a man, matching the description of the previous individual, standing on her back porch. The homeowner was able to provide a photo from her surveillance camera and a location where the man ran. A perimeter was set up and deputies, who began investigating the wooded area and found the man, later identified as Chastain, and took him into custody.

Chastain was taken to Merrick Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries he gained during his travels in the cold winter night in Merrick County and was transported to Merrick County Corrections to be booked in on the following charges: Flight to Avoid Arrest, Willful Reckless Driving, Obstructing a Peace Officer, Trespassing-First Degree, Driving Under Revocation Fourth Offense, Open Container, Speeding, and Other Traffic Infractions.

Police said Chastain was just released from Hall County Corrections the same day, less than five hours prior from fleeing from law enforcement during this incident after serving time for an unrelated crime of terroristic threats.