Man Steals Golf Course Turf Sprayer in Chaotic Lincoln Crime Spree

A parole escapee in Lincoln was taken into custody Monday afternoon, after leading member of the Fugitive Task Force across the city on a destructive crime frenzy, emblematic of his now pending criminal mischief charge.

Damaged vehicle that was stolen. (Courtesy: Lancaster County Sheriffs Office)

Around 1:15 p.m ., law enforcement was looking for 49 year-old Nick Roberts near 20th street between Washington and Garfield Streets. Lancaster County Sheriffs Chief Deputy Ben Houchin says Roberts has been suspected of several crimes, including stealing gas from Mammoth Station near Waverly on several different occasion, “Just been causing a whole bunch of havoc around Lincoln and out into the county.”

Officers were able to locate Roberts in an alley in the area, sitting alone in a vehicle. Task force members used their vehicle to box in Roberts, with another moving in behind him. Now trapped, Roberts threw his vehicle in reverse, colliding into and over a cement road block structure, into one of the cruisers, and slipping between two apartment complexes, narrowly missing a tree.

Roberts began heading backwards down South 20th Street, where he ends up crashing into a large tree on the corner of Washington Street. A deputy attempted to use a cruiser to pin the stolen car that Roberts was driving against that tree.. but Roberts stepped back on the gas and crashed into the cruiser rendering it inoperable.

Roberts then took off, and Police found his vehicle abandoned on South 29th & Sumner Street. On foot, Roberts made his way to Ager Jr Memorial Golf Course where he stole a red Toro Turf Sprayer, worth $100,000, according to Chief Deputy Houchin.

With the assistance of the State Patrol helicopter, Roberts was located by law enforcement in a parking lot near 40th and Old Cheney. Roberts crashed the Toro Sprayer into a parked car and State Patrol truck, when the Sprayer then become inoperable, Roberts took back off on foot running.

This hectic pursuit came to an end at an apartment complex a few blocks away on 48th & Old Cheney. Roberts was found on the third floor, where he was taken into custody without incident.

Roberts was arrested for:

Chief Deputy Houchin said more charges will be coming, and Roberts is going to be arrested as the investigation goes on for the additional thefts that he has been responsible for.

“This individual has little regard for anybody other than himself. We are very thankful he did not hurt anybody seriously through this,” said Chief Deputy Houchin.