A Petersburg man facing burglary charges, who failed to appear in Antelope County District Court on Oct. 28, was arrested Monday, Nov. 2, following a high-speed chase that began in Madison County and ended in Antelope County.
Zach Heying, 30, was arrested after the pursuit, involving several law enforcement agencies, reached speeds of more than 100 miles per hour.
Monday’s incident began when a Madison County resident reported gasoline stolen from property near 835th Road and Highway 81. The resident saw the suspect leave the property and followed the vehicle the suspect was in.
Madison County deputies located the suspect’s vehicle and attempted a traffic stop on 833 Road, northwest of Madison. Heying refused to stop.
The pursuit continued onto an Antelope County minimum maintenance road. Heying’s vehicle reportedly became stuck. He reversed the vehicle and hit a Madison County Sheriff’s Office vehicle before fleeing through fields.
A pursuit intervention technique was employed to stop the vehicle. Heying surrendered without incident.
A Madison County Sheriff’s Office official said deputies had been investigating thefts in the area for “several days.”
During last week’s scheduled court appearance in Neligh, Heying’s attorney, Doug Stratton, reported Heying had car trouble and would appear at 3 p.m. Court reconvened at that time, and Heying did not appear.
Stratton requested a continuance. Antelope County Attorney Joe Smith objected, and Antelope County District Court Judge, Michael Long, denied Stratton’s request.
A bench warrant was issued, ordering Heying to be held for court, without bond.
On the original charges, Heying was arrested following an incident that occurred on or about Aug. 25 in rural Antelope County. Mike Dewey and Charles Bode were traveling on an Antelope County roadway when they encountered a white SUV without plates. The men asked the driver, a female, if she was OK, and she responded that the vehicle had run out of fuel and she was waiting for someone to bring gas.
Dewey reported seeing that wires on a irrigation system that had been pulled into the corner were down, and noticed that weeds in the vicinity were moving, like someone was walking through them.
Dewey and Bode went to get a pickup to drive along the system. Upon return, the SUV was gone, and the men drove around the section to try to locate the vehicle.
Dewey came upon the SUV and observed Heying in the vehicle. The SUV sped away, and Dewey returned to the irrigation to assess damage. Per the probable cause affidavit, cost of repairs and wire is estimated at $12,000.
Courtesy of SAM
