By Allison Peck
A North Platte man is facing felony charges following a pursuit early Wednesday morning in Lincoln County.
According to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, a deputy was patrolling the Lake Maloney area on U.S. Highway 83 shortly after midnight September 16 when the deputy observed a vehicle traveling southbound at an extremely high rate of speed.
A radar check confirmed the vehicle was traveling 108 miles per hour.
The deputy stopped the black Chrysler 200, which had expired in-transit permits, near the Lake Maloney school. The driver was identified as 20-year-old Dilan Martinez of North Platte. The sheriff's office said Martinez has a suspended Nebraska driver's license.
During the traffic stop, the deputy observed indicators that Martinez may have been under the influence of alcohol and asked him to step out of the vehicle.
According to the sheriff's office, Martinez argued with law enforcement and a brief struggle occurred inside the vehicle. Martinez then drove away while a deputy was still engaged with him.
A pursuit followed as the Chrysler traveled westbound on North Lake Road to South Buffalo Road, then north into North Platte.
The North Platte Police Department attempted to deploy spike strips, but the attempt was unsuccessful.
The sheriff's office said Martinez continued driving at a high rate of speed through residential areas without headlights. The pursuit was eventually terminated because authorities knew the identity of the driver.
Both agencies checked multiple areas for the vehicle and Martinez. As of the sheriff's office's September 16 posting, he had not been located. Those efforts are continuing.
Felony charges are pending Martinez's arrest.
The sheriff's office is asking anyone who sees the vehicle or Martinez not to approach him and to contact law enforcement.
Authorities are also encouraging Martinez to turn himself in at the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.
This remains an ongoing investigation. Charges are allegations, and Martinez is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.