By Kalin Krohe, Panhandle Post
The Chadron Police Department is asking the public for assistance in finding two armed suspects after a robbery.
At approximately 4:08 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5 the Chadron Police Department received a 911 call of an armed robbery in progress at Cheema’s Gas and Liquor.
Officers responded to the area and located a brown F-150 pickup driving East on Bartlett Road. The driver was wearing a blue bandana around his neck and wouldn’t make eye contact with police as they drove past.
Chadron Police Sgt. Jarvis Wallage attempted to stop the vehicle, but it fled onto Slim Butte Road heading North towards South Dakota's Pine Ridge Reservation.
Chadron Police Dispatch notified the Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST) authorities.
Sgt. Wallage pursued the vehicle until it went through a check station on the Nebraska - South Dakota State Line.
Officers had to wait for a period of time before getting permission to enter South Dakota. Once officers entered, they received assistance from OST and located the suspect's vehicle abandoned near a creek bottom on private property.
Chadron police were able to seize a number of items from the pickup, but were unable to locate the two suspects who had fled North from the vehicle.
"The Chadron Police Department is asking for your help in identifying anyone near Cheema’s in a South Dakota plated brown F150 pickup," said Chadron Police Chief, Tim Lordino. "If you have any information related to the male and female suspects that entered the store please call the police department at 308-432-0510. You can leave an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-422-1494 or by going online to Nebraska Crime Stoppers at http://www.nebraskacrimestoppers.com/sitemenu.aspx?ID=450&."
“These types of crimes are very dangerous to both the public and police, but our quick response enabled us to identify the driver by description and then pursue the vehicle into South Dakota," said Javis Wallage, Chadron Police Sgt. "We currently have several very good leads and are following up on those, but we still need the public’s help identifying the two suspects."
The Chadron Police Department was assisted by the Nebraska State Patrol.