Shots fired call leads to traffic stop

A Labor Day traffic stop caused some citizens and passersby concern.

The Western Nebraska Observer received a letter asking why nothing had been printed following “an apparent drug bust near the underpass at I-80 on Highway 71”.

The letter further stated that there were “at least two people spread-eagle on the ground”.

After following up on the letter, Kimball Police Chief Darren Huff explained that the traffic stop was not connected to drugs in any way and that no one was detained spread eagle on the ground.

Instead, he said, his department had received complaints of shots fired north of the railroad tracks in Kimball.

Huff said that he responded and upon hearing shots, and identifying them as .223 or .556 rounds from an AR-15, he called in back-up as a precaution.

Though residents were standing outside pointing Huff in easterly or southerly direction, he said he determined the shots coming from north of his position.

He traveled to the intersection of North and Elm Streets where he said he witnessed three males and one female near a red tractor firing rounds on property outside of city limits, which is not unlawful.

As back-up arrived the parties left the premises in two vehicles, a maroon Ford Taurus and a green Chevy Suburban, according to Huff, and proceeded south on Highway 71.

A traffic stop was initiated on probable cause, Huff said, on Highway 71. The Taurus stopped near The Diner, and the Suburban was stopped on the south side of I-80 near the High Point Welcome Center.

Huff further stated that one male driver, three male passengers and one female passenger in the Suburban were asked to exit the vehicle, one at a time, for his safety.

As Huff cleared each passenger and ensured that none were carrying weapons, he said he asked if there were any weapons in the vehicle. He received a positive reply and passengers identified the weapons and their location for Huff, who secured those as well.

During the questioning, Huff said he was told that the female passenger lived on the property where the parties were target shooting and that they had left to assist a family member tag cattle south of Kimball.

No illegal activity was found; no citations were given, and no arrests occurred, according to Huff.

“They were very appreciative of how the stop was affected,” Huff said.