Stolen vehicles used to commit additional crimes

Four stolen vehicles in one week in Kimball County led to the recovery of a stolen Dodge pickup from Sedgwick, Colo., behind the Dix Bible Church according to Kimball County Sheriff Investigator Anthony Osborn.

This vehicle was recovered within 24 hours of being reported stolen, and it contained items believed to have been taken during recent burglaries in Kimball County.

At that time, Sheriff Harry Gillway said, "We believe the suspects are driving the second vehicle stolen from Dix. We did collect evidence from the stolen vehicle recovered on Thursday and hope to have suspects in custody soon."

Throughout the weekend investigators continued following up on citizens' reports, and on Sunday, Feb. 19, a caller reported seeing a 2016 Ford F-250 matching the description of one of the stolen vehicles, according to Osborn.

Investigators followed up on that call and after two hours and a short foot chase, the Nebraska State Patrol was able to make a stop and arrest one male suspect, Javier Campos, and one female suspect, Atinot Staman.

That same night the suspects, who are also wanted in Sedgwick County and Logan County, Colorado as well as in neighboring Cheyenne County, led investigators to the red Ford Taurus that was also stolen from Dix and is thought to be used in burglaries in at least three other counties.

According to a press release from the Logan County Sheriff's Office in Sterling, Colo., approximately 16 vehicles/trailers were reported stolen between the four counties spanning two states.

One vehicle has yet to be recovered, Osborn said. He asks the public to be on the lookout for a 1996 Chevy pick-up, tan in color with a large aluminum bumper. Originally the public was asked to watch for a particular license plate number, but Osborn said those plates are no longer on that vehicle.

"I am really proud of the work Deputy Osborn put in to help solve this case," Gillway said.

"The investigation is going well," Osborn said. "We have had several good leads and are following up on those."