Three men in custody following armed robbery and vehicle theft investigation

KEARNEY, Neb. (KSNB) - Three people in custody following an armed robbery last week in Kearney.

The Kearney Police Department said around 2:30 a.m. Thursday, they were dispatched to the 1700 block of Avenue E, where the victim said he was robbed inside his home at gunpoint and assaulted by two men.

The victim sustained nonlife-threatening injuries from the assault and was transported to Kearney Regional Medical Center by ambulance for medical treatment.

Three and a half hours later, KPD received a report of a stolen vehicle from the parking lot of an apartment on Villa Drive. The victim reported seeing her Chevy pickup leaving the area with two men inside.

The owner followed her pickup in another vehicle and called police to report it stolen. The stolen pickup went west on Railroad street from 30th Avenue leaving the city limits. A few hundred yards later the stolen pickup stopped in the road and the driver fired multiple gun shots from a handgun toward the owner who was still following the stolen pickup while on the phone with the Buffalo County 911 Center. At least one bullet struck the front of the car the owner was driving. The stolen pickup then continued westbound on Railroad street and the owner stopped following it. No injuries were reported following the shooting.

Following extensive investigations, Investigators with Kearney Police Department and Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office have determined that the armed robbery at 1712 Avenue E, the stolen pickup from 67 Villa Drive and subsequent shooting from the stolen pickup are all related.

Police arrested 26-year-old Ronnie Swartz around 8 p.m. Thursday. He’s now facing four charges including robbery and possession of a controlled substance.

Additionally, during the arrest of Swartz, police took 26-year-old Jerome Quinn, of Omaha, into custody on multiple items but has since been charged in court for possession of burglar’s tools and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

Court documents said Quinn fled the area and was eventually apprehended after running between houses away from officers.

A hearing for Swartz and Quinn are set for June 7.

Police said 40-year-old Scott Dye was also arrested on two out of state warrants.

This remains an active investigation. Anyone with additional information or video regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Kearney Police Department at (308) 237-2104, Buffalo County Crimestoppers (308) 237-3424, or through the See It Say It Send It App.