Man that led law enforcement on hours-long manhunt appears in Lincoln County Court

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) - A 32-year-old Colorado man, accused of leading law enforcement on a manhunt near Brady, appeared in Lincoln County Court.

Abraham Pacheco of Thornton, Colorado appeared before Judge Joel Jay Monday. Pacheco is charged with nine felony counts, including first-degree assault, second-degree assault, theft by receiving, theft by taking, leaving the scene of an injury accident, fleeing to avoid arrest, cruelty to animals, torture, and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony.

The Nebraska State Patrol said the incident began around 1 p.m. Saturday, when the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to a vehicle on fire on Interstate 80 near Hershey.

According to the probable of cause affidavit, Pacheco had been involved in an accident with an eastbound semi previously that caused the 2004 maroon Dodge Ram to catch on fire. It was later determined the truck Pacheco was driving was stolen from Bloomfield, Colorado the night before.

The driver of the semi, Amiri Azmary, was transported to Great Plains Health after complaining of neck pain.

A witness on scene told deputies Pacheco was running from the scene towards the Hershey Interstate Lake area before breaking into and stealing a brown Dodge Ram with a camper attached, running over the owner of the truck as he drove away, according to state patrol. The victim, later identified by family members as Richard Ortiz, was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

The affidavit also shows Ortiz’s son, Zachary, attempted to get Pacheco out of the truck and at one point was successful, but Pacheco told Ortiz, “‘I’ll stab you,’” and stabbed Ortiz with an unknown object on his left leg. Pacheco was able to get the truck started and drove out of the campground.

Lincoln County Deputy Zach Kramer started the pursuit east on I-80 in which speeds ranged from 40 mph to 70 mph with the camper dangerously fish-tailing and coming apart, causing a large amount of debris on the interstate. Two Yorkie dogs belonging to Zachary were inside the camper and were killed.

State troopers took over the pursuit as Pacheco passed the North Platte interchanges. Pacheco then drove across the median and began going the wrong way on westbound lanes of I-80 at a high rate of speed for several miles, nearly hitting a North Platte Police Department cruiser, before getting off at the Brady interchange.

Around 1:25 p.m., Pacheco parked the vehicle and ran into a wooded area. Authorities established a perimeter and the state patrol’s SWAT team was activated.

Additional departments responded to assist, and drones were also deployed to search the area.

Once troopers discovered Pacheco’s approximate location, the SWAT team searched the area with a light-armored vehicle, and a K9 was able to track him into a muddy area on the bank of a pond.

Pacheco was taken into custody around 7:25 p.m. He was taken to the hospital for medical clearance and was booked into the Lincoln County Jail.

Pacheco is being held on a $750,000 bond at 10%. His next court appearance is set for July 11 at 9 a.m.

Click here to subscribe to our KNOP News 2 daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.