Stolen Gun Reported

(MORRILL, Neb.) – Multiple citizens of Scotts Bluff County have contacted Panhandle Scanner with information about a barrage of overnight thefts from vehicles this past Friday in Morrill.

Our first response is always to ask if an official police report has been filed. This is the proper procedure if you have experienced a theft from your property.

One Morrill resident, Jacob Engstrom contacted us with concerns about both the follow-up on a gun theft from his vehicle, as well as conflicting information coming from Leo in Mitchell and Morrill.

Mr. Engstrom’s locked vehicle was unlawfully entered into by the theif who was able to get in via the window being slightly cracked open, allowing him/her to pop the locks. Once opened, the vehicle was rummaged through wildly, in what looked like a specific search for money and handguns.

They even left a 12 guage Shotgun on the floorboard, seemingly focused on the small arms in the glove box.

A police report was filed, and he was able to get some information from the Mitchell and Morrill PD in limited follow-up.

He says that the two police officers each told him they had individual(s) in custody for this and that one person was still on the run.

The police also told Mr. Engstrom that they were not from around here, likely Colorado.

The next night, there was a home burglary reported to us in Gering. Probably unrelated, but still alarming to have this crime happening and nothing being reported on by ‘the regular news’, according to the victims of recent thefts.

Panhandle Scanner backs the blue and always has. However, keep in mind that our original and ongoing mission is to hold our public officials accountable to you, the people. That includes all government officials, regardless of the uniform or position. They serve We The People, and we greatly appreciate the good ones. We will do everything to lift them up.

With that said, we will also never hesitate to call out the bad ones.

Public trust and accountability was seriously damaged when they decided to hide the public scanner feed by encryption. We always remind folks that the entire State already had means of encryption and privacy through existing channels. The County unnecessarily spent approximately $5,000,000 of your money to replace the radio system with encryption.

Public Accountability.

Back to our Stolen Gun story…

Why hasn’t the public been made aware of this theft? Law enforcement told Mr. Engstrom that that would be a bad idea and not do any good.

That brings to memory a 2010 home break-in case where the police refused to put out the video via official media, despite the homeowners request. (It was HIS video of the thugs trying to break in with guns drawn.)

Guess who posted that video and story. Yup. Good ole Hale Multimedia / The Scanner.

Guess who was arrested within 48 hours of the high school showing our posted video. Yup. The 308 gangsta got busted. Went to jail, but got out with a slap on the hand.

Despite the inept prosecutor and some judges who seem to go light on everyone, we still to this day vow to bring justice where it is due.

Awareness is the key to a safe and happy community. Keep the community in the dark, and your police work will suffer. That includes the fire department and all administrations as well.

We were told by a former high ranking official of the fire department that there’s more corruption in the fire department than there is in the police department!

His words, not ours.

Our goal today is to bring awareness to the theft of multiple items, including a handgun, that is STILL MISSING. The sooner the public is aware, the better. There is no reason to withhold this information, especially if there is no investigation being done! Police told our victim that he will likely never see his gun again, right after being assured by the officer that he would get it back for him. Police also told Mr. Engstrom that they have arrested individuals in this case. It sure would be nice to hear about that in one of their official press releases.

Here is the original post that the police encouraged him to delete saying it wouldn’t do any good. Why not try? Remember 2010?

Mr. Engstrom was advised by police that it would not be in their best interest to post it. We believe it should be about what is in the best interest of the victims, not in ‘theirs’.

If you have seen this gun or heard of anyone in possession of it or trying to sell it, contact the Sheriff’s Office. We are told there is no one on duty today in Morrill, and Mitchell PD has not given our victim much confidence thus far.