Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested two men for burglarizing Ozzie’s General Store in Sutherland early Saturday.

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A deputy was patrolling Sutherland when he noticed suspicious activity and traffic violations, according to Chief Deputy Dean Sparks.

The deputy followed the vehicle and, at 12:03 a.m., the 911 center dispatched the deputy to a silent alarm coming from Ozzie’s. Sparks said the deputy attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle he was following and the vehicle sped away.

A pursuit began as the vehicle headed west on Interstate 80 at speeds of 70 to 80 miles per hour and the Keith County Sheriff’s Office and Nebraska State Patrol were called to assist. The vehicle was spiked by Keith County Deputies and it stopped at about mile marker 134 on Interstate 80. The occupants were taken into custody without incident.

Daryl Jones Jr., 22, and Pablo Rodriguez, 22, of Lincoln, were arrested and taken to the Lincoln County Jail. Jones was arrested for drunken driving and flight to avoid arrest and Rodriquez was arrested for theft, burglary and flight to avoid arrest.

Jones’ personal alcohol content was .215, almost three times over the legal limit and the vehicle driven by Jones was borrowed from a friend in Kearney. Jones and Rodriquez stole license plates from a vehicle in Dawson County and placed on this vehicle prior to the burglary, Sparks said. The vehicle was impounded for evidentiary purposes.

Several cases of beer were stolen from Ozzie’s General Store and the amount of damage to the store is unknown at this time.

Lincoln County Sheriff Jerome Kramer credits the professionalism of Lincoln and Keith County Deputies and Nebraska State Troopers and excellent interagency cooperation for a safe outcome of this dangerous situation.

Burglary is a Class III-felony and carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, or $25,000 fine, or both and flight to avoid arrest is a Class IV-felony which is punishable up to five-years imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, or both such find and imprisonment. Additional charges may be pending.