Manhunt Underway After Shots Fired At Deputy, Suspect Also Wanted In Otoe County

NEBRASKA CITY - A who is man wanted on an Otoe County warrant for theft of plants from a certified hemp grower is currently the subject of a multi-jurisdiction manhunt.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office reports that 44-year-old Wesley Blessing of Hastings fired a 9 mm handgun at a deputy near DeWeese on Tuesday afternoon.
A search involved over 100 officers from Clay, Fillmore, Nuckolls and Adams counties, as well as local police, the Nebraska State Patrol and a SWAT helicopter.
The 5’-11” Blessing, described with brown hair, brown eyes and 225 pounds, is suspected of holding a woman against her will.
In a separate case, an arrest warrant was issued in Otoe County for Blessing on Feb. 13.
He is suspect in the theft of hemp plants from the farm of Thomas Kastens near Otoe last May.
The Otoe County Sheriff's Office says they believe Blessing spent some time in Otoe County late last year and the early part of this year, but they do not know if he has been to Otoe County since January.
Blessing's address was listed as Beatrice in 2006, when he was sentenced to 90 days in Gage County jail for violation of a protection order.