Pursuit of probationer ends at Nebraska City apartment

NEBRASKA CITY – A police pursuit that began in Iowa ended in Nebraska City after the driver reportedly hid in a maintenance closet of an apartment building.

Alexander McGinnis, 25, who was sentenced in Douglas County to three years probation on March 14, is suspected of possession of a knife exceeding lengths allowed for a felon, stealing a GMC Sierra pickup and operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest.

Court records say Nebraska City police were notified of a pursuit in Iowa involving a westbound pickup in the eastbound lanes of Highway 2.

Police Ofc. Colton Bohac encountered a pickup in the wrong lane of East Fourth Corso and told the court the pickup swerved to miss a head-on collision, but continued to swerve into oncoming traffic.

Prosecutors say McGinnis fled the pickup and ran into the apartment building on Sixth Corso. A female ran to a van parked at Runza and reportedly drove it to Casey’s before police made contact with her.

An affidavit says the man driving the pickup held a knife to her throat, but there were no charges filed regarding such a threat.

Several agencies assisted in the search of the apartment building. Police say McGinnis was found hiding in a locked closet. McGinnis is listed with residences in Omaha and Council Bluffs and was not a resident in any of the five apartments.