Dawson County Courthouse, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
LEXINGTON — A competency evaluation has been ordered for a Lexington man who is accused of stealing a Lexington Police Department cruiser that had recently been sold to a dealership.
Russell Brogan, 35, has been charged with theft – receiving stolen property, $5,000+, a Class 2A felony.
Following a hearing in August, Dawson County Court Judge Jeffrey Wightman granted a motion to determine Brogan’s competency to stand trial.
Dr. Rebecca Schroeder was appointed to conduct the evaluation and return her findings to the court.
In addition, the next hearing date in the case was continued to Thursday, Oct. 31 at 11 a.m.
According to court documents, on July 22, Trooper Roberts with the Nebraska State Patrol was stopped with Trooper Sauser who was on an unrelated vehicle stop in Lexington near the intersection of 6th St. and Jackson St. in Lexington at 12: 55 p.m.
Trooper Roberts observed a marked Lexington Police Department patrol unit at the gas station on the southwest corner of the intersection, which moved to the parking lot on the southeast side of the intersection, adjacent to the traffic stop.
Later, Trooper Roberts observed a male subject, who later identified himself as Brogan, approach the traffic stop from the direction of the marked patrol unit.
Brogan made incoherent statements to Trooper Roberts and later advised that he needed assistance getting fuel for his vehicle.
Trooper Roberts asked which vehicle and Brogan motioned toward the Lexington patrol unit, which Brogan also confirmed.
At this point, Trooper Roberts would place Brogan under arrest.
The troopers would contact dispatch to have the Lexington Police Department to confirm that the unit, a 2020 Ford Explorer was stolen.
A search was conducted of Brogan’s person, and it turned up two different key rings, one of which appeared to be personal keys and the other belonged to the Lexington patrol unit.
The troopers conducted an interview with Brogan who made more incoherent statements, such as “watching nuclear war games as part of his high school curriculum and believing that a nuclear war was imminent,” according to court documents.
Brogan also advised he had gotten the vehicle from Platte Valley Auto and that the keys were inside the vehicle.
Officers with the Lexington Police Department arrived on scene and advised the patrol unit had recently been sold to Platte Valley Auto.
Brogan would later be booked into the Dawson County Jail.
