Sheriff: County has first concealed carry violation
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By the Lincoln Journal Star
An Omaha man arrested Monday is believed to be the first in Lancaster County accused of violating Nebraska’s concealed weapons law.
Donald Watts, 51, of Omaha crashed his motorcycle while trying to make a U-turn at about 7:30 pm. Monday on U.S. 6 in Waverly, Sheriff Terry Wagner said.
Waverly Rescue workers treated minor injuries to Watt’s hand at the scene. Ultimately, he was taken to Cornhusker Place Detox in Lincoln.
Watts had been driving under the influence, Wagner said, and had a blood-alcohol level of .229, nearly three times the legal limit.
A deputy investigating the crash learned Watts had a permit to carry a concealed weapon and allegedly found a handgun concealed in a pouch on his motorcycle.
But Watts didn’t tell rescue workers or deputies he had a permit or a concealed weapon, Wagner said.
By law, that’s something he’s required to do.
Watts also allegedly violated his permit by drinking alcohol while carrying the concealed weapon.
The violations are punishable by up to three months in prison, a $500 fine or both.
Watts also could lose his permit if a revocation is filed against him in Douglas County.
The names of those with conceal carry permits are confidential, so Wagner checked with the State Patrol’s legal counsel before releasing details about the arrest.
He learned it was OK to release a permit-holder’s identity once he or she is arrested.
Lincoln Police Chief Tom Casady said he wasn’t aware of any other alleged permit violations. There are 356 permit-holders in the county.
State lawmakers passed the Concealed Handgun Permit Act in 2006. The State Patrol began issuing permits in January.
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