A Lincoln Police officer shocked a 27-year-old man with a Taser on Monday after the man allegedly threatened three teenage girls with a pocket knife in central Lincoln.
Police were called at about 4 p.m. to the area near 12th and F streets, where Trevor Wilson had threatened three girls with an open blade, Lincoln Police Sgt. Chris Vollmer said.
Wilson
As officers arrived, Wilson fled on foot toward a nearby alley as an officer, who Vollmer did not identify, gave chase, the sergeant said.
The officer caught up with Wilson, who then shoved the officer and started to run again.
The officer then shocked Wilson with his Taser and restrained him until help arrived.
Wilson was taken to a local hospital and medically cleared before police arrested him on suspicion of terroristic threats and resisting arrest.
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While police interviewed witnesses in the area, they encountered another man threatening neighbors with a knife, according to court filings.
Joseph Welsh, 39, pointed a knife toward two men and told them to mind their business as officers were canvassing the area, investigating the previous threat, Lincoln Police Officer Lee Dalhgren said in the affidavit for Welsh's arrest.
Welsh
Police heard the commotion from around the corner of 1202 F St. and arrested Welsh at the scene. Prosecutors charged him Tuesday with two counts of terroristic threats.
Both men were later taken to the Lancaster County Jail.
Most dangerous cities in Nebraska
Dangerous Cities in Nebraska
See how your hometown ranks among the most dangerous cities in Nebraska. Ratings have been determined according to the number of violent crimes per 1,000 people in cities of at least 10,000, with violent crime being classified as murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault. The numbers are for 2019, the most recent year for which the FBI provides data.
6. South Sioux City
With 30 violent crimes in 2019 and a population of 12,771 (the smallest on our list), the city in northeast Nebraska had 2.35 violent crimes per 1,000 people.
Photo:Â An RV park in South Sioux City on the Missouri River.Â
5. Scottsbluff
The city of 15,862 had 53 violent crimes for a rate of 3.34 per 1,000 in 2019.
Photo: Gering Police Officer Jordan McBride talks with Scottsbluff Police Officer Michael Modeac as he puts up crime scene tape at the scene of an armed standoff in Scottsbluff in June 2021.Â
4. North Platte
With a population of 23,705 and 89 violent crimes, the city had a rate of 3.75 per 1,000.
Photo: Union Pacific train engines line up outside a service building in North Platte.
3. Lincoln
The Star City had a population of 291,128 with 1,115 violent crimes, a rate of 3.83 per 1,000.
Photo: Police in Lincoln investigate a shooting near the intersection of 14th and E streets in August 2019.Â
2. Grand Island
With a population of 51,821 and 236 violent crimes, the largest of the Tri Cities had a 2019 rate of 4.55 per 1,000 people.
Photo: Grand Island police and State Patrol personnel investigate after a body was found in a Grand Island yard in August 2020.Â
1. Omaha
In 2019, the state's largest city at 470,481 people had 2,833 violent crimes for a rate of 6.13 per 1,000.
Photo: Omaha police and University Police guard the entrance to the Nebraska Medicine Emergency room after an Omaha police officer was shot at Westroads Mall in March 2021.Â
A note about the numbers
With eight violent crimes in 2019, Boys Town topped the state at 13.82 per 1,000 people, which is a misleading stat because it only had a 2019 population of 579.
Photo:Â The statue at the entrance to Boys Town. It doesn't take much to skew the numbers.Â
Andrew Wegley
Breaking news reporter
A Kansas City, Missouri, native, Andrew Wegley joined the Journal Star as breaking news reporter after graduating from Northwest Missouri State University in May 2021.
