“Meth by a Lake” – Washington County, Nebraska Sheriff’s Report, January 3, 2025

BLAIR, NEBRASKA (2025 January 3, Friday)
Don Harrold, Writer / Editor
blairtoday@mail.com – Facebook

From a riverside sawed-off shotgun discovery to an armed standoff resolved without bloodshed, Washington County’s transition into 2025 proved anything but routine. In just five days, deputies handled everything from mistaken tow trucks to midnight pursuits, while navigating both winter roads and escalating situations.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2024: At 12:48 AM, deputies began checking 10 Fort Calhoun businesses, followed by 14 in Arlington at 3:25 AM, and red-tagged a black Hyundai on Highway 30. The morning erupted at 7:02 AM when a stolen Omaha vehicle spotted at 7500 CR P32 led to a pursuit ending at 701 Adams Street, where Stefan Greelis was cornered and arrested. Fraud struck at 4600 Foley Drive with a stolen Apple account, while a found license made its way to 5000 CR P39. The day’s confusion peaked at 600 Industrial Drive when a “stolen” vehicle turned up at Woodhouse Ford – simply a wrong tow by AAA. At 8:15 PM, Fort Calhoun deputies arrested Laraysha White on multiple charges including two DCSO warrants. The day ended with a crash on slush-covered Highway 133 at CR P26, conditions forcing a delayed investigation.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2024: Following 2:13 AM checks of 18 Arlington businesses and 15 in Fort Calhoun by 3:04 AM, deputies discovered meth during a 4:58 AM search at County Road P51 and Nathan’s Lake, arresting Jamie Bowels. They transported a stranded motorist from Highway 91 and Horizon Lane to Blair for gas, while Blair Valley firefighters reset a sausage-triggered alarm at 2800 Angel Share Drive. Highway 133 demanded attention – first for unlocated ladders, then a property damage accident at 7900 Highway 133. A wandering Amazon package found near Fort Calhoun’s cemetery made its way home to 10300 CR 26, as Arlington rescue handled a 9:58 AM call.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2025: The year began tracking an intoxicated pedestrian on Highway 30 at CR 9 at 12:36 AM, but deputies diverted to stop Kevin Dunklau for multiple violations on West Elkhorn Street, arresting him for DUI. By 5:10 AM, dispatchers had to manage his girlfriend’s repeated calls to both jail and non-emergency lines, successfully providing options that stopped the calls. After handling a 2:45 AM intoxicated parties’ disturbance in Arlington and checking 29 businesses across both towns, the day evolved into a series of reports: a dog bite at 9300 Highway 133, a protection order violation, and most notably, a sawed-off shotgun found by diggers at 10200 Riverside Lane. Evening brought statement deliveries to 11100 Arrowhead Drive, a check on an abandoned gold Chevy at North Beach, Lakeland, and advice for a caller about threats to their Douglas County father-in-law.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2025: Pre-dawn patrols checked 31 businesses before a car-coyote collision on Highway 133. Medical emergencies stacked up: a false alarm in Fort Calhoun, Kennard rescue transport, and a heart patient self-transporting to the Fort Calhoun fire station. After arresting Jay Plugge in Blair for protection order violation and assault/menacing, deputies investigated workers reportedly without warning signs at 5100 CR 40, finding proper orange signage in both directions. At Highway 30/31, Jordan Rodgers’ 87-mph speed led to arrests on both Douglas and Saline County warrants. The day’s tension peaked at 3000 Golden Eagle Circle when “Justin” emerged with a rifle during civil papers service. Deputies took cover behind a tree, maintaining verbal commands until he approached unarmed. Night brought jurisdictional challenges when a mother sought reports for an Omaha vehicle theft connected to an August shooting, but found OPD wouldn’t take the report.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2025: Deputies verified 16 Fort Calhoun businesses and 14 in Arlington secure by 2:49 AM, closing a remarkably eventful week.

ARRESTS:

• Stefan Greelis (1/21/61): Motor vehicle theft, flight to avoid, DUS – Located in Ft Atkinson, arrested at 701 Adams St (Dec 30)
• Laraysha White (7/13/91): DUS, no registration, no insurance, 2 DCSO warrants (DUS and DV 3rd) – Fort Calhoun (Dec 30)
• Jamie Bowels (8/30/83): Possession controlled substance, located meth on PC search – Co Rd P51 & Nathan’s Lake (Dec 31)
• Kevin Dunklau (9/27/91): DUI after multiple moving violations – W Elkhorn Street / Co Rd 9 (Jan 1)
• Jay Plugge (9/10/69): PO violation and Assault/Menacing – Blair (Jan 2)
• Jordan Rodgers (6/19/93): Douglas County warrant, Saline County warrant – arrested after TS 87/65 at Hwy 30/31 (Jan 2)

NOTABLE INCIDENTS:

• Vehicle Confusion: “RP advised his vehicle was stolen from parking lot while he was at work. Located vehicle at Woodhouse Ford. AAA towed wrong vehicle.” – 600 Industrial Dr (Dec 30)
• Cooking Alarm: “Set off due to cooking sausage, no fire, BVFD reset alarm.” – 2800 Angel Share Dr (Dec 31)
• Found Firearm: “RP and friends digging by the river last 2 days. Discovered a sawed-off shotgun. Gun recovered and report taken.” – 10200 Riverside LN (Jan 1)
• Critical Incident: “While serving papers, subject sneaked around house & presented a rifle. Took cover behind a tree & gave repetitive verbal commands. Would not follow commands. Justin approached responding units w/o firearm.” – 3000 Golden Eagle Circle (Jan 2)
• Jurisdictional Issue: “Mother of female who’s vehicle was stolen out of Omaha and used in shooting on the bottoms (August?) wanted a stolen vehicle report for her daughters car. advised that vehicle was originally stolen out of Omaha report needs to be filed there. RP stated OPD won’t take a report.” (Jan 2)