BLAIR, NEBRASKA (2025 January 31, Friday)
Don Harrold, Writer / Editor
editor@blairtoday.com – Facebook
Washington County Sheriff’s deputies had a busy week handling everything from routine school patrols to arrests on outstanding warrants, with incidents ranging from an emergency room visit for a child’s dog bite to the mysterious dumping of a 1997 Jet Ski in a rural area. Between January 27-31, 2025, law enforcement maintained a steady presence across the county, with particular focus on school zones and business districts.
Monday, January 27, 2025
The day began with business checks in Fort Calhoun and Arlington during the early morning hours. At 2:54 AM, deputies conducted a traffic stop near Mile Marker 110 on Highway 75, resulting in the arrest of Tamaka Bland on a Douglas County Sheriff’s Office warrant. A concerning incident occurred when deputies responded to Children’s ER regarding a child with dog bite injuries near their left eye, requiring follow-up investigation at the residence. School patrols proceeded without incident in both Fort Calhoun and Arlington. The evening brought several motorist assists, including providing gas to a stranded driver on Highway 75. The day concluded with the arrest of Lar Wah at DW Finepak following a noise complaint about loud music from a worker’s vehicle, revealing an outstanding Sarpy County warrant.
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Early morning duties included assisting Blair Police Department with an uncooperative intoxicated arrestee at Blair Hospital ER, followed by routine business checks in Arlington and Fort Calhoun. A concerning traffic complaint emerged on County Road 36 and Pioneer Road, where residents reported vehicles speeding down the middle of the road. Deputies monitored the intersection but observed no violations. The day’s most serious incident occurred at 6:03 PM when deputies assisted BPD with a disturbance involving threats with a baseball bat. The day ended with another arrest when Christopher Staton was taken into custody for driving under suspension during a traffic stop on Highway 30.
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
The day started with another arrest when Cohen Zurcher was stopped for driving 91 in a 65 mph zone and subsequently arrested for driving under revocation. Morning patrols proceeded routinely until another arrest occurred at 9:09 AM when Caitlyn Buhl was taken into custody for driving under suspension. Emergency services responded to both a rescue call and a brush fire, with Blair and Kennard Fire Departments handling the incidents. The evening brought an unusual case of illegal dumping, where unknown individuals abandoned a 1997 Jet Ski without an engine and bags of empty beer boxes on County Road P41. The day concluded with assistance to a stranded 1960s Plymouth sedan at the Highway 30/133 roundabout.
Thursday, January 30, 2025
Deputies investigated suspicious vehicles at a construction site early morning, which turned out to be contractors working on the house. A significant incident occurred at 7:34 AM when deputies responded to a two-vehicle personal injury accident at Highway 133 and County Road P30, which resulted in a secondary property damage accident. The afternoon included an arrest when Adam Houghtelling was taken into custody on a Douglas County warrant while deputies assisted probation officers. The day’s activities included handling a neighbor dispute over a wandering dog in Arlington and tagging an abandoned white GMC Terrain on Highway 75.
Friday, January 31, 2025
The early morning hours of January 31 were quiet, with deputies conducting 16 business checks in Fort Calhoun without incident and completing a special attention check on County Road P43, both of which revealed no issues.
Arrests
- Monday, Jan. 27: Tamaka Bland (DOB 5/22/74), arrested on Douglas County Sheriff’s Office warrant during Highway 75/MM 110 traffic stop
- Monday, Jan. 27: Lar Wah (DOB 10-01-04), arrested on Sarpy County warrant after loud music coming from workers vehicle at DW Finepak
- Tuesday, Jan. 28: Christopher Staton (DOB 12/2/77), arrested for driving under suspension at Highway 30/CR 29
- Wednesday, Jan. 29: Cohen Zurcher (DOB 08-12-02), arrested for driving under revocation at Highway 30 & 89A Spur after being clocked at 91 mph in a 65 zone
- Wednesday, Jan. 29: Caitlyn Buhl (DOB 7/31/94), arrested for driving under suspension at Highway 133/CR 26
- Thursday, Jan. 30: Adam Houghtelling (DOB 12/5/82), arrested on Douglas County warrant at 1:12 PM at 6500 CR 9 while assisting probation officers
Notable Incidents
- Child bite injury: At 3:57 AM deputies responded to Children’s ER regarding child with two small punctures near left eye from dog bite; follow-up scheduled for day shift at residence
- Disturbance with weapon: At 6:03 PM assisted Blair PD with incident involving male party threatening complainant with baseball bat
- Vehicle accidents: At 7:34 AM Thursday responded to 2 vehicle PI and 2 vehicle secondary PD at Highway 133 and CR P30
- Illegal dumping: At 8:49 PM investigation of abandoned 1997 Jet Ski (without engine) and two trash bags of empty beer boxes on 1200 Block CR P41; unable to locate VIN or serial number, only Minnesota registration from 2020
- Traffic complaint: At 11:19 AM, at CR 36 & Pioneer Rd, reporting party advised cars speed down CR 36 in the middle of the road and is concerned about a major accident
- Fire response: At 12:42 PM Blair and Kennard Fire Departments handled brush fire at 14200 Highway 30
- Vehicle assist: At 10:26 PM aided 1960s Plymouth sedan stopped on Highway 30/133 roundabout median due to car trouble
