BLAIR, NEBRASKA (2025 January 6, Monday)
Don Harrold, Writer / Editor
blairtoday@mail.com – Facebook
From drones diving into sunroofs to cattle wandering railroad tracks, this weekend kept Washington County deputies busy across their winter patrols. Five arrests, including two couples who each saw their date nights end in handcuffs, highlighted a weekend that mixed the strange with the serious across the county’s highways and backroads.Copy
Friday, January 3: A peculiar incident occurred when a resident reported a Missouri-plated vehicle near County Road 41 and Highway 75, where the driver allegedly received a drone through their sunroof before driving away. OPPD plant security was notified. Deputies arrested Ryan Nieto on a Douglas County warrant. A possible Tylenol overdose case led deputies to follow the subject’s vehicle to the Dodge County line as they headed toward Fremont hospital. The day ended with a car-deer collision on County Road 40.
Saturday, January 4: The day’s most significant incident involved Joseph Andreasen, who was arrested at Cubby’s in Blair after deputies observed him driving while intoxicated. He faced charges of DUI .15 (3rd offense), obstruction, and resisting arrest. Earlier, deputies arrested John Zambrano for driving under suspension and no insurance near the Highway 30/133 roundabout. Deputies also responded to a suicide concern, though the subject had no active plans and was scheduled for a mental health appointment.
Sunday, January 5: A frightening moment occurred when deputies responded to a choking infant on County Road 15, though the airway was cleared and the family self-transported before deputies arrived. The rest of the day involved routine assists, including helping Blair Police with an unconscious person call and assisting a stranded motorist in Arlington.
Monday, January 6: Early morning enforcement led to two arrests in Fort Calhoun during a traffic stop: Samantha Phillips for driving under revocation and Douglas County warrants, and her boyfriend Damani Penney, who arrived at the scene and was arrested on a Sarpy County warrant.
ARRESTS:
- Ryan Nieto (5/5/89): Douglas County warrant (Jan 3)
- John Zambrano (6/11/04): Driving under suspension, no insurance (Jan 4)
- Joseph Andreasen (7/24/76): DUI .15 3rd offense, obstruction, resisting arrest (Jan 4)
- Samantha Phillips (11/15/98): Driving under revocation, Douglas County warrants (Jan 6)
- Damani Penney (7/25/95): Sarpy County warrant (Jan 6)
NOTABLE INCIDENTS:
- Drone flying into vehicle’s sunroof near Hwy 75, Missouri plates; OPPD security notified (Jan 3)
- Possible Tylenol overdose subject tracked to Dodge County line (Jan 3)
- Third-party report of suicidal remarks; subject had upcoming mental health appointment (Jan 4)
- Infant choking incident on CR 15; airway cleared before deputies arrived (Jan 5)
- Multiple traffic complaints including impaired drivers and vehicles crossing center lines
