04/30/15 North Platte, NE – 112 MPH Traffic Stop – Handcuffed Man And Woman Placed In NEBRASKA STATE PATROL CAR – 1.1 lbs. Of Meth Found – Man Steals Patrol Car – 45 Mile Chase – Stop Sticks

April 30, 2015

northplattebulletin.com

A pair of handcuffs was not enough to slow down a Nevada couple, who stole a Nebraska State Patrol car Thursday and led officers on a high-speed chase that covered 45 miles.

It started with a traffic stop for speeding on I-80 about two miles west of North Platte, Nebraska State Patrol spokeswoman Deb Collins said.

At 3:23 p.m. a trooper stopped an eastbound 2015 Toyota Camry for speeding at 112 mph, Collins said. The I-80 speed limit is 75 mph.

When the trooper got the car stopped, he handcuffed a man and woman in the Camry and put them in his patrol car, while he searched their car.

He put the man in the front seat of the patrol unit, and the woman in the backseat, Collins said.

A Lincoln County sheriff’s deputy and another trooper were on their way to assist, but while the trooper was searching the Camry, the man took control of the patrol unit and drove off, Collins said.

The deputy and the second trooper chased the stolen unit.

Collins did not say how the couple controlled the car while they were wearing handcuffs, but a State Patrol spokesman said the man was able to slip one hand out of a cuff. He is suspected to have been under the influence of meth.

The pursuit reached speeds of 130 mph and did not come to an end until the car was just east of the Cozad exit – more than 45 miles from where it started.

“Stop sticks” near Cozad were deployed, flattening three tires on the stolen trooper’s car, Collins said.

The driver, Jacob J. Barrickman, 24, of Henderson, Nev. and the woman, Brianna M. Hampton, 23, of Bullhead City, Ariz. were taken into custody without further trouble.

Collins said there was 1.1 pounds of methamphetamine in a duffle bag on the rear seat of the Camry.

Barrickman was taken to the Lincoln County jail and charged with a battery of crimes — possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, vehicle theft, escape, flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving and speeding.

Hampton was also taken to jail. She is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, Collins said.

Collins said the Dawson County sheriff’s office also came to help, and helped get the stolen NSP car stopped.