Two Suspects In Custody Following Manhunt Near Tilden

Two South Dakota men were arrested following a manhunt Wednesday afternoon that actually began with a pursuit in an allegedly stolen vehicle.

Antelope County Attorney Joe Abler said James Baker, age 24, and Jeremy Stevens, age 25, both from South Dakota were taken into custody on suspicion of being in possession of a stolen vehicle, flight to avoid arrest and possession of methamphetamine, just west of Tilden in Antelope County. 

Around 3:20 p.m., the two men fled from law enforcement in their vehicle near Clearwater and were pursued by deputies east on Highway 275.  The pursuit ended in a cornfield just west of Tilden. The two men fled into the cornfield on foot.  

​Both men were eventually apprehended by law enforcement officers and taken to the Antelope County Law Enforcement Center, where they remain in custody Wednesday evening.

The Antelope County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in the apprehension of the two men by the Nebraska State Patrol, Holt County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Neligh Police Department, Tilden Police Department and Neligh Rescue.  A helicopter, airplane and K9 unit were utilized in the search.

Formal charges will be filed against both men upon completion of law enforcement’s investigation.

The pursuit began about the time schools were dismissing. Elkhorn Valley did dismiss students after school since they had not been notified of the situation, according to officials, but athletic practices were on lockdown until just after 6 p.m.