Falls City man arrested after high-speed chase

A Falls City man was arrested after authorities say he led a Richardson County Deputy on a chase in a stolen pickup.

Shawn Luginbill, 28, was arrested after leading Deputy Clinton Stonebarger on a high-speed pursuit shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday.

Luginbill, who is being housed in the Richardson County Jail, was booked on initial charges of operating a motor vehicle to avoid arres, DUI and driving with a suspended a license. The pickup was reported stolen later Sunday morning from the area of 23^rd and Stone Streets in Falls City.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Stonebarger clocked a 1986 Ford F-150 traveling west of Falls City on Highway 8 at a rate of 79 mph in a posted 60 mph zone and. Stonebarger immediately activated his emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop and stated that the truck accelerated upon seeing the lights, then swerved several times before turning north on 646 avenue. Shortly after turning onto 646 Avenue, the driver allegedly lost control of the truck, went through a ditch and into a pasture before crossing back onto the road. The driver lost control again near 710 Road and 646 Avenue, entered a ditch and crashed into a telephone pole.

             The affidavit states the driver fled the vehicle on foot and Stonebarger followed him into a wooded area where he was found lying down near a creek.  The driver was then identified and said he was a passenger in the vehicle. Luginbill stated the driver was a man named Robert, though Stonebarger says there was no passenger in the vehicle. Stonebarger alleges Luginbill smelled of alcohol and proceeded with the administration of a preliminary breath test, which Luginbill failed.