By Scottsbluff Police Department, Captain Lance Kite
On August 1, 2026, at approximately 8:32 p.m., Scottsbluff Police officers responded to a report of a suspicious male who was allegedly under the influence and trespassing at a residence in the 3200 block of 5th Avenue.
Officers located the suspect vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. The driver fled, but a pursuit was not initiated in the interest of public safety due to large traffic in the area and the seriousness of the charges did not outweigh the risk to the public.
At approximately 9:31 p.m., the vehicle was located by the Gering Police Department, and a second pursuit entered Scottsbluff. Scottsbluff officers assumed primary responsibility for the pursuit. Spike strips were successfully deployed, disabling one of the vehicle's tires; however, the driver continued fleeing before becoming stuck in a ditch near the Maverik Gas Station on Highway 26.
The driver fled on foot but was quickly apprehended by officers from the Scottsbluff Police Department and Gering Police Department after a brief foot pursuit.
The suspect, Harley Kingma a 37 year old male and resident of Gering, was booked into the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center on charges including Felony Flight to Avoid Arrest, Willful Reckless Driving, Obstruction, Resisting Arrest, and multiple traffic-related offenses.
The Scottsbluff Police Department appreciates the assistance provided by the Gering Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, and the Scottsbluff County Sherriff’s Office in safely bringing this incident to a conclusion.