KEARNEY, Neb. (KSNB) – A series of events in Kearney led to the arrest of a burglary suspect east of Walmart on Tuesday afternoon.
The Kearney Police Department first received a call at around noon about a suspicious man hiding under vehicles in the Walmart parking lot. Officers quickly responded and searched the area, but could not locate the individual.
Less than an hour later, authorities were alerted by a homeowner near Parklane Drive and East 54th Street, who reported that an unknown man had entered their home and was attempting to steal their vehicle. The homeowner chased the suspect out of the house before the man tried to escape by attempting to steal another car from a nearby residence. However, the homeowner was able to pull him from the vehicle.
The suspect then fled on foot, but Kearney Police soon arrived on the scene. A police K9 unit was deployed and located the suspect hiding under an evergreen tree a few houses away. The suspect, later identified as 36-year-old Justin Coccorese from Gibbon, was arrested and taken into custody.
Coccorese now faces multiple charges, including robbery, burglary, attempted theft, and first-degree trespassing. He was transported to the Buffalo County Jail for processing.
The investigation into this incident is ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Investigator Taillon at the Kearney Police Department at (308) 237-2104, Buffalo County Crimestoppers at (308) 237-3424, or use the See Something Send Something App.