Deer-chasing officer pleads guilty

A Douglas County corrections officer accused of ramming his pickup into a gate, chasing deer and fleeing from law enforcement officers in April pleaded guilty Monday to lesser charges.

Matthew Hagen, 26, was convicted of misdemeanor operating a vehicle to avoid arrest, attempted third-degree assault of an officer and aggravated driving under the influence, meaning his blood alcohol content was over 0.15 percent.

Charges of felony criminal mischief, obstructing a peace officer and resisting arrest were dropped.

The Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office was called at 12:18 a.m. April 9 to the Chalco Hills Recreation Area to investigate a report of a red Ford pickup ramming a security gate. A later 911 call reported that the truck was chasing deer through the park.

After a 10-minute chase involving the Nebraska State Patrol and Sarpy County Sheriff’s deputies, the driver bailed out of the truck near 135th and Harrison Streets, ran off and climbed over a fence.

A Sarpy deputy arrested Hagen after a brief struggle.

Hagen had worked for five years as a corrections officer, according to Douglas County officials. He was placed on paid administrative leave, according to the Douglas County Department of Corrections.