Several northwest Lincoln residents were evacuated from their homes early Thursday morning after a car hit a gas meter in the 400 block of West Cornhusker Highway.

Lincoln police say that happened after the driver, Hezekiah P. Smith, 23, flashed what appeared to be a handgun at a security officer at The Grove, 340 W. Cornhusker Highway.

Lincoln Police Capt. David Beggs said officers were doing a tavern check at about 1:45 a.m. Thursday when a bar employee reported that Smith, who had just been kicked out of the bar, tried to return. When denied again, he lifted his shirt and showed a bouncer what appeared to be a handgun, Beggs said.

He then went to his parked car, Beggs said, and officers found him there and told him to get out. Smith refused, and police broke a car window.

Then, Beggs said, Smith put the car in gear and accelerated.

He hit a parked car and a police cruiser before leaving The Grove's parking lot, then crossed Northwest Fourth Street and drove into an alley in the 400 block of West Cornhusker Highway, Beggs said.