“(Soldo) was able to deploy the Taser and subdue the individual,” he said. “(Luedeman) was noncompliant throughout that at different points. ... He didn’t show the typical pain signs that somebody that’s been tased shows. It hurts. He had the involuntary muscle response, but not a pain response.”

Luedeman was flown to Lincoln for treatment of life-threatening injuries. He was in critical condition Tuesday night at CHI Health St. Elizabeth.

Lang said he doesn't know why Luedeman tried to kill himself. He said the Blackfoot County, Idaho, native, who most recently worked in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, had no history of substance abuse or mental illness.

Lang said he doesn't know why Luedeman was in Beatrice, either. Beatrice police got a call from law enforcement in Idaho about the time Luedeman got to the station Tuesday morning.

“They had pinged his cellphone and located him here in Gage County,” Lang said. “His family had been concerned about him for several days, because he had made some somewhat irrational phone calls to them.”

Police here had contact with Luedeman Monday after multiple calls about suspicious behavior. Lang said Luedeman was acting irrationally, but not to the extent that he needed to be committed and that he refused assistance.