(KLZA)-- Richardson County Sheriff's Deputy Joshua Nincehelser was arrested and terminated from his job Friday.

According to a press release from the Richardson County Sheriff’s Office, Nincehelser is charged with staging the events of June 9th when he reported he had been shot by an unidentified assailant in a car.

During an interview with the Nebraska State Patrol Nincehelser allegedly admitted that he shot himself in the arm, fired several shots into his patrol vehicle and then falsely reported to his dispatcher he was chasing a fleeing vehicle. The release notes that authorities became suspicious when several items of physical evidence did not match Nincehelser’s version of events.

During an appearance in Richardson County Court Friday afternoon, bond was set at $50,000 with 10-percent cash with a $45,000 surety. He was arrested for the felony offenses of criminal mischief; use of a firearm to commit a felony; and misdemeanor counts of obstructing government operations; false reporting and abuse of public records.

Arraignment in Richardson County Court is scheduled for 2 p-m on Monday, July 14.

Sheriff Randy Houser noted the Nebraska State Patrol lead the investigation into the case.

At approximately 2 a-m on Monday, June 9th Nincehelser reported he had been wounded when he stopped on a county road after noticing a car stopped about a quarter mile off of Highway 75. Nincehelser said he approached the car to ask the driver if he needed assistance and as he attempted to communicate with the driver, the driver fired several shots from a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol striking Deputy Nincehelser and his 2013 Dodge Patrol pickup truck.

Nincehelser said he attempted to pursue the vehicle, but ended the pursuit after a few miles when he realized he had been shot and could no longer see the car.

Two bullets were in the hood of the pickup and at least one bullet went through the windshield of the pickup and the back window of the pickup was shattered.

According to the affidavit, the State Patrol investigation plotted trajectories of the bullets that struck the patrol vehicle, and it appears the bullets must have been fired from a higher point than would have been possible if fired by a person seated in a passenger car.

Further testing allegedly indicated the .40 caliber shell casings Nincehelser claimed were fired by the assailant were actually fired by a .40 caliber handgun issued to Deputy Nincehelser by the Sheriff’s Department.

Deputy Nincehelser was terminated for misconduct Friday and he was arrested. As of Friday afternoon, Nincehelser was in custody in Richardson County.







