Early Morning Crash Damages Sonny's Super Foods in Sidney

SIDNEY--On Friday morning, January 24, 2025, at approximately 3:55 a.m., the Sidney Police Department was involved in a brief high-speed vehicle pursuit which resulted in a crash near Legion Park, damaging two businesses where 11th Avenue turns into 10th Avenue in Sidney.

The incident started when a Sidney Police officer observed a van strike a street sign near Crestview Apartments in Sidney, nearly colliding with the officer's vehicle. The van then fled the scene northbound at a high rate of speed, estimated to exceed 90 miles per hour. The Sidney Police officer initiated a pursuit and activated his emergency lights. The pursuit ended when the van collided with the front of the Rolling Pin Bakery and then careened into the south side of Sonny's Super Foods. Fortunately, no one was inside the Rolling Pin Bakery or Sonny's Super Foods when the accident occurred. The Sidney Police officer immediately rendered medical aid to the van driver and called for Emergency Medical Services and the Fire Department.

The building occupied by Rolling Pin Bakery had extensive damage on the brick face near the entrance, and a Sun-Telegraph newspaper vending machine placed in that area was destroyed by the van. The van then continued and collided with the south side of Sonny's Super Foods, where the Deli area of the store is located, completely caving in the south wall and going inside the deli area. On Friday morning, the Sun-Telegraph spoke with Sonny's Assistant Manager Crystal Darnall, and she could not provide a monetary amount of damage that occurred in the Deli area. However, she said that the crash damaged or destroyed oven equipment, counters, a cash register, and other equipment and furnishings inside the deli area. She said there was no timeline for repairs and restoration to be completed and the main focus was to cover the missing wall and cordon off the damaged area. Sonny's was in full operation Friday and remains open with regular hours of operation.

The Sidney Police Department clarified their pursuit policies due to the incident, saying they emphasize a thorough risk-to-benefit assessment before engaging in a pursuit. This pursuit was engaged due to the driver demonstrating a disregard for public safety prior to police involvement, having collided with a street sign. The officer requested supervisor notification during the pursuit and provided updates on traffic conditions and safety concerns.

In an unrelated incident, on January 23, 2025, a search warrant was executed by members of the Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office and Sidney Police Department on a residence and a vehicle in Cheyenne County. During the searches, several items of stolen property were recovered as well as illegal narcotics. Two suspects were arrested as a result of the search and investigation.

Benjamin P. Goetz, 45, of Sidney, NE was arrested on an Outside County Warrant for Failure to Appear (felony), one count of Theft by Unlawful Taking (felony), and Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine)(felony). Bond was set at $100,000 / 10%.

Ramona Miles, 32, of Sidney, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Deliver (Methamphetamine)(felony), Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine)(felony), and Theft by Receiving Stolen Property (felony). Bond was set at $100,000 / 10%.

The search warrant stemmed from the report of a stolen Chevrolet Equinox in Sidney on January 18, 2025. The vehicle was recovered on January 19, 2025, by Chief Deputy Jim Bush when he observed the vehicle abandoned near Sioux Meadows Park. Bush spoke with residents in the area where the stolen vehicle was located and a suspect in the theft of the vehicle was developed, which led to the search warrant.