Suspicious Person 5/15/17

DATE & TIME:           05-15-2017 / 10:49 am

LOCATION:                Cortland and Pickrell              

OFFENSE:                   Assist Other Agency / Suspicious Person

CASE #:                       2017-2495 / 2017-2498

The Gage County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office by stopping a vehicle being driven by a person who had gone into several banks in Lincoln, Waverly, and Firth, but did not conduct any bank transactions and would leave after having been in each bank for only one or two minutes. When he was approached by an employee, he would make small talk for a few seconds, then leave almost immediately.

The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office advised Southeast Communications the male was driving a car with Missouri license plates, had just left the bank in Firth, and was headed west toward Highway 77. The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office asked if Gage County would have a deputy stop the vehicle to investigate the matter further.

Shortly after being notified by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office of the situation, the subject was spotted attempting to enter a bank in Cortland, however the bank’s security officer had received notification of the situation from the bank’s main office and each bank branch was instructed to lock their front doors and only conduct business from the drive thru windows. The bank in Cortland called Southeast Communications and advised them the subject was at their bank, had come up to the front door, and had left after finding the door locked.  Southeast Communications was advised the male subject had left southbound on Highway 77.

A deputy sheriff and an investigator from the Gage County Sheriff’s Office were in the area just south of Cortland and spotted the vehicle traveling south on Highway 77. The deputy in a marked patrol car stopped the vehicle on Highway 77 near Buckeye Road, with the investigator on the scene as a backup officer.

The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office was notified of the traffic stop and arrived on the scene after a few minutes. The investigators from Lancaster County interviewed the male, who was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle and found out he had been hired as a contractor for Google to obtain location information.  He was required to go to locations, wait for a few minutes until the location could be determined precisely, then he would go to the next assigned location, in this case the next bank.

His employment and assignment with Google were verified by investigators.  The Gage County Sheriff’s Office investigator contacted the banks in Cortland and Pickrell of the situation.  The investigator with the Beatrice Police Department was also informed of the situation and responded to the scene of the traffic stop to obtain the information for the Beatrice Police Department.

Google was contacted and stated they have over a half dozen people on contract in the area to obtain location information, however they were advised to avoid going to financial institutions, government buildings, or schools until their policy is re-evaluated.

There were no criminal acts that occurred involving this person and after speaking with Google, they will make attempts re-evaluate their practice and method in obtaining location information.

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903

Investigator T. Hanson #90310

Deputy S. Behrens #90317