Lincoln Police arrested a 20-year-old man accused of assaulting an officer who was directing traffic after Saturday night’s Husker football game.
Police say John Kane of Lincoln was attempting to cross “P” Street against traffic around 11:30 p.m. The officer was holding pedestrians at 10th and “P” streets while vehicles turned from 10th onto “P.”
The officer was in uniform, wearing a yellow safety vest marked “Police” and using a red traffic wand. Police say the officer repeatedly told Kane to stop before placing a hand on his back to guide him out of traffic.
Kane allegedly grabbed the officer’s collar and forcefully pulled down on it. The officer took Kane to the ground and told him he was under arrest, but police say Kane resisted until another officer helped take him into custody.
The officer suffered a cut to his elbow, abrasions on both knees and pain during the struggle. Police say traffic equipment was broken and the officer’s uniform was torn.
Officers also reported finding a fake ID on Kane. Police say a breath sample collected at the Lancaster County Jail indicated a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.235%.
Kane was jailed on suspicion of third-degree assault on an officer, resisting arrest, obstructing a peace officer and false reporting.
LPD reminds drivers and pedestrians to follow officers’ hand signals and verbal directions near Memorial Stadium, even when those instructions conflict with traffic lights. Police say officers may stop traffic on a green light or direct people through a red light to safely manage traffic before and after games.