Man Arrested After Crashing into Building and Fighting with Officers

By: Associated Press Email

Updated: Tue 3:37 PM, Dec 18, 2012

Lincoln Police have arrested a man who hit a building with his SUV then fought with officers.

Around 3:30 Tuesday morning, officers were called to the 1400 block of Cornhusker Highway for a reported vehicle in a building.

Officers arrived to find a Nissan Pathfinder against Grime to Shine detail shop and the rear wheels spinning, smoke filling the air.

Smoke from the tires was reported to be visible from nine blocks away.

According to Sergeant Randy Clark, the officers got the car turned off and talked to the driver, Mathew Birch, getting him out of the SUV.

When Birch was told he was under arrest, he tried to back away from officers and went into the street. A number of officers were able to get Birch to the ground and into custody.

Clark said it appears the vehicle was traveling east when it climbed the curb and hit the building, getting stuck on a steel post within the wall. Rather than backing up, Birch spun the tires until his vehicle was nosed up to the wall. That's when officers arrived.

Birch was arrested for failure to comply, resisting arrest and reckless driving.

Police say alcohol was not a factor. They are investigating if Birch had a medical episode or if he was under the influence of drugs.

Nebraska Comfort Dog Headed to Tornado-Damaged Areas