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Madison County Sheriff’s Office Arrests Suspect Following High-Speed Pursuit

MADISON COUNTY, Neb. – On November 2, 2026, Madison County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a man following a high-speed pursuit that began after a reported gasoline theft and continued off-road into Antelope County.

In recent days, Madison County deputies had been investigating multiple thefts in the area and had developed a possible suspect and associated vehicle. Through collaboration with surrounding law enforcement agencies, investigators determined that the same individual was suspected of involvement in similar thefts in neighboring counties. Multiple arrest warrants were in the process of being issued and signed by a judge.

On the morning of November 2, a Madison County resident reported the theft of gasoline from their property near Highway 81 and 835 Road. The victim observed the suspect and vehicle leaving the property and followed while remaining in contact with 911 dispatch.

Madison County deputies intercepted the reporting party and the suspect vehicle and attempted a traffic stop on 833rd Road, northwest of Madison, Nebraska. The driver refused to stop and fled, initiating a pursuit during which speeds exceeded 100 miles per hour at times.

The pursuit continued from Madison County into Antelope County, with assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol, Battle Creek Police Department, and Madison Police Department.

As the pursuit continued onto a minimum-maintenance road, speeds decreased. The suspect vehicle became temporarily stuck before reversing direction and intentionally striking a Madison County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle. The driver then left the roadway and continued fleeing through farm fields.

Additional law enforcement officers responded and worked to contain the suspect vehicle within the fields. A pursuit intervention technique was subsequently used to bring the vehicle to a stop. The driver surrendered without further incident.

Zach L. Heying, 30, of rural Petersburg, Nebraska, was taken into custody and is expected to face multiple charges related to the theft investigations, the pursuit, and the collision involving the patrol vehicle.

There is no ongoing threat to the public.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office appreciates the assistance and cooperation of the Nebraska State Patrol, Battle Creek Police Department, and Madison Police Department in bringing this incident to a safe conclusion.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is also advising agricultural landowners, with pivots, in Madison and surrounding Counties to check their pivot wires to make sure they are not damaged. If you find any missing or damaged pivots, call the appropriate authorities.

Sheriff Todd Volk

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The Madison County Sheriff’s Office recently participated in the statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” high-visibility enforcement campaign, which ran from August 21 through September 7, 2026.

During the campaign, deputies worked grant-funded overtime focused on detecting and removing impaired drivers from Madison County roadways. The enforcement effort resulted in:

72 citations issued

332 total vehicle contacts

31 verbal warnings and 229 written warnings

The selective overtime enforcement was made possible through a mini-grant awarded by the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office (NDOT-HSO).

“Our goal is simple — keep impaired drivers off the road and make Madison County safer for everyone,” said Sheriff Todd Volk. “These high-visibility efforts send a clear message that driving under the influence will not be tolerated.”

The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is a national initiative supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and coordinated in Nebraska by the NDOT Highway Safety Office. The campaign encourages drivers to plan ahead for a safe ride home if they plan to drink.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office reminds the public that the safest choice is always a designated sober driver, rideshare, or other alternative transportation.