Lincoln police are searching for man they say broke into two homes, hit two men with a pipe and slammed into a vehicle while being chased by one of his assault victims.

  No one was seriously hurt in the incidents, but the suspect is dangerous, said Assistant Police Chief  Jim Peschong.

“It’s the Brandon Crago thing all over again,” he said, referring to the home invasions, crime spree and murders committed by Crago last August.

The incidents began  Saturday when a man went to Specialty Auto at 1824 Yolande Ave. at about 8 a.m. and spotted a white male in his 20s wearing a blue stocking cap.

“He appears to be stealing things from cars or the business,” Peschong said.  Police later learn that four rims are missing.

The man confronted the  suspect, who then got into a white Honda Civic with no license plates and rammed the man’s Volvo six times, Peschong said.

The suspect then got out of the Civic and started beating the man with a pipe. He then got back into the Civic and rammed the man’s Volvo three or four more times, Peschong said. He also struck some other vehicles while trying to leave the scene. Police estimate the total damage to all the vehicles at $20,000.

The suspect fled in his Civic and the man he assaulted got into his  Volvo and pursued him, Peschong said.

 At about 8:09 a.m., the Civic was involved in a hit-and-run accident at 20th Street and Cornhusker Highway.

 The suspect then continued to flee north on 27th Street and at Fairfield Street left the roadway and drove east on the Salt Creek Levee Trail.

Both the suspect and the assault victim, who was in contact with police via 911, drove down the trail to about  Superior Street and Bair Avenue.

Peschong said the suspect ran a red light near 27th Street and Fletcher Avenue and the chase continued to about Seventh and Superior streets, where the suspect and the Civic went over a retaining wall.

The chase continued south on 11th Street through the Belmont neighborhood, Peschong said, “and the next thing he’s driving on rims” with sparks flying.

At about Ninth and Manatt, the suspect got out of his damaged Civic and broke into a house at 820 Manatt, where he got into a fight with a man inside and struck him with a pipe, Peschong said. 

The suspect obtained some keys to a vehicle, but the man fought back and during the struggle the suspect dropped the keys, Peschong said.  The suspect then fled to 801 Manatt, where he kicked in a side door and entered two bedrooms looking for keys.

Peschong said the suspect grabbed a kitchen knife and began chasing the man around. He said they ended up in the garage and the suspect got into a vehicle and drove through the overhead garage door.

He was last seen headed eastbound in a silver and maroon 1987 Olds Cutlass two-door with tinted windows and a large “87” in the back window. The license plate number is: RF0048. If you see this vehicle, please contact Lincoln Police.

The suspect is described as a white male in his 20s, 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds. He has a cut lip and a brown goatee.

Lincoln Police also may have a lead to a stolen car case. They are looking for a   2004 Mini Cooper that was stolen from  4324 N. 15th St. at about 10:25 p.m. Friday night.

Peschong said the keys to the Mini Cooper were found in the white Honda Civic.

Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at (402) 473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.