The manhunt for Charles Graham, Nebraska City, wanted in connection with break-ins, was not a glorified chase, the type shown on TV.
Graham was pursued from noon west of Plattsmouth to late Saturday where he was found in the Missouri river near Rock Bluff. He admitted Pacific Junction, Ia., and Peru, Nebr., break-ins, signed a waiver of extradition and was locked in the Mills county, Ia., jail.
It was a hot, sticky Saturday afternoon, the day officers sought the man. The temperature was in the middle 90s.
Officers patroled dusty roads drossed in full uniforms and weighted down with heavy leather belts, extra cartridges, .38 caliber revolvers and 12 gauge shotguns.
The man they sought took a shotgun loaded with comparable shot from the Plattsmouth police chief. It was not known whether the wanted man had other weapons.
The heat of the day made the officers sweat until the perspiration ran off their faces and down their backs, soaking their shirts. The dust of the roads added to the discomfort by caking on their hot, sticky shirts.
For many of the officers, it had been a long time between meals. Many had started the day shortly after 3 a.m., and with exception of perhaps getting a sandwich at a cafe, they did not get their meals until after dark Saturday night.
The dust on the river bottom roads was like powder and when meeting a car, the visibility we nil. There was no traffic direction. The rule was to get to a certain place and get there fast.
At the scene, officers patroled roads and blocked the area near the Rock Bluff elevator while two airplanes flew within spittin' distance of the ground. A bloodhound was summoned from Bellevue.
The one man each of the officers sought was armed with a shotgun. Whether he would use it, no one knew. The officers knew about the gun and when they finally got their man in the Missouri river, they weren't kidding when they told him to put up his hands.
The wanted man told officers he was in water over his head and he could only hold up one hand at a time without going under water. Regardless, he held up both hands, was handcuffed while still in the water and taken to shore.
There was a lot of detail work yet to do, but for most of the officers, it was all over. Some officers were still on duty and continued on their routes.
Others were through for the day and headed for home, a bath and a meal.
And for a couple others, they rushed home, cleaned up and attended a wedding, a happy conclusion for a hot, dusty day.