Police investigating burglary, break-in at local restaurant

    Two Imperial men were arrested last Thursday after allegedly being involved in a break-in and burglary at Broadway Steakhouse in Imperial.
    Arrested were Michael Hatz, 19, and Bradley Pankonin, 19, said Imperial Police Chief Ryan Wisnieski
    Officer Rob Rusk was contacted by Broadway Steakhouse employee Ryan Jens at 12:40 p.m. Jan. 20. Jens reported a total of $455 was missing from two cash registers in the restaurant.
    After viewing video from the restaurant and neighboring businesses, the pair was identified due to their distinct clothing, Wisnieski said.
    According to Rusk’s report, an individual was seen on video at a register in the restaurant removing money at 3 a.m. on Jan. 20.
    Video 20 minutes later shows two men in the same clothing at Kwik Stop.
    They allegedly returned to Broadway Steakhouse, broke in again and removed money from a different register.
    The report indicated the pair gained access through an open upstairs window.
    A search warrant for the men’s clothing was served, after which they were arrested at a local residence where they live, Wisnieski said.
    Both were transported to the Chase County Jail for initial processing.
    Hatz is charged with two counts of burglary, both Class 2A felonies, and one count of theft by unlawful taking, a Class 2 misdemeanor.
    Pankonin is charged with one count of burglary, a Class 2A felony, and one count of theft by unlawful taking, a Class 1 misdemeanor.
    Bond was set at $75,000 each.
    County Sheriff Kevin Mueller said Hatz was transferred to the North Platte Jail because Hatz’s father is employed as a Chase County jail/dispatcher.
    Both men remained jailed on Wednesday, Pankonin in Chase County and Hatz in North Platte.