Police in Harlan said today (Friday), three people were arrested over the past week. On January 27th, 47-year old Jeffery Erlbacher, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on drug charges, following a traffic stop. Erlbacher was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Prohibted Acts penalties, carrying weapons, and Possession of contraband in a controlled facility. Erlbacher has entered a plea of not guilty to the Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charge. He posted a $2,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing on February 16th.

Two days earlier, 39-year old Jason Nielsen, of Harlan, was taken into custody on a charge of Public Intoxication/2nd offense, after police responded to a report of an allegedly intoxicated person attempting to drive away from the 500 block of Market Street. Nielsen allegedly refused several offers to take him home. Nielsen posted a $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court for his preliminary hearing on Feb. 14th.

And, on January 31st, 63-year old Karen Burgin, of Blair, NE, was arrested on a charge of reckless driving and for violation of a one-way traffic designation. Additional charges are pending. Burgin was taken into custody, after she was observed allegedly hitting several mailboxes with a vehicle, ran over a stop sign, and eventually hit another vehicle while traveling the wrong way in the 1500 block of Laurel Street, in Harlan. Damage from the incident amounted to $17,000. Burgin plead guilty to the charges and was ordered to pay a $300 in fines, plus court costs.