Lemoore YDO pulls over speed limit violator, discovers weapon, drugs

The lower speed limit was in effect due to school having just been dismissed, and students and parents were crossing Bush Street.

At approximately 2:45 p.m., the Lemoore Police Youth Development Officer was conducting after school traffic enforcement at West Bush Street near the heavily traveled Lemoore Elementary School crosswalk. 

The traffic enforcement was a result of school and parent complaints of vehicle speeders and vehicles failing to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. 

The officer noticed the vehicle didn’t have a front license plate, another traffic violation.  After conducting a traffic enforcement stop at West Bush and Vine Street, he learned the car was solely occupied by Lemoore resident Eric Cline, 22. 

The officer smelled the odor of burnt marijuana coming from inside the vehicle along with a joint in the center console’s ashtray – in plain sight.  Suspecting impairment, the Lemoore officer had Cline step out of the car for further investigation.

The police officer found a loaded .40 caliber pistol in a zipper-style bag behind the passenger seat on the floorboard.  A records check of the firearm reported it as a stolen out of Fresno.  A criminal history search of Cline revealed he was a convicted felon and prohibited from owning a gun and ammunition. 

Cline was arrested and booked into the Kings County Jail for possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle, felon in possession of a loaded firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, possession of a loaded firearm within 1000 feet of a school zone, and possession of a stolen firearm.  Cline’s bail was set at 85,000 dollars.