The incident occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m. this morning (Oct. 25). Police officers quickly responded and located the suspect leaving Lincoln Place carrying a bag of tools and walking at a quick pace.
Upon spotting the police, the suspect, later identified as Mario McCullum, 30, of Hanford dropped the items and began running. He was ordered to stop several times but ignored the commands and fled into a backyard on Lincoln Lane.
Additional officers quickly set up a perimeter around the area, and a drone aircraft equipped with a thermal camera was deployed and began searching for the suspect. Officers on the scene also requested the assistance of a Kings County Sheriff’s Office K9 unit, which arrived a short time later.
At approximately 4:10 a.m., officers located McCullum hiding in a bush in the front yard of a residence on Lincoln Lane. The Sheriff’s K9 was deployed to help with McCullum’s arrest. Upon his capture, McCullum was treated by EMS and transported to a local hospital for treatment before booking. Police found suspected stolen property from two different victims. Also located was a tool bag stolen from a vehicle on Lincoln Place.
McCullum was later booked into the Kings County Jail for two counts of resisting/delaying a police officer, one count of trespassing, and one count of theft from a motor vehicle. The county set bail at $20,000. He is being held on two no-bail warrants.
Police think that the suspect ransacked and rummaged through multiple vehicles in the area. This investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Perkins at the Lemoore Police Department (559) 924-9574.