Man Arrested After Allegedly Leading Authorities on High-Speed Pursuit on Stolen Motorcycle
Above: Robert Leanos booking photo
(Courtesy of Kings County Sheriff’s Office)
A man has reportedly been arrested after allegedly leading deputies on a high-speed pursuit on a stolen motorcycle in Kings County.
According to a press release by the Kings County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy on patrol on the 1200 block of South 18th Avenue in Lemoore observed a black Yamaha motorcycle speeding southbound on 18th Avenue shortly after 1 AM on Friday, August 4. The driver was soon identified as Robert Leanos, 27.
The deputy initiated pursuit in an attempt to pull the motorcycle over, but Leanos allegedly continued to flee. The pursuit at times reached speeds of approximately 115 miles per hour.
The chase spanned several miles, with Leanos allegedly disregarding multiple stop signs at four-way intersections and consistently reaching speeds exceeding 115 miles per hour and, at one point, crossing into the opposing traffic lane. The pursuit came to an end when Leanos drove into an orchard on the 15500 block of 16th Avenue, where he reportedly abandoned the motorcycle and took refuge.
The deputy lost sight of Leanos, but established a perimeter around Leanos’ last known location. The Kings County Air Unit, Air1, was called to the site of the perimeter to conduct an aerial search and eventually pinpointed the concealed motorcycle beneath a tree. The license plate revealed the motorcycle had been reported stolen from Orange Cove in Fresno County.
A subsequent search aided by a Lemoore Police Department K-9 led to the discovery of Robert Leanos concealed within a group of bushes about 50 yards away from the motorcycle.
A Lemoore Police Department K-9 unit was also called to the scene, and soon located Leanos hiding in the bushes around fifty yards away from the motorcycle. At that point, Leanos reportedly surrendered without further incident.
Deputies ran a background check and discovered that Leanos had three outstanding warrants: one out of Fresno County for alleged carjacking, criminal threats, and brandishing; and two out of Kings County for alleged kidnapping, false imprisonment, intimidating a witness, and vandalism.
Leanos was booked at the Kings County jail on the outstanding warrants, as well as new charges of evading, resisting arrest, possession of stolen property, and auto theft. His total bail has been set at $1.8 million.
