Douglas police officials have identified a man arrested Sunday following a string of criminal incidents that occurred throughout the city early that morning.
Tony McCullars face charges of battery (family violence), criminal damage to property, stalking (family violence), obstruction of an officer, and criminal trespass after allegedly beating a woman with a piece of bamboo, breaking a window at a local motel, and causing damage to a vehicle. McCullars led police on a foot chase throughout Douglas before eventually being apprehended in the Touchton Woods area.
Just after 1:30 Sunday morning, officers responded to the 1200 block of N. Peterson Ave. in reference to a reported assault. On arrival, they spoke with the victims, identified as Barbara Crews and Corey Dent. Both stated that they were walking on N. Peterson Ave. when McCullars struck Crews in back of the head with a piece of bamboo. McCullars then allegedly attempted to assault Dent, and the two fought for a short time before Dent was able to get away and flee the area.
Officers conducted an initial search of the area, but were unable to locate McCullars at that time. The bamboo object used to strike Crews was located at the scene. Crews and Dent were checked for injuries and released at the scene by EMS officials.
Around 4:40 a.m. officers responded to the Fountain Inn motel and, again, made contact with Crews and Dent. The victims told authorities that the window of the room they were staying in had been busted out with an unknown object. Both reported that they suspected McCullars of busting the window. While checking the area for McCullars, officers heard several gunshots near the motel.
Officers found Crews and Dent near the roadway in front of the Fountain Inn. Crews stated that McCullars approached her making threatening remarks at which time she discharged a firearm in his direction.
McCullars was not hit , but a nearby business was struck by the gunshots. No charges were made against Crews, who was in legal possession of the firearm.
Just after 5 a.m., officers were dispatched to North Street, the residence of Crews, where McCullars was suspected of damaging a vehicle at the location. McCullars was seen in the area by witnesses.
McCullars was seen back in the area of the Fountain Inn just after six o’clcok and fled on foot upon seeing officers. Police pursued McCullars on foot, but lost sight of him in a wooded area.
Around 8:30 a.m., McCullars was located in the area of Redbird Trail and Circle Dr. in Touchton Woods. He, again, attempted to flee on foot, but was finally apprehended.