A Marysville police corporal's quick response to a theft in progress at Harbor Freight ended up cracking open five more cases involving the same suspect — who is now wanted on a $25,000 warrant after skipping court. Corporal Dylan Burnett responded within minutes after officers were called to the store for a male suspect allegedly loading a generator valued at nearly $1,000 into a waiting getaway vehicle.
According to a Marysville WA Police Facebook post, Burnett located the suspect vehicle just a block away from the store and detained its occupants without incident. He then recovered the stolen generator, which Harbor Freight employees had valued at nearly $1,000. The passenger identified as the suspect, 32-year-old Jesse E. Fielding, was arrested on the spot.
Store Staff Point to a Pattern of Thefts
Once officers started digging, the case grew well beyond a single stolen generator. Harbor Freight staff told officers that Fielding had committed several similar thefts over the preceding few months, according to the same police post. Burnett worked to confirm five additional theft cases tied to Fielding, relying on witness statements and surveillance video gathered from the store.
Fielding admitted to the theft and was booked into Marysville Jail, where he remained for 19 days before being released, the post states. Under Washington law, theft is defined as wrongfully obtaining or exerting unauthorized control over another person's property or services, or their value, with the intent to deprive the owner of it, according to RCW 9A.56.020.
Suspect Now Wanted After Missing Court
Fielding later failed to appear for further court proceedings, and police say he now has an active warrant tied to the case worth $25,000. Marysville Police have asked the public for help locating him and are encouraging anyone with information to contact the department.
Harbor Freight recognized Burnett's work on the case, honoring him for his quick response and investigative follow-through and presenting him with a challenge coin, per the police department's post.
A Corporal Nine Years in the Making
Burnett was promoted to corporal on July 1 after nine years with the Marysville Police Department, and the promotion was formally recognized during a brief ceremony at the Sept. 15 council meeting, according to Citizen Portal. That same ceremony also swore in two new entry-level officers, Spencer Hamilton and Zach Krawcheck, the outlet reported.
