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[dbader08]

Hanford native UFC fighter wanted for questioning in local bar fight

HANFORD — Local authorities say they are looking for professional mixed martial artist Chad “Money” Mendes in connection with a 40-person drunken brawl that broke out at the Lacey Inn Bar on Saturday.

Mendes, 27, allegedly sucker punched a patron in the face and took off running out the back door. Officials say they have not been able to locate him.

The incident started around 1:18 a.m. A deputy on patrol in east Hanford drove past the business and witnessed two people fighting in the parking lot. He got out and intervened, causing one man to turn on him, according to the Kings County Sheriff’s Office.

As the deputy called for backup, more people spilled out of the bar and began fighting. Officials said the melee grew to about 40 people before Hanford police and the county Gang Task Force arrived on the scene to break it up.

That’s when authorities recognized Mendes. He appeared to be intoxicated and began cursing at the deputies and officers, authorities said. They asked him to leave. Instead, he went back inside and struck one man who “never even saw him coming,” Assistant Sheriff Dave Putnam said.

Deputies chased Mendes along the railroad tracks behind the Lacey Inn Bar, but soon lost him in south Hanford. The area native has not been seen since.

“The victim felt lucky to walk out with just a contusion after being punched by Mendes,” Putnam said.

In the days since the brawl, the Sheriff’s Office has made repeated attempts to get a statement from Mendes. They have not been able to reach the Ultimate Fighting Championship contender.

“If we don’t speak with him by Monday, then we’ll request that the District Attorney’s Office file charges against him,” Putnam said. “Then we can pick him up on an arrest warrant.”

It is not clear at this point what, if any, involvement Mendes had in the initial feud or the subsequent 40-person battle.

“With his training as a professional fighter, he could be looking at a charge of assault with a deadly weapon,” Putnam said. “That’s something the District Attorney’s Office will have to weigh out when they make their filing decision.”


Read more: Hanford native UFC fighter wanted for questioning in local bar fight

[TheDoucheyWun]

Mini War Machine Mendes?

[Xtremo]

With his training as a professional fighter, he could be looking at a charge of assault with a deadly weapon

SMH... one punch from a featherweight is a deadly weapon?

[Sakara=Excitement]

BREAKING NEWS

I have the footage from the fight.

[Sakara=Excitement]

[Rumble]

If they cops were outside, how do they know he hit someone when he "went back inside?"

[joeodd2]

He's fucked. What a waste. Next topic?

[Esox Express]

He should be able to get out of anything with a good lawyer. They never formally identified him other than recognizing his face. That's not too strong of a case with a half decent lawyer defending you.

[MIZjitsZOU]

Originally Posted by joeodd2

He's fucked. What a waste. Next topic?

I would like to hear some more of the facts before we throw him to the wolves.

[joeodd2]

Well....the police are trying to get in touch with him and come Monday they will file for a warrant. Either he wasn't there or he was, if he wasn't then why hasn't he cleared this up with the cops yet? Sounds to me like He's in for some serious charges, I honestly hope this turns out to be a huge misunderstanding. But I can see him surrendering to police before the end of the weekend or fleeing to mexico. It's a stupid mistake, but I think the courts would throw the book at him, especially if he did sucker punch someone. He'd be lucky if he didn't get prison time.