A burglary investigation in Tecumseh led to the arrest of Jessie Don Cullen on September 9, 2025, after deputies discovered stolen property and suspected narcotics in her vehicle.
Deputy Vesa Phelan of the Ozark County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported break-in at a hunting cabin, where the garage door had been forcibly entered. Among the items reported stolen were gas jugs, a compressor, a bench grinder, and a hydraulic jack.
Later that day, deputies encountered Cullen’s vehicle on County Road 614 in Pontiac during a suspicious vehicle call. In plain view were a compressor and gas jug matching the stolen items. Cullen and another individual at the scene were both taken into custody on outstanding warrants.
A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed additional stolen property from the Tecumseh cabin, along with drug paraphernalia that tested positive for methamphetamine. Cullen was charged with stealing over $750 and possession of a controlled substance.
