Actions

Man arrested for making false active shooter allegations at two different hospitals

Posted
and last updated

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Bakersfield Police Department has arrested a man for falsely reporting an active shooter at Memorial Hospital on December 4, 2018 and also Mercy Southwest Hospital on August 1, 2018.

BPD said Mario Thompson, 46, of Bakersfield disguised himself as a security guard inside Memorial Hospital. During a search of the facility after the call was made, officers found Thompson wearing a security badge, acting suspiciously and inserting himself into the investigation. Hospital staff told authorities he is not an employee, so authorities detained him, finding a pellet gun, pepper spray and prescription pills in his possession.

Thompson was arrested for reporting a false emergency, felon in possession of pepper spray, addict in possession of pepper spray, possession of a controlled substance, impersonating an officer and possession of a pellet gun.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Friday

05/01/2026

Sunny

91° / 61°

0%

Saturday

05/02/2026

Partly Cloudy

94° / 59°

0%

Sunday

05/03/2026

Mostly Sunny

81° / 54°

15%

Monday

05/04/2026

Partly Cloudy

71° / 53°

1%

Tuesday

05/05/2026

AM Showers

70° / 54°

50%

Wednesday

05/06/2026

Sunny

79° / 58°

6%

Thursday

05/07/2026

Sunny

90° / 62°

0%

Friday

05/08/2026

Sunny

93° / 62°

0%