Press Release
The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on August 3, 2018, a six-member Bay County jury found Arthur Hayes guilty as charged of Burglary of a Conveyance, Escape, Grand Theft Auto, and Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer.
On December 5, 2016, the Panama City Beach Police Department investigated a string of car burglaries that occurred at the Edgewater Condominiums and the Grand Panama Condominiums. The PCBPD received a description of the involved vehicle, its occupants, and a partial license plate. Early in the morning, a Beach Police Officer noticed a car with a license plate that matched the description of the one involved in the burglaries.
After approaching the car, the police officer detained the individuals, and identified one of them as the Defendant, Arthur Hayes. Arthur Hayes was placed in the back of the patrol car after it was learned he had active warrants for his arrest. Items from the burglarized vehicles were located in the car. Additionally, the Defendant had in his possession a prescription medication that was taken from one of the cars at the Grand Panama.
The Defendant attempted to escape that officer’s patrol car, but was prevented from doing so. Later while in transport to the jail, the Defendant kicked out the back window of another officer’s car and fled on foot before stealing a Jeep Wrangler from a parking lot.
The Panama City Police Department spotted the Defendant and when the officers attempted to arrest him, he kicked one of the officers in the chest and, again, fled on foot. Ultimately, the Panama City Police Department caught the Defendant hiding in an apartment building.
The jury deliberated for about thirty minutes before returning a verdict of Guilty as Charged on all counts. Circuit Judge Brantley Clark, Jr. sentenced the Defendant to ten years in the Department of Corrections. Assistant State Attorney Cord Grimes prosecuted the case with the help of the Panama City Beach Police Department and the Panama City Police Department.
For additional information contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford.