St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office News Release: Osceola man facing five felony charges including assaulting a law enforcement officer

On Saturday, Nov. 23, Donald Hardy, 65, Osceola, was arrested on several felony charges following an investigation of alleged domestic assault that occurred on Nov. 22. On Monday, Nov. 25, an arrest warrant was obtained charging Hardy with class A felony of assault/attempt assault of a law enforcement officer, two unclassified felonies of armed criminal action, class C felony second degree domestic assault and class C felony possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamines.   

 
The charges stem from an incident on Nov. 23 when deputies took an assault report from a female who stated Hardy assaulted her with a homemade cedar club the night before at their residence on SE 356 Private Road off of T Highway, Osceola. She said Hardy took her phone and would not allow her to leave their residence at that time. Deputies searched the residence for Hardy and did not locate him. The cedar club allegedly used in the assault was seized as evidence. After seeking medical treatment, the female met deputies at the sheriff’s office to fill out paperwork for an order of protection. The female explained she needed some items from the residence and was aware Hardy was home at that time. 

When Deputies arrived at the residence and made contact with Hardy through a closed door. After several minutes Hardy opened the door with a machete knife in his hand, raised it over his head and started to swing it at a deputy. Hardy was tased and attempted to throw the knife at the deputy. No ijuries were sustained and Hardy was placed into custody and transported to the St. Clair County Jail. While processing the crime scene, deputies located a tube containing a white powdery substance that field tested positive for methamphetamines.

When the incident occurred, Hardy was out of jail on $25,000 bond after being arrested on Oct. 2 for distributing a controlled substance-methamphetamine, a class B felony. The charge came after a search warrant served at his residence revealed methamphetamine and items related to the sales of methamphetamine. 

After Hardy’s initial arrest on the new charges, Associate Court Judge Michael Dawson revoked his bond from the incident in October.  During court proceedings on Nov. 25, Hardy’s total bond on the new charges was set at $100,000 cash or surety and bond on the charge from October was reset at $50,000 cash or surety.