Man Charged After Officer Injured
Authorities accuse Marquis Hardin, 20, of striking an officer while fleeing in a stolen Toyota Camry, leading to assault charges and a substantial cash bond.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — A 20-year-old St. Louis man faces assault and other charges after authorities say he struck and injured a police officer while fleeing in a stolen car in Jennings on Aug. 11, 2026.
The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, charged Marquis Hardin, of the 8800 block of Wiedle Place, with first-degree assault or attempt involving serious physical injury or a special victim, armed criminal action, motor vehicle tampering and two counts of first-degree property damage. Police announced the charges Oct. 29.
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Hardin is being held on a $500,000 cash-only bond, with no 10% payment option.
According to a probable cause statement, Toyota Safety notified St. Louis County police that a stolen 2025 Toyota Camry was idling on Terrace Lane in Jennings. The car had been reported stolen in St. Louis on July 18.
Two officers arrived in the 2600 block of Terrace Lane about 11:43 p.m. Aug. 11, 2026, and saw two people in the front seats of the Camry, the statement said. The officers activated their emergency lights, and one parked behind the car.
The front passenger quickly got out with her arms raised. Hardin, whom police later identified as the driver, began moving forward, according to the statement.
As one officer left his vehicle, Hardin reversed toward him and stopped alongside the police vehicle, the statement said. The officer opened the Camry’s front passenger door, and Hardin began reversing again, striking a parked Lincoln Continental.
The officer was pinned by the Camry’s door, injuring his right shoulder, and was thrown into the Continental as Hardin continued reversing, according to the statement. Hardin then drove away, authorities said.
The officer was taken to an area hospital and treated for his injuries. The Camry was found abandoned a few minutes later. Both the Camry and the Continental were totaled, the statement said.
Investigators obtained a warrant to search the Camry and found a grocery store receipt. They then obtained surveillance video and identified Hardin as a suspect, according to the statement.
Hardin was arrested in St. Louis on Oct. 25, 2026, for aggravated fleeing and first-degree tampering and was charged and held in the city jail. County police interviewed him there on Oct. 28, 2026, when he confessed to the crimes, according to the probable cause statement.
Officers from the St. Louis County Police Department’s City of Jennings Precinct are investigating.
The charges are accusations. Hardin is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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