OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY

District Attorney Michael Guest, Twentieth Judicial District
Rankin and Madison Counties

www.daguest.com

Media Release
Promises Made. Promises Kept.

For Immediate Release Tuesday, May 9, 2009

For more information, please contact
Michael Guest at (601) 825-1472 • mguest@daguest.com

DA Guest: Jury Finds Man Guilty of Robbing
the Drury Inn of $92 with a Handgun

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Michael Guest announced today that a Madison County jury found Walter Tard guilty of the armed robbery of the Drury Inn in Ridgeland.

Guest stated, “Walter Tard is a dangerous individual who has no respect for the law. Robbery with a weapon is always a dangerous act that could have resulted in the injury or death of the victim and innocent bystanders. The safety of the guests and employees at the Drury Inn were placed in jeopardy by Tard’s actions.”

On January 5, 2007, the Ridgeland Police Department responded to the Drury Inn regarding a man entering the lobby, where he approached the clerk and first asked for the restroom, but then passed the desk clerk a note demanding $5,000 in $100 and $20 bills. Tard then raised his shirt and the clerk observed that he had a gun. The clerk responded that she did not have that much money and Tard demanded that she give him what she had. Tard stole $92.

The clerk immediately contacted the police and she was able to provide law enforcement officials with a general description of Tard and gave them the note that Tard handed her during the robbery. That note was an important piece of evidence, as Tard had written it on the bottom half of a job application to an auto parts store. Law enforcement then went to the store whose application had been used as the robbery note and developed several individuals including, Tard, as possible suspects. During the investigation, it was discovered that the Jackson Police Department had Tard in jail for the armed robbery of a hotel in Jackson.

The Ridgeland Police Department retrieved the Jackson booking photo and used it in a photo lineup. Tard was identified by the victim as the person who robbed the Drury Inn. At trial the victim again identified Tard as the individual who robbed her.

Guest added, “Walter Tard will spend years and years behind bars because he made a terrible decision to place the lives of innocent people in danger to steal $92.”

Guest concluded, “This case was solved by the hard work of the Ridgeland Police Department and I cannot say enough about the job that they did. This investigation spanned two jurisdictions and because of this conviction the citizens of both Madison and Hinds County are now safer. This case is an example of the results that can be achieved when law enforcement agencies work together.”

Sentencing is scheduled for June 8, 2009, in Madison County Circuit Court.

District Attorney Michael Guest took office in January 2008, and represents the Twentieth Judicial District, Madison and Rankin Counties. For more information about the District Attorney’s office, please visit www.daguest.com.

Defendant:

Name: Walter Deon Tard
Address: 1062 Matthews Avenue
Jackson, Mississippi

D.O.B. August 11, 1981


 

 

     
 

 

DA Guest: Man Receives Life in Prison for Murder Following a Three-Day Trial View the Press Release here.

Pointe Innovation Magazine Spring 2011 Issue out soon. View the Cover here.

SMG Creates Ablitech Brochure View the Brochure here.

Hattiesburg-Based Company Eyeing Ways to Stop Bladder Cancer View the Press Release here.

Rex Baker Executive Director, Gateway Rescue Mission, 48, Brandon View the Clarion Ledger Article here.

Was a white supremacist murdered for propositioning a black man? View the CNN Video here.

Richard Barrett Murder Suspect Could Face Death Penalty. View the story here.

Court of Appeals Judge Donna Barnes Announces Bid for Re-Election. View the Press Release here.

Pointe Innovation Releases Spring 2010 issue. View the cover here.

Mississippi Business Journal: Ablitech relocates to The Garden. View the article here.

The Clarion Ledger - Prospectives: SUNDAY MORNING WITH - Michael Guest, district attorney, Madison and Rankin counties. View the article here.

DA Guest: Jackson Man Found Guilty of Two Counts of Armed Robbery and One Count of House Burglary. District Attorney Michael Guest announced today that a Madison County jury found Avery Neyland guilty of two counts of armed robbery and one count of house burglary for his role in the crimes at the Sunchase Apartment Complex. View the press release here.

SMG Completes DA Guest Video. View the video here.

10th Annual Conference on High Technology video. View the video here.

DA Michael Guest's Think Again Program. View the signs here.

DA Michael Guest: Pearl Murderer Found Guilty; Receives Life in Prison Following a Two-Day Trial. View the press release here.

Cliff Cox Radio Spots. Hear the new Cliff Cox radio spots here.

CNN: Hughes Trial. Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Michael Guest announces the guilty verdict returned to Carla Hughes for the murder of Avis Banks. Click here to find out more.

MTA President Pens Book. MTA President Dr. Randy Goldsmith's new book, The Guardian Angel: Every Entrepreneur Needs One is now available. View the cover here.

Rankin Record: DA Michael Guest is Tough on Crime. Story in the May 21, 2009 issue of Rankin Record. View article clipping here.

DA Guest: Canton Man Sentenced to 15 years for stealing $50 from 67-year-old-victim. Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Michael Guest announced today that Marcus Donell Sims of Canton was sentenced to serve 15 years in the state penitentiary for the robbery of a 67-year-old-man. View press release here.

SamarionSolution Installed in Covington Retirement Community. Samarion Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mark Rodgers announced today that the SamarionSolution has been installed in the Christwood retirement community in Covington, Louisiana. View press release here.

Samarion Announces Partnership with Adesta. Samarion announced today it has entered into an agreement with Nebraska-based Adesta for the nationwide installation of the SamarionSolution in long-term care and acute care facilities. View press release here.

DA Guest: Billy Ray Corkern Pleads Guilty to Murder. Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Michael Guest announced today that Billy Ray Corkern pled guilty to murder in the August 2008 death of Robert Clemons. The defendant was sentenced to life in prison. View press release here.

Randy “Bubba” Pierce. Chancery Court Judge and former State Legislator Randy “Bubba” Pierce of Leakesville announced today that he will be a candidate for the Mississippi Supreme Court; District 2, Place 2 in November. View press release here.

DA Guest: Walter Tard Found Guilty. Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Michael Guest announced today that a Madison County jury found Walter Tard guilty of the armed robbery of the Drury Inn in Ridgeland. View press release here.

Cliff Cox for Sheriff. Cliff Cox, former commander of the Natchez-Adams County Metro Narcotics Unit, announces candidacy for Adams County sheriff. View more info here.

MTA releases Fall 2009 Issue of PIM. View the cover here.

Alzheimer's Foundation of America and Samarion Form Strategic Alliance. Alliance to enhance care for individuals with dementia. View more info here.

DA Guest: Jimmy Lee Fisher, Jr. Receives Maximum Sentence. Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Michael Guest announced today that Jimmy Lee Fisher, Jr. of Madison received the maximum 15-year sentence for robbery through a plea agreement. View press release here.

Keeping Children Safe on the Internet. Spring 2009 column for Pointe Innovation magazine by Heath Hall. Read the column here.

My Web 2.0 Journey. Summer 2009 column for Pointe Innovation magazine by Heath Hall. Read the column here.

My Ten-Year Journey through Innovation. Fall 2009 column for Pointe Innovation magazine by Heath Hall. Read the column here.

The First SamarionSolution Installed in Lake Charles Alzheimer’s Facility. Samarion CEO Mark Rodgers announced that The Guardian House Alzheimer Care Facility in Lake Charles, La., has adopted the SamarionSolution. View press release here.

Preventing falls in nursing homes. Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths and non-fatal injuries. Now, a cutting edge fall prevention system is helping nursing home residents maintain optimal health. View more info here.