A famous bounty hunter and television personality has jumped in on efforts to locate an escaped inmate out of DeSoto County.
Duane Chapman, commonly known by his stage name “Dog the Bounty Hunter,” posted on social media over the weekend that an award of $20,000 is being offered for anyone with information that leads to the arrest of 31-year-old Joshua Zimmerman.
Zimmerman escaped the DeSoto County courthouse on Friday, June 14 ahead of a scheduled hearing. The fugitive is charged with multiple felonies, including attempted murder, out of Southaven. He also faces charges in Houston, Texas where he was allegedly involved in the shooting death of a woman.
According to DeSoto County Sheriff Thomas Tuggle, Zimmerman was able to escape after he exploited a flaw in the courthouse’s design. He then walked across the street and asked a stranger en route to Memphis, Tenn. to give him a ride. The inmate, still in his pajamas and shower shoes, told the driver that he had just been in an altercation with his wife and needed to get out of town.
Zimmerman’s escape has stirred up a whirlwind of controversy in north Mississippi. District Attorney Matthew Barton informed the press on Thursday, June 20 that video evidence of the inmate escaping the courthouse was stolen from his office the exact day it had been delivered. Officials said the video had been deleted from the office’s server and authorities believe to know who the culprit was, though a name has not been released at this time.
It is reported that an individual had ordered the county’s information technology department to wipe the video. Nonetheless, the DA was able to observe the footage from civilians not linked to law enforcement who had obtained the clip.
A grand jury is now tasked with investigating the courthouse and those associated with handling state evidence. The DA did not confirm whether a county employee assisted the inmate, but reiterated that anyone caught aiding the fugitive will be charged with a felony.
Police list Zimmerman as 5 feet, 11 inches tall and 210 pounds. He is believed to have shaved his beard since escaping custody. Anyone who may come in contact with the fugitive is urged to call law enforcement immediately.
