From: Hannibal Police Department
Date: August 7th, 2025
Phone: 573-221-0987
Fax: 573-221-3966
Contact: Chief Jacob Nacke
Child Abuse Arrest
On Thursday August 7th, 2025 a warrant was issued in the 10th Judicial Court of Marion County charging Joshua D. Foust (43) of Hannibal, with Child Abuse and resisting arrest. The warrant is a result of an investigation which started on Wednesday at 11:45am after a report that a child was being physically assaulted near North and 9th Street. A witness reported a male was on top of a child punching them, then dragging them by the hair. The male was identified as Foust, who had reportedly left the area with the child’s mother. The child was transported by Marion County Ambulance to Hannibal Regional Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, and later released to an appropriate party. A search of the downtown area was conducted, utilizing Hannibal Police Officers including the Drone Team. Around 3:12pm an officer located Foust near the Mississippi River where he fled officers by swimming downstream. Officers contacted other agencies for support including the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri Department of Conservation, Hannibal Fire Department, Ralls County Sheriff’s Department, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Department. The Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri State Highway Patrol deployed watercraft with officers to move to contact Foust who was just south of Hannibal. Officers in watercraft were able to contact Foust who continued to resist efforts to control him. Foust was eventually detained and brought back to the Hannibal Marina by The Missouri State Highway Patrol, where he was released to the custody of the Hannibal Police Department. Foust is currently being held in the Marion County Jail on a $50,000 cash only bond. The Hannibal Police Department would like to thank all the agencies involved in this incident. The quick response with appropriate watercraft and support personnel enabled officers to take this individual into custody in a safe and timely manner.
A criminal charge is merely an allegation and the defendant is, of course, presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
