Former Arkansas medical board chair facing Medicaid fraud charges arrested for public intoxication
Related Video: First hearing held for Dr. Brian Hyatt's civil lawsuit in August 2024.
BENTON COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Dr. Brian Hyatt, a former Arkansas State Medical Board member accused of Medicaid fraud, has been arrested for public intoxication, according to court documents.
Hyatt, 52, was booked into the Benton County Detention Center on June 5 by the Rogers Police Department and released on June 6.
A preliminary report from RPD said that around 9 p.m., an officer working a concert at the Walmart AMP saw a car with its trunk open while driving through the parking lot of a nearby hotel.
As the officer approached the vehicle, they saw a man, later identified as Hyatt, staggering towards the vehicle as the alarm was going off.
The officer asked Hyatt if the vehicle belonged to him, and Hyatt responded yes.
Orbeez gun leads to aggravated assault arrest in Siloam Springs
The report said the officer could smell alcohol in Hyatt's breath and saw he had an alcohol band typically provided by the Walmart AMP. When asked about the band, Hyatt ripped it off and said he had not been drinking.
Hyatt reportedly told the officer that he was not intoxicated and that he suffered from 'the Patrick Swayze kind' of cancer, referring to pancreatic cancer. The report also later noted that Hyatt had a small abrasion on the top of his head.
The report said Hyatt told the officer that he had a room at the hotel, but the front desk clerk said he did not. Hyatt allegedly tried to purchase a room but could not find his ID.
He was then escorted out of the hotel and placed in handcuffs.
Hyatt is set to appear in court on July 29.
Izard County sheriff gives update on escaped Arkansas inmate
Hyatt is also facing two counts of violating the Medicaid Fraud Act. He was arrested on those charges in October 2023 and has pleaded not guilty.
An affidavit filed in Pulaski County states that on April 1, 2022, the Arkansas Medicaid Fraud Control Unit received a complaint from a confidential informant who worked at the Behavioral Health Unit in Springdale.
Hyatt, who served as director of the unit from February 2018 to May 2022, was accused of being present for only brief periods during scheduled workdays and having little to no contact with patients.
Court records say an omnibus hearing is scheduled for Sept. 12, with the jury trial beginning on Oct. 20.
Beyond his criminal case, Hyatt faces more than 200 civil lawsuits from former patients who claim they were falsely imprisoned under his care.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Man convicted of murder after shooting woman during drum circle event in 2022
PORTLAND, Ore. () — A Portland man was found guilty of murder and other charges from a shooting death that occurred during a drum circle event three years ago, authorities said. Wyatt Storm Belcher, 28, was found convicted by a Multnomah County jury on the charges on Thursday, the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office said. How could the big, beautiful bill impact Medicaid in OR? The incident happened on parking lot while a group was dispersing following a drum circle event, court documents say. Multiple witnesses heard a loud bang and saw the victim, Ash Smith, fall to the ground. Family members told KOIN 6 News she was a in recent years. Police said Belcher and Smith . After the shooting, Portland police quickly found Belcher nearby as he matched a description given by witnesses. During a search, police found a .40 caliber Glock 23 holstered to his waistband, prosecutors say. Back in May 2022, Belcher originally pleaded not guilty to the charges. Then in August of that same year, a and ordered that he be committed to the Oregon Hospital. In 2024, after a psychological evaluation report was created by the Oregon State Hospital, a hearing was held as to whether Belcher was fit to proceed in a trial, with a judge ruling he was, court records show. After a multi-day hearing that began on Monday, a 12-person jury found Belcher guilty of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon. He will be sentenced on Monday afternoon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Charges announced for teen accused of planning mass shooting at Washington mall
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The charges faced by a were released by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office on Friday. The Columbia County teen, whose name remains unreleased to the public, faces four felony charges of second-degree attempted murder, attempted first-degree assault, and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon. Oregon lawmakers hold hearing on Medicaid cuts under Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' He also faces misdemeanor charges of tampering with physical evidence, second-degree disorderly conduct, and two counts of unlawful firearm possession. On Thursday, FBI Portland announced the teen had planned to use a chlorine bomb to cause panic and then shoot patrons at the Three Rivers Mall in Kelso, Wash. before he planned to kill himself. The FBI received a tip about the plan on May 19 and identified the teen the following day. He was put under surveillance on May 20 and arrested on May 22. According to authorities, the suspect had been making 'very detailed plans' since early 2025 which included a route to the mall, a map the shooter would follow, a planned wardrobe with weapons, and annotated schematics for the improvised bomb. 'Immediate threat to public safety': Longview cracks down on unsanctioned camping 'While the threat was real, coordinated law enforcement efforts ensured that it was addressed quickly and effectively, protecting the public from harm,' said Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley. The suspect had reportedly pledged allegiance to multiple 'online nihilistic extremist groups and ideologies.' Law enforcement encourages families to monitor their children's online activity and to report any concerning behavior. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Escaped inmate known as ‘Devil in the Ozarks' found a ‘short distance' from prison: sheriff
IZARD COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Escaped Arkansas inmate Grant Hardin, known as 'Devil in the Ozarks,' has been taking into custody, according to the Izard County Sheriff's Office. 'Hardin was taken into custody by Izard County authorities just a short distance from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock,' the Stone County Sheriff's Office said via Facebook. 'While many details will remain under investigation there is no longer an active threat to public safety.' Board of Corrections member Benny Magness also confirmed that Hardin is in custody. Hardin, who was serving time for murder and rape, was first reported missing from the North Central Unit nearly two weeks ago on May 25. Hardin managed to escape by impersonating a law enforcement official, according to a spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Hardin impersonated an officer 'in dress and manner, causing the corrections officer operating a secure gate to open the gate and allow Inmate Hardin to walk away from the North Central Unit,' according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Nexstar's KNWA. Magness said he was captured about a mile from the unit in the woods, with help from a specialized unit from border patrol. During the nearly two weeks that Hardin spent outside of the prison, authorities launched a massive manhunt that included local, state and federal agencies. The search for Hardin was complicated by the rocky, rough terrain that includes dense forests and an extensive network of caves. 'Thanks to the great work of local, state and federal law enforcement Arkansans can breathe a sigh of relief and I can confirm that violent criminal Grant Hardin is back in custody,' said Governor Sarah Sanders. 'I am grateful for all law enforcement who contributed to his capture and give special thanks to the Trump administration and Secretary Kristi Noem, who sent a team from Border Patrol that was instrumental in tracking and apprehending Hardin.' 'This was a great joint operation by a number of agencies, and I'm so thankful for their tireless efforts,' said Director of Division of Corrections Dexter Payne. 'The Arkansas State Police, U.S. Marshals, FBI, Border Patrol, Game and Fish, all the state and local agencies, along with the dedication of our Department employees, all played an indispensable role and I express my extreme gratitude.' Hardin, who was previously the chief of police in the small Arkansas town of Gateway, located near the Missouri border, had been incarcerated at Calico Rock since 2017. He was serving 30 years after pleading guilty to murder in the fatal shooting of 59-year-old James Appleton, an employee for the Gateway water department. The prison term is in addition to a 50-year sentence for raping a teacher inside a Rogers, Arkansas elementary school in 1997. This is a developing story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
