The Man You Wanted in Your Corner: Meet Clayton Ard, the Officer Who Arrived to Help Take Down Ted Bundy

When true crime history remembers the capture of America’s most infamous serial killer, the name David Lee immediately comes to mind. But every cop knows that when you’re wrestling in the dark on the side of the road with a desperate fugitive fighting for his life, the most welcome sound in the world is backup rolling up.

That backup was Pensacola Police Officer Clayton Ard.

Clayton Ard wasn’t just any backup; he was the exact officer you prayed would arrive when the fight was on. A homegrown Pensacolian—born, raised, and shaped by the streets he protected—Clayton had already built a reputation as a no-nonsense lawman who never flinched in the face of danger. Over a storied career spanning Patrol, Tactical Force, Vice, and Investigations, Clayton had faced everything the streets could throw at him. He had been struck by a car during a narcotics sting, made tactical arrests aboard foreign cargo freighters, and traded gunfire with fleeing armed robbers. Across his years in uniform, his name appeared in local newspapers over 300 times. He served as president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 71, advocated for his fellow officers, and championed community causes.

His record showed another side of that readiness. In 1977, Ard repeatedly dove into the cold water of Bayou Chico to rescue a sailor trapped in a sinking car. That same year, the Pensacola Rotary Club honored him for heroism in that rescue and for stepping in, while off duty, to subdue a knife-wielding attacker. He was also named an Outstanding Lawman of the Year for the Pensacola Police Department.

Those honors tell us something about the man who answered Lee’s call. Ard had made a habit of going toward people who needed help.

In simple terms: Clayton Ard was a street cop’s cop.

The Night the Fight Ended

In the early morning hours of February 15, 1978, Officer David Lee radioed dispatch that he was following a suspected stolen vehicle. Hearing the call, Clayton immediately began rolling toward the location. Neither officer knew yet that the man behind the wheel was Ted Bundy, then the target of one of the largest manhunts in FBI history.

All Clayton knew was that a fellow officer was likely stepping into a felony stop alone.

When Lee attempted to handcuff the driver, Bundy bolted. Lee chased him down, tackled him, and an all-out, brutal struggle broke out on the ground. Bundy was fighting with feral intensity to escape the electric chair, attempting to take Lee’s service weapon. Lee fought back with everything he had. Yes, the formidable David Lee was winning the fight. Bundy realized pretty quickly that he was in over his head, but he was still fighting with desperation…

Then Clayton Ard pulled up.

The moment Clayton arrived on scene, Bundy’s window of escape slammed shut forever. Bundy was already losing against the tenacity of David Lee, but against two Pensacola officers who didn’t possess the word “quit,” the fight was instantly over. Clayton helped secure and cuff the killer, ensuring Ted Bundy would never see another sunrise as a free man.

It was a team effort that closed the final chapter on Bundy’s cross-country reign of terror.

When Ted Bundy tried to get away from David Lee – unsuccessfully – he ran west on Cross Street from “W” Street. This is a 2026 photo of “V” and Cross Streets, just west of “W.”

Hear the Untold Story Live: November 12th

History often remembers solo headlines, but justice is forged by partners who answer the call and step into the fray when it matters most.

We are honored to announce that Clayton Ard will be joining us in person at the Sweet Tea Murders LIVE event on November 12th!

Clayton has graciously agreed to attend the event. Maybe we can get him to share his memories and give us an unfiltered, firsthand perspective on what it was like to roll up on that historic scuffle, the brotherhood of Pensacola PD, and the reality of taking down one of history’s darkest monsters.

Mark your calendars for November 12th—you will not want to miss the opportunity to meet a genuine Pensacola law enforcement legend!