Hardin was serving time for first-degree murder and a separate rape conviction and is now considered armed and dangerous.
**Manhunt Unfolds for Convicted Murderer and Former Police Chief Who Fled Arkansas Prison**
**Manhunt Unfolds for Convicted Murderer and Former Police Chief Who Fled Arkansas Prison**
Authorities are actively searching for Grant Hardin, a former police chief with a history of violence, who escaped from an Arkansas prison.
The hunt for a convicted Arkansas police chief, Grant Hardin, has escalated following his daring escape from prison on Sunday afternoon. Hardin, who had been incarcerated at the North Central Unit in Calico Rock since 2017, is serving a 30-year sentence for first-degree murder stemming from the killing of 59-year-old James Appleton in 2017. Initially chief of police in the small town of Gateway for a brief period, Hardin's criminal history stretches beyond this, as he also pleaded guilty to the rape of a woman from a crime dating back to 1997.
According to reports by the Arkansas Department of Corrections, Hardin escaped at approximately 15:40 local time, donning a makeshift outfit that resembled a law enforcement uniform in a bid to disguise himself. Authorities immediately issued warnings, as he is armed and considered dangerous, prompting local law enforcement to request that any sightings be reported without direct confrontation.
The search for Hardin involves a collaboration of multiple agencies, including the Pea Ridge Police Department, who emphasized his extensive local connections that could aid in hiding him. The former prosecutor who secured his conviction, Nathan Smith, characterized Hardin as a "sociopath," noting that he stands apart from typical inmates due to his violent history.
In an earlier incident prior to his role as police chief, Hardin resigned from the Eureka Springs Police Department in 1996 to avoid being fired for falsifying a police report. This background, coupled with his violent conduct, led many to predict his downfall with concern that he would reoffend.
The escape raises concerns in the region, particularly after an unrelated prison break in New Orleans where multiple inmates managed to escape through a breach in the facility. Authorities continue to emphasize public safety and urge individuals with any information regarding Hardin's whereabouts to assist in his capture swiftly.
According to reports by the Arkansas Department of Corrections, Hardin escaped at approximately 15:40 local time, donning a makeshift outfit that resembled a law enforcement uniform in a bid to disguise himself. Authorities immediately issued warnings, as he is armed and considered dangerous, prompting local law enforcement to request that any sightings be reported without direct confrontation.
The search for Hardin involves a collaboration of multiple agencies, including the Pea Ridge Police Department, who emphasized his extensive local connections that could aid in hiding him. The former prosecutor who secured his conviction, Nathan Smith, characterized Hardin as a "sociopath," noting that he stands apart from typical inmates due to his violent history.
In an earlier incident prior to his role as police chief, Hardin resigned from the Eureka Springs Police Department in 1996 to avoid being fired for falsifying a police report. This background, coupled with his violent conduct, led many to predict his downfall with concern that he would reoffend.
The escape raises concerns in the region, particularly after an unrelated prison break in New Orleans where multiple inmates managed to escape through a breach in the facility. Authorities continue to emphasize public safety and urge individuals with any information regarding Hardin's whereabouts to assist in his capture swiftly.
