Ex-police chief who escaped Arkansas prison while serving time for murder recaptured: Authorities
The former Arkansas police chief, Grant Hardin, who managed to escape from prison while serving a 30-year sentence for murder and rape, has been recaptured after almost two weeks on the run, as confirmed by authorities.
Hardin, 56, was apprehended by law enforcement officials on Friday afternoon, approximately 1.5 miles west of the northern Arkansas prison he had fled from, according to the Izard County Sheriff’s Office. His identity was confirmed through fingerprint analysis, the sheriff’s office stated.
The escape took place at the Calico Rock North Central Unit in Izard County on May 25, where Hardin managed to deceive authorities by donning a uniform and impersonating a corrections officer, allowing him to walk through a sally port pulling a cart.
After a thorough search, Arkansas law enforcement officers and the U.S. Border Patrol located Hardin near Moccasin Creek in Izard County, leading to his capture shortly after 3 p.m. local time on Friday, as reported by the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Tracking dogs played a crucial role in locating and apprehending Hardin.
Hardin, the former police chief of Gateway, Arkansas, had pleaded guilty in October 2017 to first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of 59-year-old James Appleton. Additionally, he was convicted of the 1997 rape of an elementary school teacher in Rogers, Arkansas, a case that was highlighted in the 2023 television documentary “Devil in the Ozarks.”
During the search operation, helicopters, drones, and K9 officers were deployed. A U.S. Border Patrol tactical unit from Texas, known as BORTAC, was also sent to Arkansas to assist in the manhunt.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders expressed gratitude for the collaboration between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, especially acknowledging the Trump administration for deploying a Border Patrol team that played a crucial role in tracking and apprehending Hardin.
The FBI and U.S. Marshals had offered a combined $25,000 reward for any information leading to Hardin’s capture. Following his escape, Arkansas officials advised residents of Izard County to remain vigilant and secure their homes and vehicles.
Stone County Sheriff Brandon Long expressed concerns about the potential harm Hardin could cause, stating, “I am very scared that this guy is going to hurt or kill somebody before this is over with.” Nathan Smith, the former Benton County prosecutor who helped prosecute Hardin, described the escaped inmate as “a sociopath.”
The successful recapture of Grant Hardin brought relief to the community and highlighted the effectiveness of collaborative efforts by law enforcement agencies in ensuring public safety.
