Search Ongoing for Former Police Chief After Prison Escape

CALICO ROCK, Ark. — Authorities continue the search for Grant Hardin, a former police chief who escaped from the North Central Unit prison on Sunday afternoon. Hardin, 56, was serving a 30-year sentence for the murder of James Appleton and a 50-year sentence for rape.

The Arkansas Department of Corrections reported that Hardin escaped while wearing a makeshift uniform resembling law enforcement attire shortly after 3:40 p.m. on May 25. Officials stated he was not in any official prison clothing and that all Department of Corrections-issued gear has been accounted for.

Leading the ongoing investigation, Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Department of Corrections, noted that multiple law enforcement agencies are actively involved in the manhunt. He emphasized that Hardin, with his law enforcement background, is considered “extremely dangerous” and should not be approached.

Hardin’s escape has sparked concern among residents in Gateway, where Appleton, a city water department worker, was fatally shot in 2017 while speaking to his brother-in-law. Appleton’s sister and current Gateway Mayor Cheryl Tillman expressed her fears regarding Hardin’s potential return, stating, “It’s kind of scary. I don’t think he’ll be taken alive.”

The Izard County Sheriff’s Office is advising community members to remain alert, lock their doors, and report any suspicious activity. Meanwhile, the U.S. Marshals Eastern Arkansas Fugitive Task Force has also joined the search efforts.

Hardin began his law enforcement career at several departments, including Eureka Springs and Fayetteville, before being appointed chief in Gateway in 2016. He resigned months later after being informed of pending termination for falsifying a police report.

In February 2018, DNA evidence linked him to the cold-case rape of an elementary school teacher. Following his guilty pleas in both cases, Hardin was sentenced a total of 80 years in prison.

The Arkansas Department of Corrections and local law enforcement urge anyone with information regarding Hardin’s whereabouts to contact them immediately.