Additional Coverage:
- Former Arkansas police chief who escaped from prison has been recaptured, sheriff’s office says (cnn.com)
Escaped Arkansas Inmate and Former Police Chief Back in Custody
After a tense ten-day manhunt, escaped inmate and former Gateway, Arkansas police chief, Grant Hardin, is back in custody. The 56-year-old Hardin escaped from state prison on May 25th, wearing a makeshift law enforcement uniform. He was serving time for murder and two counts of rape.
Hardin was apprehended Friday afternoon, just 1.5 miles from the prison, according to the Izard County Sheriff’s Office. Tracking dogs and a collaborative effort between Arkansas law enforcement and US Border Patrol led to his capture.
Governor Sarah Sanders expressed relief at Hardin’s capture, thanking all agencies involved, and specifically highlighting the assistance of Border Patrol.
The search had been extensive, covering the challenging terrain of northern Arkansas. The area, riddled with caves and abandoned structures, made the search difficult, compounded by heavy rain. Earlier in the week, authorities believed Hardin might have fled the state.
Hardin’s criminal history includes the 2017 murder of James Appleton, a city water department employee. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of rape in 1997, after his DNA was linked to the crimes.
Hardin had a checkered career in law enforcement, including a brief stint as police chief in the small town of Gateway. His career was marked by dismissals and resignations. At the time of Appleton’s murder, Hardin was a corrections officer.