Prison Break as Ex-Police Chief Convicted of Rape, Murder Escapes Calico Prison

A former police chief in Arkansas who is serving decades-long sentences for murder and rape escaped from the Calico Rock North Central Unit around 2:50pm on Sunday.

Authorities said Grant Hardin, the former police chief in the town of Gateway, was serving a 30-year sentence for first degree murder. ADOC said Hardin was also serving an additional sentence for rape.

Hardin allegedly escaped through a sally port “wearing a makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement,” according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

Hardin pleaded guilty to first degree murder in 2017. Hardin was accused of shooting and killing James Appleton.

Hardin worked for at least four separate law enforcement departments in Northwest Arkansas before the murder he is serving prison time for. He was also elected constable for Benton County Township One.

In February 2018, Rogers police used DNA evidence from the murder arrest to link Hardin to the 1997 rape of a Rogers school teacher.

Hardin is “considered to be extremely dangerous and should not be approached,” officials said. The Arkansas Department of Corrections, state police and other local and state law enforcement offices are working together in the search for Hardin, officials said.

He is described as 6 feet tall and weighs 259 pounds.