Former Police Chief Captured After Escape
Arkansas authorities reported on Friday that they have apprehended a former police chief who escaped from prison in May, along with a convicted detective.
Grant Matthew Hardin, 59, was taken into custody around 3 PM, approximately 1.5 miles west of a key area in the north-central part of the state. He had fled at 2:55 PM on May 25 from the town of Calikorock.
Involving multiple agencies, the manhunt concluded near Moccasin Creek in Izard County. Authorities managed to identify Hardin through fingerprint analysis prior to confirming his capture, according to the Izard County Sheriff’s Office.
Hardin has been transferred to Burner Supermax, Arkansas’ highest-security prison.
Initially, there was speculation that Hardin had left Arkansas after two unidentified sightings emerged. He was believed to be hiding somewhere in the Ozark Highlands; however, law enforcement indicated he was quite aware of their pursuit. The FBI had offered up to $20,000 for information leading to his capture.
Hardin had been imprisoned for rape and murder since 2017. His escape involved him donning a security uniform and pushing a cart, allowing him to approach the Stone County Sheriff’s Office under false pretenses. He was classified as extremely dangerous at the time of his flight.
The former police chief of Gateway pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in 2017 for the fatal shooting of James Appleton during a drive-by incident. He received a 30-year sentence. While serving that time, Hardin also pleaded guilty to two counts of rape in 2019, as DNA evidence linked him to an assault case from November 1997.
Due to the notorious nature of his crimes, Hardin was referred to as “The Devil’s Ozark,” a term popularized by an HBO documentary regarding Appleton’s murder.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders expressed relief at Hardin’s capture, thanking law enforcement, Secretary of Homeland Security Christie Noem, and federal officials for their assistance.
ADOC Secretary Lindsay Wallace also expressed gratitude to all agencies involved, noting their dedication and expertise throughout the extensive search effort.
