A former police chief in Arkansas who is serving decades-long sentences for murder and rape escaped from prison Sunday, state corrections officials said. 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. The Arkansas Department of Corrections said Hardin was wearing a makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement when he escaped. Officials said Hardin was not wearing a Department of Corrections uniform, and all DOC-issued equipment has been accounted for.Officials are investigating the events leading up to his escape. "The Benton County Sheriff's Office is taking every step to assist the Arkansas Department of Corrections in locating Hardin," Lt. Shannon Jenkins said. "Hardin has strong ties to Benton County and we will be on high alert." Murder CaseHardin 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.A witness told police he saw Appleton's truck and a white sedan on the side of the road. The witness said he heard a loud boom, and saw the sedan drive away. When the witness went to the car to investigate, he found Appleton slumped over in the seat, with a gunshot wound to the head.Appleton's brother-in-law said he was talking to him on the phone at the time of the shooting. Appleton told his brother-in-law a car had come flying down the road, and then stopped.Rape CaseIn February 2018, Rogers police used DNA evidence from the murder arrest to link Hardin to the 1997 rape of a Rogers school teacher. The teacher told police she had left her classroom to use the restroom when she was approached by a man disguised with a knit stocking and sunglasses and carrying a pistol. The man raped her, and then quickly fled the scene.The teacher was able to give a description of the suspect, and a police sketch was made. For the next 20 years, the case was unsolved. Rogers Police asked for the public’s help finding the suspect, and the TNT series Cold Justice: Sex Crimes featured a 2015 episode on the case.The Associated Press contributed to this report
CALICO ROCK, Ark. — A former police chief in Arkansas who is serving decades-long sentences for murder and rape escaped from prison Sunday, state corrections officials said.
Authorities said Grant Hardin, the former police chief in the town of Gateway, was serving a 30-year sentence for first degree . ADOC said Hardin was also serving an additional sentence for .
The Arkansas Department of Corrections said Hardin was wearing a makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement when he escaped. Officials said Hardin was not wearing a Department of Corrections uniform, and all DOC-issued equipment has been accounted for.
Arkansas Department of Corrections Communications Department via AP
This undated photo provided by the Arkansas Department of Corrections Communications Department shows inmate Grant Hardin.
Officials are investigating the events leading up to his escape.
"The Benton County Sheriff's Office is taking every step to assist the Arkansas Department of Corrections in locating Hardin," Lt. Shannon Jenkins said. "Hardin has strong ties to Benton County and we will be on high alert."
Murder Case
Hardin pleaded guilty to first degree murder in 2017. Hardin was accused of shooting and killing James Appleton.
He was also elected constable for Benton County Township One.
The witness said he heard a loud boom, and saw the sedan drive away. When the witness went to the car to investigate, he found Appleton slumped over in the seat, with a gunshot wound to the head.
Appleton's brother-in-law said he was talking to him on the phone at the time of the shooting. Appleton told his brother-in-law a car had come flying down the road, and then stopped.
Rape Case
In February 2018, Rogers police used DNA evidence from the murder arrest to link Hardin to the 1997 rape of a Rogers school teacher.
The teacher told police she had left her classroom to use the restroom when she was approached by a man disguised with a knit stocking and sunglasses and carrying a pistol. The man raped her, and then quickly fled the scene.
The teacher was able to give a description of the suspect, and a police sketch was made. For the next 20 years, the case was unsolved. , and
The Associated Press contributed to this report
