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Ex-police chief's prison escape disguise and survival tactics revealed

Ex-police chief's prison escape disguise and survival tactics revealed
WE'RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOW CONVICTED KILLER AND RAPIST GRANT HARDIN ESCAPED FROM PRISON IN CALICO ROCK. THE ESCAPE HAPPENED MAY 25TH -- AFTER HARDIN USED A MAKESHIFT OUTFIT THAT LOOKED LIKE AN ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS UNIFORM AND PRETENDED TO BE A JAILER. POLICE CAPTURED HARDIN ON JUNE 6TH -- LESS THAN TWO MILES AWAY FROM THE PRISON HE ESCAPED FROM. WE HAVE DOCUMENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS -- SHOWING HARDIN HAD BEEN PLANNING THIS ESCAPE FOR NEARLY SIX MONTHS. IT ALSO SHOWS HE USED BLACK MARKERS FOUND LYING AROUND THE PRISON TO COLOR A SET OF CLOTHES, RESEMBLING THOSE WORN BY JAILERS. THE DOCUMENT SHOWS HE MADE A FAKE BADGE OUT OF THE TOP OF A FOOD CAN. HE HID THE ITEMS IN THE BOTTOM OF A KITCHEN TRASH CAN. ON MAY 25TH, HE GATHERED THE ITEMS AND CHANGED INTO HIS DISGUISE. AUTHORITIES SAY HE THEN WALKED UP TO A GATE, TOLD AN OFFICER TO OPEN IT, AND WALKED OUT. HE PRETENDED TO PUT SOMETHING INTO A CAR BEFORE GOING INTO THE WOODS. HE DRANK WATER FROM A CREEK, ATE BERRIES, BIRD EGGS, ANTS TO SURVIVE. HIS PLAN WAS TO STAY IN THE WOODS FOR SIX MONTHS TO AVOID SEARCH CREWS, THEN HEAD TO NO
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Updated: 5:29 AM CDT Aug 19, 2025
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Ex-police chief's prison escape disguise and survival tactics revealed
KHBS logo
Updated: 5:29 AM CDT Aug 19, 2025
Editorial Standards
A document released by the Arkansas Department of Corrections reveals new information about how a former police chief serving time for murder and rape was able to escape from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock, Arkansas, in May.Grant Hardin told law enforcement he had been planning his escape for about six months.He began by collecting black markers he would find lying around the kitchen or laundry. He used them to color a set of clothes so they would resemble those worn by jailers. He also made a fake badge out of the top of a food can. He hid his clothes and other items at the bottom of a trash can in the kitchen that no one would shake down.Staff regularly allowed Hardin to go out on the back dock unsupervised and into a room to the side of the dock where there were pallets and carts with metal food cans.He overheard a warden tell a kitchen supervisor to stop letting inmates go outside by themselves on the dock. He decided to take his chances on May 25, despite the rain.When he arrived at his workstation that day, he gathered up the clothes and found some food. He changed into his disguise.He then walked up to the gate, told the officer to open it, and walked through. He pretended to put something inside a vehicle and then went into the woods.Hardin said that the first night he stayed in one spot and managed to avoid the search dogs trying to find him. The second night, he moved around some and got separated from his bag of food.Hardin drank water from the creek along with some distilled water from the prison infirmary that was meant for his CPAP machine.He ate whatever he could find, including berries, bird eggs, and ants.Hardin said he lay low and avoided the sounds of the search teams. His plan was to stay in the woods for six months, taking advantage of the dense vegetation, landscape, and weather. He would then head to Northwest Arkansas.Hardin said he changed his mind when he began to get very hungry and was worried the search team was closing in. He tried to leave the area, and that was when he was caught.The prison said it has disciplined employees. It has also changed policies about supervising prisoners.

A document released by the Arkansas Department of Corrections reveals new information about how a former police chief serving time for murder and rape was able to escape from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock, Arkansas, in May.

Grant Hardin told law enforcement he had been planning his escape for about six months.

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He began by collecting black markers he would find lying around the kitchen or laundry. He used them to color a set of clothes so they would resemble those worn by jailers. He also made a fake badge out of the top of a food can. He hid his clothes and other items at the bottom of a trash can in the kitchen that no one would shake down.

Staff regularly allowed Hardin to go out on the back dock unsupervised and into a room to the side of the dock where there were pallets and carts with metal food cans.

He overheard a warden tell a kitchen supervisor to stop letting inmates go outside by themselves on the dock. He decided to take his chances on May 25, despite the rain.

When he arrived at his workstation that day, he gathered up the clothes and found some food. He changed into his disguise.

He then walked up to the gate, told the officer to open it, and walked through. He pretended to put something inside a vehicle and then went into the woods.

Hardin said that the first night he stayed in one spot and managed to avoid the search dogs trying to find him.

The second night, he moved around some and got separated from his bag of food.

Hardin drank water from the creek along with some distilled water from the prison infirmary that was meant for his CPAP machine.

He ate whatever he could find, including berries, bird eggs, and ants.

Hardin said he lay low and avoided the sounds of the search teams. His plan was to stay in the woods for six months, taking advantage of the dense vegetation, landscape, and weather. He would then head to Northwest Arkansas.

Hardin said he changed his mind when he began to get very hungry and was worried the search team was closing in. He tried to leave the area, and that was when he was caught.

. It has also changed policies about supervising prisoners.