'Devil in the Ozarks' on Loose: Killer ex-cop has a dangerous edge as he knows exactly how police think
Police set up checkpoints looking for escaped prisoner Grant Hardin (Pic credit: AP)
A massive manhunt is underway for a former Arkansas police chief who escaped from prison Sunday, and experts warn the fugitive's law enforcement background could give him a dangerous edge.
Grant Hardin, 56, once the police chief of Gateway, Arkansas, vanished from the North Central Unit, a medium-security prison in Calico Rock, less than 30 minutes before prison officials noticed he was gone. The convicted murderer and rapist, known locally as the "Devil in the Ozarks," is considered armed and extremely dangerous.
"He has a working knowledge of law enforcement procedures, patrol routines and how search operations are typically structured," said Eric Brown, a 24-year US army special forces veteran and CEO of Imperio Consulting.
"That gives him an initial edge. He knows how law enforcement thinks."
'Think like a fugitive'
Authorities have ramped up surveillance and search efforts across Stone County, just east of the Ozark Mountains. Law enforcement teams are deploying drones, thermal imaging, and K-9 units to track Hardin across the rugged terrain.
"Officials are watching for stolen vehicles, break-ins, supply thefts, and unusual chatter," Brown said.
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"The key is pattern disruption."
Photos shared by the Stone County sheriff's office show Hardin walking through a sally port wearing a prison-style uniform, though officials said it was not standard issue. The Arkansas department of corrections has not yet revealed how Hardin bypassed security.
Dr Angelo Brown, a criminology professor at Arkansas State University, said Hardin's prior role as a police chief could also mean he still has "ties to law enforcement officials who may help him" and is unlikely to make basic errors like using credit cards or contacting family.
FBI offers $20,000 reward
The FBI has joined the search, offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to Hardin's capture. Authorities say he has connections in Garfield, Eureka Springs, Holiday Island, and Huntsville, and believe he may still be in the general area, for now.
"All it takes is one vehicle for him to travel a great distance," said ADC communications director Rand Champion during a press conference Wednesday.
"But as of now, we believe he's still close by."
Champion warned the public to treat Hardin as "a very dangerous individual," noting there's a real risk he could commit additional crimes while on the run.
Hardin's escape came just two days after 10 inmates broke out of a correctional facility in New Orleans, an event that has intensified scrutiny on prison security systems across the South.
Authorities describe Hardin as a 6-foot white male, approximately 259 pounds. Anyone with information is urged to call the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
"This is a man with a violent history and the skills to vanish," said Brown. "The clock is ticking — and he's not the kind of man you want free for long."
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