Former police chief, convicted of rape and murder, escapes Arkansas prison
A former police chief in Arkansas, serving decades-long sentences for murder and rape, escaped from prison Sunday, state corrections officials said.
Grant Hardin, the former police chief of the tiny town of Gateway near the Arkansas-Missouri border, escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock, where he has been held since 2017.
Corrections officials did not provide any details about how he escaped.
They did say that Hardin had disguised himself and was 'wearing a makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement when he escaped the North Central Unit.'
The Division of Correction and the Division of Community Correction are following leads with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Story continues below advertisement
Hardin pleaded guilty in October 2017 to first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of 59-year-old James Appleton.
Get daily National news
Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
According to an affidavit filed in the case, Appleton worked for the Gateway water department and was talking to his brother-in-law, then Gateway Mayor Andrew Tillman, when he was shot in the head on February. 23, 2017, near Garfield. Police found Appleton's body inside a car.
Hardin, who was Gateway's police chief for about four months in early 2016, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. He is also serving 50 years in prison for the 1997 rape of an elementary school teacher in Rogers north of Fayetteville.
KFSM-TV, reporting on his guilty plea in 2019, wrote that police used DNA samples from the crime scene to apply for a John Doe Warrant in 2003 as the statute of limitations neared.
The DNA was tested against old and new profiles, and investigators got a match when Hardin was imprisoned for killing Appleton.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
5 hours ago
- Global News
Child killed, another injured in Vancouver speedboat crash: RCMP
Police in North Vancouver say an 11-year-old child is dead and another is in hospital after a speedboat hit them while they were being towed on an inner tube on Saturday. North Vancouver RCMP say the driver of the speed boat is in custody but has yet to be charged. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy They say speed and alcohol may have been a factor. More to come…
Global News
7 hours ago
- Global News
Toronto tenant fears homelessness amid alleged ‘bad faith' eviction
A Toronto man who has lived in the same High Park apartment for decades says he now fears for his livelihood after being denied permission to appeal his eviction to Ontario's top court. Andras Henye, who is disabled, partially blind and dealing with declining health, has lived in the same apartment for nearly 50 years. He had asked the Ontario Court of Appeal to hear his case, arguing that he was evicted in bad faith by his landlord, Minto Apartment REIT. According to court documents, Henye's eviction is due to non-compliance with smoking rules in the building, despite having a grandfathered right to smoke. He says he fully complied with previous court orders requiring him to stop, but is still being evicted. Now in his late 50s and with ongoing health issues, Hanye told Global News he fears he won't be able to find another place after his court proceedings were posted online by an unknown third party without his consent. 'I'll be evicted, and I'll be homeless. And that's what worries me the most,' he said. Story continues below advertisement Henye has lived in the apartment since childhood; his parents died in the same unit. 'My home is my life. Losing it would mean losing everything, possibly my life.' Henye says he's up to date on rent and had stopped smoking in the unit before his landlord, Minto Apartment REIT, moved to evict him. In a decision released this week, the Court of Appeal dismissed Henye's motion for leave to appeal and denied his request to stop the eviction. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'While I am cognizant of attachment to the unit and his health challenges, I see no meritorious ground of appeal such that an order should be granted,' wrote Justice Julie Thorburn. The eviction order remains in effect and may be enforced at any time. Legal team raises concerns Henye's lawyer, Dr. Michael Motala, said the case raises concerns about how the Landlord and Tenant Board handles vulnerable tenants, especially those representing themselves. Story continues below advertisement 'At the Landlord and Tenant Board, Mr. Henye was not given an opportunity to speak whatsoever until I think approximately an hour into the hearing,' Motala said. Motala said that Henye asked to raise preliminary issues and seek an adjournment briefly to get a lawyer, but 'none of these things happened in this matter.' Motala also told Global News that Henye fully complied with all court orders and stopped smoking in his unit long ago. 'There's a lot of stigma associated with smoking. Despite the fact that there's a contractual right, he has in good faith obeyed any court order, including the one he referenced, and has completely ceased the activity,' Motala added. 'Housing is a human right' Other tenants say Henye's case is not unique and reflects a larger pattern of corporate landlords displacing long-time residents. Story continues below advertisement Melinda McInnes, a longtime High Park resident and community advocate, said she's seen it firsthand. 'I have seen countless REITovictions in my time,' McInnes said. 'There's fear for housing security.' She adds that this case will set a concerning example for corporate landlords and tenants dealing with similar situations. 'Decisions like these send strong messages to long-term, vulnerable tenants that their rights are irrelevant. Housing is a human right, not a bump in a monthly dividend cheque.' In response to an inquiry from Global News, Minto declined to comment on the specifics but said the case has been ongoing for some time. 'We are not going to be providing any additional details on this matter at the given moment,' said Tamara Costa, senior director with Minto. 'Many parties are involved … it's been going on for many years.' 'I simply want fair treatment and the right to live my life peacefully,' said Henye.
Global News
10 hours ago
- Global News
One dead after Saturday night shooting in Toronto's west end: police
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Toronto police say one person is dead after a shooting in the city's west end on Saturday night. Police say they responded to reports of a shooting in the area of Emmett Avenue and Jane Street just after 10 p.m. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy They say officers found a male victim with a gunshot wound. Police say he was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead. They did not immediately provide further details on the shooting, but said the suspect fled the area. Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators.
