Caves, barns, abandoned sheds: How the landscape of northern Arkansas might help an escaped convict
As the search for escaped prisoner Grant Hardin enters a fifth day, authorities pursuing the convicted murderer and rapist in northern Arkansas face various challenges from the landscape that could give Hardin an advantage in evading capture.
Wearing 'a makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement,' Hardin broke out of the North Central Unit prison in Calico Rock around 2:55 p.m. Sunday, a news release from the state's Department of Corrections said.
Hundreds of law enforcement officials from federal, state and local agencies are working on finding Hardin, Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Corrections said Wednesday, but bad weather gave the fugitive a head start and rocky terrain, caves and old outbuildings give him ample places to hide.
'There's caves, there's barns, there's abandoned cars, there's abandoned sheds, there's residences … It's not a flat, open area,' Champion said.
Authorities believe Hardin is still in the general area near the prison, according to Champion.
'He's not necessarily from this area, but he did grow up in Northwest Arkansas, which has some terrain similar to this … understanding that he may have that sort of familiarity provides a challenge,' said Champion.
The area where police are searching is one of the most cave-dense in the state, according to a geology professor at the University of Arkansas.
'The most comprehensive database has about 1500 caves in northern Arkansas,' Matt Covington, an associate professor in the Department of Geosciences told CNN. 'There are also certainly many caves that have not yet been reported or even discovered.'
In and around Calico Rock, where the prison is located, Covington said there are around 300 to 400 reported caves that could make ideal hiding places, if only temporarily.
'Most of the caves are small, 100 feet or less. However, there are some caves in the area that are more than a mile long,' Covington said.
'I can imagine that the entrance area of a cave could be a useful place to hide,' he added. 'There is often water present. There are boulders to hide under or small crawlways and side passages.'
But it's not perfect according to Covington. The caves are cool – around 58 degrees Fahrenheit – and many of them are wet, Covington said.
'Hypothermia can quickly become a problem. You also need light, and most lights will only last a day or so before you need to recharge or replace batteries. You also will have to come out for food.'
Plus most of the caves only have one entrance, he said, limiting one's ability to flee.
'So, the entrance of a cave might make a good temporary hideout or shelter from rain,' Covington said. 'However, you would probably basically be cornered. If tracking dogs figured out you were in there, you would be trapped.'
In fact, the rain actually bought Hardin some time after his escape, according to Champion.
'With our track dogs, the rain can affect them being able to pick up that track. With the low clouds, it's hard to get the drones up as high as we need to. Helicopters are grounded with all that,' Champion said. 'We're hoping that the weather kind of turns a little bit and we can utilize more of those' assets.
Nearly three inches of rain fell in Calico Rock from Saturday through Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. The rain tapered off Tuesday but as the week wore on, the region has been cool and overcast with some low clouds and foggy mist.
It's not just the weather and the terrain that have been on Hardin's side dodging authorities.
Hardin was previously the police chief for the small town of Gateway, Arkansas, near the Missouri border, and has worked various other law enforcement jobs throughout his career.
Hardin was previously featured on the Investigation Discovery documentary, 'Devil in the Ozarks.' (Investigation Discovery, like CNN, is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery.)
'Obviously, if you have a law enforcement background you've had specialized training, you've had a familiarity of the tactics that are going to be used,' Champion said.
As of Thursday afternoon, Hardin remained on the loose, and local, state and federal law enforcement agencies continued to search for him. A reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to his arrest was announced by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
'What we would ask – in this area, especially – please be cognizant. Please be aware. Be alert of your surroundings,' Champion said. 'If something seems out of place, if something seems a little off, please let us know.'
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The former Arkansas police chief who escaped prison on Sunday may have an 'edge' compared to other escapees due to his past in law enforcement, experts say. Former Gateway Police Department Chief Grant Hardin, 56, escaped from the North Central Unit, a medium-security prison, Sunday afternoon in Calico Rock, according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC). Nicknamed the 'Devil in the Ozarks,' Hardin was serving decades in prison for murder and rape. Advertisement Eric Brown, a 24-year U.S. Army Special Forces veteran and CEO of Imperio Consulting, told Fox News Digital that a former police chief like Hardin 'has a working knowledge of law enforcement procedures, patrol routines and how search operations are typically structured.' 'That gives him an initial edge. He knows how law enforcement thinks,' Brown told Fox News Digital. Law enforcement officials 'will likely lean on geo-fencing, license plate readers, and known associate surveillance,' Brown added. 'If he's on foot, dogs, drones and thermal imaging tighten the noose,' Brown said. Advertisement 'Establishing a perimeter means thinking like the fugitive, assessing terrain, choke points and logical escape routes. Officials are watching for movement: stolen vehicles, property break-ins, supply thefts, even unusual local chatter. The key is pattern disruption.' It took less than 30 minutes for prison officials to notice that Hardin had disappeared from prison. 4 Former Gateway Police Department Chief Grant Hardin, 56, in Arkansas, has escaped from prison, and may have an 'edge' compared to other escapees. Stone County Sheriff's Office Photos that the Stone County Sheriff's Office posted to social media show Hardin wearing an ADC-style uniform during his escape through a sally port, though ADC communications director Rand Champion said the uniform he was wearing was not official. Advertisement Angelo Brown, Ph.D., assistant professor of criminology at Arkansas State University, similarly told Fox News Digital that law enforcement officials will likely be using drones and infrared camera technology to search heavily wooded areas in Stone County, where Hardin escaped, which is located just east of the Ozark Mountains. Hardin has ties to Garfield, Eureka Springs, Holiday Island and Huntsville, according to the FBI. Angelo Brown said Hardin's police chief experience means he likely has ties to law enforcement officials who may help him, and he will avoid making 'simple mistakes that a lot of people on the run make, like going to relatives' homes, using… cellphones, credit cards, things like that.' 4 Experts say the ex-police chief may have an 'edge' compared to other escapees due to his past in law enforcement. AP Advertisement 'Getting away, that's still very unlikely. Especially now, even if it is state-level corruption… the federal government's involved in this search and investigation, the state police, various agencies are working on this. So, I think law enforcement is doing everything they can to keep people safe,' he said, noting, however, that it is impossible to 'mitigate the risk completely' with a fugitive on the run. Champion said during a Wednesday news conference that authorities are fairly confident in the route they believe Hardin took when he escaped and his current location. 'Based on the information that we have and the experience of our teams, they feel fairly confident that he is still fairly close to this region,' Champion said, noting that 'all it takes is one vehicle' for Hardin to use to travel elsewhere, though officials have established a perimeter around Stone County. 4 Law enforcement officials have already said they will rely on 'geo-fencing, license plate readers, and known associate surveillance' in order to track down Hardin. AP 'As of this time, they are still very confident that he is in the area,' Champion said. Champion said the public should assume Hardin is 'a very dangerous individual,' and there is a risk he may commit more crimes while he is on the run. Hardin was sentenced to 30 years for murder plus additional time for rape. He pleaded guilty to the 2017 murder of James Appleton, 59, a city water employee who was found shot in the face inside his work truck, KNWA reported. Advertisement 4 KNWA reported that Hardin pleaded guilty to the 2017 murder of James Appleton, 59, a city water employee who was found shot in the face inside his work truck. AP While Hardin was being booked into the state prison around that time, officials submitted his DNA sample into a database. His DNA linked him to the rape cold case of a teacher in 1997, the outlet reported. Hardin ended up pleading guilty in that case in 2019, according to KNWA. Advertisement The former police chief's escape came two days after 10 prisoners escaped a correctional facility in New Orleans, eight of whom have since been recaptured while two remain at large. Hardin is described as a 6-foot White male, weighing approximately 259 pounds. The FBI is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to his recapture and is asking tipsters to call 1-800-CALL-FBI with any information concerning the escapee.
