Latest news with #ArkansasDepartmentofCorrections
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
ASP: Possible Hardin sighting reported in Fort Smith
FORT SMITH, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The Arkansas State Police is investigating a tip that places escaped inmate Grant Hardin in Fort Smith. '[I] can't confirm the credibility at this point, but did get confirmation they [ASP] are checking into it,' Arkansas Department of Corrections spokesperson Rand Champion said. Go to KNWA/FOX24's Hunt for Hardin page for the latest news about escaped Arkansas inmate Grant Hardin. Former Washington Co. Sheriff recalls time working as Grant Hardin's Lieutenant Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Devil in the Ozarks': FBI offers $20K reward for capture of former Arkansas police chief on the run
The FBI is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the re-capture of a former Arkansas police chief serving time for murder and rape — dubbed "the Devil in the Ozarks" — who escaped on the afternoon of May 25. Former Gateway Police Department Chief Grant Hardin, 56, escaped from the North Central Unit, a medium-security prison, that Sunday afternoon in Calico Rock, according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC). The FBI said Hardin has ties to Garfield, Eureka Springs, Holiday Island and Huntsville. "The FBI's Little Rock Field Office is assisting the U.S. Marshal Service, the Arkansas Department of Corrections, and the Arkansas State Police with the search for and apprehension of Grant Matthew Hardin," reads an FBI wanted poster. Texas Escaped Inmate Considered Armed And Dangerous After Psychiatric Hospital Break Former FBI agent Rob D'Amico told "Fox & Friends" Friday morning that Hardin's past as a police chief may give him a unique advantage on the run. Read On The Fox News App "I think it makes it a lot more challenging. He knows how they do it. He knows what they look for, he knows how they follow leads. He knows how they do surveillance," D'Amico said. 'Devil In The Ozarks' Who Escaped Prison Likely Still In Arkansas Area: Officials The former FBI agent noted that there are likely many unmanned, unlocked cabins and sheds in wooded areas around Stone County, which is located East of the Ozark Mountains. ADC Communications Director Rand Champion said during a Wednesday news conference that authorities are fairly confident in the route they believe Hardin took when he escaped prison and his current location in the region. Manhunt Underway After Disgraced Former Police Chief Convicted Of Murder, Rape Escapes Arkansas Prison "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 the area of Stone County. "As of this time, they are still very confident that he is in the area," Champion said. Massive Jail Break In New Orleans 'Impossible' Without Staff Involvement, Says Ex-fbi Fugitive Hunter 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. It took less than 30 minutes for prison officials to notice that Hardin had disappeared from prison. 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 Champion said the uniform he was wearing was not an official uniform. Louisiana Ag Confident Remaining Jailbreak Fugitives Will Be Captured After Officials Make 14Th Arrest 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. While Hardin was being booked into the state prison around that time, officials submitted his DNA sample into a database. His DNA ended up linking 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. 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 re-captured while two remain at large. Hardin is described as a 6 ft. white male, weighing approximately 259 pounds. The FBI is asking tipsters to call 1-800-CALL-FBI with any information concerning the escapee. Fox News' Stepheny Price and Louis Casiano contributed to this article source: 'Devil in the Ozarks': FBI offers $20K reward for capture of former Arkansas police chief on the run
Fox News
2 days ago
- General
- Fox News
'Devil in the Ozarks': FBI offers $10k reward for capture of former Arkansas police chief on the run
The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the re-capture of a former Arkansas police chief serving time for murder and rape — dubbed "the Devil in the Ozarks" — who escaped on the afternoon of May 25. Former Gateway Police Department Chief Grant Hardin, 56, escaped from the North Central Unit, a medium-security prison, that Sunday afternoon in Calico Rock, according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC). The FBI said Hardin has ties to Garfield, Eureka Springs, Holiday Island and Huntsville. "The FBI's Little Rock Field Office is assisting the U.S. Marshal Service, the Arkansas Department of Corrections, and the Arkansas State Police with the search for and apprehension of Grant Matthew Hardin," reads an FBI wanted poster. Former FBI agent Rob D'Amico told "Fox & Friends" Friday morning that Hardin's past as a police chief may give him a unique advantage on the run. "I think it makes it a lot more challenging. He knows how they do it. He knows what they look for, he knows how they follow leads. He knows how they do surveillance," D'Amico said. The former FBI agent noted that there are likely many unmanned, unlocked cabins and sheds in wooded areas around Stone County, which is located East of the Ozark Mountains. ADC Communications Director Rand Champion said during a Wednesday news conference that authorities are fairly confident in the route they believe Hardin took when he escaped prison and his current location in the region. "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 the area of Stone County. "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. It took less than 30 minutes for prison officials to notice that Hardin had disappeared from prison. 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 Champion said the uniform he was wearing was not an official uniform. 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. While Hardin was being booked into the state prison around that time, officials submitted his DNA sample into a database. His DNA ended up linking 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. 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 re-captured while two remain at large. Hardin is described as a 6 ft. white male, weighing approximately 259 pounds. The FBI is asking tipsters to call 1-800-CALL-FBI with any information concerning the escapee.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
How Northern Arkansas' terrain may help an escaped convict evade capture
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.'
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
Search for Escaped Former Police Chief Escalates as FBI Offers $10,000 Reward
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The FBI has offered a $10,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest of Grant Hardin, a former police chief who escaped from an Arkansas prison on Sunday. The Department of Justice said it was supporting Arkansas authorities in the search for Hardin, who was convicted of first-degree murder and rape, after he fled the North Central Unit prison near Calico Rock. The Context In October 2017, Grant Matthew Hardin pleaded guilty to a first-degree murder charge in connection with the shooting of James Appleton, who was found dead inside his car. He received a 30-year sentence. The former police chief was also sentenced to 50 years for the rape of an Arkansas elementary school teacher in 1997. His crimes earned him the nickname "Devil in the Ozarks" in a 2023 documentary. What To Know In an update on the search, which began on Sunday, authorities in Arkansas said the FBI had issued a $10,000 reward for anyone who had information that could lead to Hardin's arrest. "This morning, the FBI, Department of Corrections, Arkansas State Police, and Department of Justice have announced a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of escaped inmate Grant Matthew Hardin," Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Corrections, told Newsweek. "Hardin escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock on Sunday, May 25. An arrest warrant was issued for Hardin on May 26 by the Circuit Court of Izard County after he was charged with second-degree escape," Champion continued. Anyone with information concerning Hardin should "contact the FBI's toll-free tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). You may also contact your local FBI office, local law enforcement, or submit tips online at A poster of Grant Matthew Hardin, who escaped from prison in Arkansas on May 25. A poster of Grant Matthew Hardin, who escaped from prison in Arkansas on May 25. FBI Hardin escaped from prison by wearing clothing that made him look like a member of staff rather than a prisoner, an investigation of his escape found. Hardin has since been charged with second-degree escape, which carries a minimum jail sentence of nine months. Hardin previously served as the police chief of Gateway, a city to the north of Fayetteville on the state line with Missouri. Locals fear that his knowledge of the area means authorities may find it harder to locate him. Officials said the cave system in the Ozark Mountains was a point of focus for the search effort. Arkansas residents described Hardin as "very, very smart" and someone who "knows where the caves are" in the region. What People Are Saying Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Corrections, said: "That's one of the challenges of this area—there are a lot of places to hide and take shelter, a lot of abandoned sheds, and there are a lot of caves in this area, so that's been a priority for the search team." In its initial statement about Grant Hardin's escape, the Department of Corrections said: "On Sunday, May 25, at approximately 3:40 p.m., inmate Grant Hardin, escaped from the North Central Unit. Anyone with information about inmate Hardin's whereabouts should contact local law enforcement immediately. The Division of Correction and the Division of Community Correction are working with local, state and federal law enforcement to follow leads. "Hardin has been at the North Central Unit since 2017, serving a 30-year sentence for first degree murder, as well as an additional sentence for rape. Hardin was the former police chief for the city of Gateway with a background in law enforcement." What Happens Next Anyone with information on Hardin's movements is encouraged to contact the FBI.
