Latest news with #DepartmentofCorrections
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Florida law enforcement officials express concern about scams on seniors, but offer few details
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister in Tampa on June 2, 2025. (Photo by Mitch Perry/ Florida Phoenix) A host of top law enforcement officers briefed reporters in Tampa on Monday about their concerns about senior citizens in Florida being scammed by prisoners — alhough they offered few details. They did say that the culprits exploiting older Florida residents are state prisoners whose weapons in these cases are contraband phones, cryptocurrency, and drone devices. According to Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, a 92-year-old man has been robbed of more $800,000 over a two-year period and one of the perpetrators is an incarcerated individual. He added that more information would come later. 'We will have formal charges, but it got to the point where we started connecting the dots and realized we need to put the public on notice that a lot of these calls and outreach to seniors, it could very much be a scam,' said Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Ricky Dixon announced that in conjunction with the attorney general's office and other agencies, 'Operation Triple Threat' took place last week in three correction facilities containing approximately 3,000 inmates to search for illegal cellphones. All told, he said, officers captured 400 phones. He did not name the prisons. Nor did the Department of Corrections respond immediately to an inquiry. When asked asked how many cases involve prison inmates taking financial advantage of seniors, Uthmeier said 'at least three known cases,' although he added that no formal charges have been brought to date. 'We're still expanding to see how far it goes, but at least a few different perpetrators and likely several more than that as far as victims,' he said. Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey and Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass also appeared at the media availability. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
2 jailbreaks. 3 men still on the run. What we know about the circumstances of each
A police chief-turned-murderer-and-rapist, a repeat escapee and a double murderer are still nowhere to be found after two high-profile jailbreaks keep communities on edge and law enforcement on alert. As much as these stories have in common, the circumstances behind their escapes, where they may be hiding and what they might hope to do on the outside are very different. Grant Hardin, 56, escaped from a state prison in Calico Rock, a remote city in northern Arkansas, on May 25. Formerly the police chief of a nearby small town, Hardin was serving decades-long sentences for murder and rape. Derrick Groves, 27, and Antoine Massey, 32, are the last two fugitives on the run after they and eight other inmates broke out of the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans on May 16. Groves, 27, was convicted of murdering two men on Mardi Gras in 2018. Massey, 32, was charged with domestic abuse involving strangulation and theft of a motor vehicle. He started escaping custody at age 15. The eight other fugitives have been caught, mostly in New Orleans. But now, several states are involved in the manhunt for Massey and Groves. In both manhunts, hundreds of local, state and federal authorities joined in the search. And both manhunts now face the reality that the longer these men remain on the loose, the harder it may be to ever find them. Most inmates who escape get caught within 48 hours, and after 48 hours, it's more difficult to capture escapees, CNN Senior Law Enforcement Analyst Charles Ramsey told CNN. Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe agreed. 'The longer this goes, and the further away they can get, the better chance they have of staying out there for a while,' said McCabe, a CNN senior law enforcement analyst. Hardin escaped the North Central Unit prison in Calico Rock around 2:55 p.m. on May 25, the state's Department of Corrections said. A surveillance image from the time of the escape appears to show Hardin wearing black pants, a black T-shirt and a black baseball cap, as well as an additional item that looks like a bulletproof vest, which the department called 'a makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement.' But the department made clear it was not standard-issue clothing for inmates or correctional officers, so they are also investigating how he got it. Authorities believe he exited through a sally port, a controlled and secure entry point found in places such as prisons, the Stone County Sheriff's Office said. Authorities discovered Hardin was missing during a routine count about 15 to 20 minutes after he left, but an investigation into the timeline of events is still being conducted, corrections spokesperson Rand Champion said. In Louisiana, 10 inmates used hair clippers, stolen blankets and bad infrastructure to ultimately escape a New Orleans jail by squeezing through a small hole cut into the wall behind a metal toilet. They left a message taunting corrections officers on the wall on the way out. 'To Easy LoL,' it read. Arkansas authorities say it was raining 'fairly significantly' at the time of Hardin's escape, giving him a small advantage against his pursuers despite his absence being detected no more than 20 minutes after he broke out, but the men in New Orleans got a much larger head start. Staff at the Orleans Justice Center did not notice the 10 inmates had escaped until more than 7 hours after the jailbreak, and did not alert the public until even later. Officials are still digging into how Hardin escaped, what methods he used and whether anyone helped him. By contrast, authorities in Louisiana say the 10 men who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center received help from at least 14 people – including friends, family members and a maintenance worker at the jail. Some of those suspected accomplices are now held on bonds of over $1 million and face felony charges, according to The Associated Press. Authorities believe Hardin is still in the general area near the prison, according to Champion but the fugitive's knowledge of the land and familiarity with law enforcement tactics are helping him stay out of custody. '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, plus the area where police are searching is one of the most cave-dense in the state. Hardin grew up in midwest Arkansas, which has similar terrain, giving him another advantage, Champion added. 'I can imagine that the entrance area of a cave could be a useful place to hide,' Matt Covington, an associate professor in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Arkansas, told CNN. 'There is often water present. There are boulders to hide under or small crawlways and side passages,' he added. Officials have been using all resources at their disposal, including dogs, drones and aircraft, among other methods, Champion said, but rain and fog have affected the effectiveness of those resources and with a background in law enforcement, authorities worry Hardin could remain a step ahead of them. '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. Massey and Groves are less likely to have stuck around, and authorities believe they may not even be in Louisiana anymore. The eight other fugitives they escaped with were caught mostly in and around New Orleans but two of the most recent arrests were in Texas, so several states are now involved in the dragnet. 'We are currently at an impasse on figuring out where these two are,' Deputy US Marshal Brian Fair told CNN last week. 'They can be here locally or can be anywhere in the United States at this point.' The escapees have received help from friends and family who provided food, cash, transportation and places to rest and hide, according to court documents. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill had a stern warning for anyone considering helping the fugitives: 'If you help the remaining escaped inmates, you will be prosecuted,' she said. 'The more help they get, the more charges there will be. Period.' Groves was found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder, charges carrying a life sentence, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams said. Given Groves' potential jail time and Massey's long track record of escaping custody – previously escaping a New Orleans juvenile detention center and twice cutting off electronic ankle monitors, according to reports – it is likely the fugitives' main goal is avoiding going back to prison, though authorities have 'a lot of leads' and are getting tips from the community, according to Williams. 'They absolutely could be moving to other areas. I alerted my colleagues in the states surrounding Louisiana immediately after the jailbreak to be on alert and to notify their law enforcement partners that these individuals could be coming to their states,' Murrill said. Hardin's motives may be more complex, considering his close ties to the small town of Gateway, where he was briefly the chief of police, less than a three-hour drive from the prison where he escaped. 'To know that he is out on the loose is very scary,' Cheryl Tillman said. Hardin pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for the death of Tillman's brother, James Appleton, in February 2017, according to court documents. Now Gateway's mayor, Tillman was on the city council when Hardin was dismissed from the police department. 'I'm sure the people here in Gateway are worried about him breaking out of prison after what he's done,' she said. The FBI announced a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to Hardin's arrest. 'What we would ask – in this area, especially – please be cognizant. Please be aware. Be alert of your surroundings,' Champion said. Officials announced $50,000 in reward money for anyone with information leading to the arrest of either Massey or Groves. The combined $100,000 offered comes from Crimestoppers Greater New Orleans, the FBI and other agencies. 'We need everyone's help,' Louisiana State Police Superintendent Col. Robert Hodges said. 'If you're listening, and you're in another state and you have a tip … please contact us.'
Yahoo
4 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.'
CNN
4 days ago
- Climate
- CNN
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.'
CNN
4 days ago
- Climate
- CNN
Caves, barns, abandoned sheds: How the landscape of northern Arkansas might help an escaped convict
CrimeFacebookTweetLink Follow 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.'
