Latest news with #Ex-fbi
Yahoo
5 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
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
California Democrat hits Kash Patel for ties to gun rights group
Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., grilled Kash Patel, President Donald Trump's nominee to head the FBI, over Patel's pro-gun stances. Asked by Padilla whether Patel believes background checks on firearm purchases are constitutional, during the nominee's confirmation hearing Thursday, Patel responded that he didn't know "the in-depths of it," but believed "that's what the Supreme Court said." "Do you think civilian ownership of machine guns is protected by the Second Amendment?" Padilla fired back. Ex-fbi Official Who Shut Down Hunter Biden Lines Of Investigation Violated Hatch Act With Anti-trump Posts "Whatever the courts rule in regards to the Second Amendment is what is protected by the Second Amendment," Patel responded. Padilla explained that his line of questioning was due to an "association" between Patel and the group Gun owners of America, which enthusiastically endorsed Trump's choice to lead the FBI. Read On The Fox News App "GOA Applauds Nomination of 'Fiercely Pro-Gun' Kash Patel for FBI Director," the organization said in a press release following Trump's announcement to tap Patel. Kash Patel, Trump's Pick For Fbi Director, Answers Questions On Jan. 6 , Qanon, And More Padilla expressed concern over the enthusiastic endorsement, arguing that the organization has taken "extreme positions" on guns. "Gun Owners of America has taken extreme positions, including the position that all background checks are unconstitutional and that civilian ownership of machine guns is protected under the Second Amendment," Padilla said. Padilla then argued that Patel would be responsible for overseeing some of the country's most critical gun regulations at the FBI, expressing concern that Trump's nominee is not up to the task. "Let me remind you that as FBI director, you will oversee critical responsibilities related to firearm regulation, you're administering the national instant criminal background check system. Yes, it's constitutional, it's in place, for a reason! You would also regulate the distribution of machine guns to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. Policies and programs are in place for a reason," Padilla said. "Given your hesitancy, given your answers, I am concerned about your ability to do the job when it's not in alignment with views like Gun Owners of America."Original article source: California Democrat hits Kash Patel for ties to gun rights group
