CALICO ROCK, Ark. — Authorities are searching for an inmate who escaped from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock on Sunday afternoon, according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections and Arkansas State Police.
The Stone County Sheriff’s Office said 56-year-old Grant Hardin, who has been at NCU since 2017, escaped through the sally port wearing what appeared to be an corrections officer uniform.
Officials said he is considered “extremely dangerous and should not be approached.”
Officials said Hardin is serving a 30-year sentence for first-degree murder and an additional sentence for rape. Hardin was the former police chief for the City of Gateway. He is described as 6 feet tall and weighs around 259 pounds.
Officials said they are using every resource available, including drones. Roads leading into Izzard County were shut down and all vehicles are being checked.
The Arkansas Department of Corrections said that as of 11:30 p.m. Sunday the manhunt for Hardin was ongoing.
Escaped inmate Hardin’s crimes
5NEWS has extensively reported on Hardin’s crimes, including first-degree murder and rape.
Hardin pleaded guilty to shooting and killing 59-year-old James Appleton in 2017. Prosecutors said the two worked within the Gateway city government at the same time.
Officials explained Hardin murdered Appleton by pulling up beside him on the road and shooting him through the window of his car. A motive for the murder was never given.
In 2019, after having already pleaded guilty to murder, Hardin also pleaded guilty to the 1997 rape of a Rogers elementary school teacher.
Law enforcement said the teacher was preparing her classroom when Hardin pointed a gun at her and proceeded to rape her.
He was identified as a suspect in the case over 20 years after the incident took place, thanks to DNA samples taken from the victim’s clothes.
Hardin was sentenced to 30 years for the murder case and 50 for the rape case …
