A former Arkansas police chief convicted of rape and murder has been caught by authorities nearly two weeks after he escaped from prison.
He tried to run from officers, but was quickly tackled to the ground, a spokesperson for the Arkansas prison system said.
Officers encountered Hardin after tracking dogs picked up his scent near Moccasin Creek in Izard County, according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
Before becoming Gateway’s police chief, Hardin served as an officer at the Eureka Springs Police Department.
In a statement, Chief Patrol Agent Gloria Chavez said the team’s “unique capabilities and training are well-suited for the demands of this critical mission”.
Authorities have apprehended a former police chief from Arkansas who was convicted of rape and murder almost two weeks after he broke out of jail.
It was only 1:05 miles (2:05 km) from the prison that Grant Hardin was apprehended. According to a representative for the Arkansas prison system, he attempted to flee from the officers but was swiftly tackled to the ground.
Following his arrest, the Izard County Sheriff’s Office in northern Arkansas said that fingerprint analysis verified his identity.
According to officials, Hardin broke out of prison on May 25 by “wearing a makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement.”. He has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for murder and 50 years in prison for rape.
According to officials, he was arrested on Friday at approximately 15:45 local time.
Sheriff’s office said in a statement, “We truly appreciate the community’s ongoing support for all law enforcement and Department of Corrections personnel involved in this operation.”.
In Izard County, officers found Hardin after his scent was detected by tracking dogs in the area of Moccasin Creek, according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
Rand Champion stated that “he probably didn’t have any energy left in him after being on the run for a week and a half.”.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the governor of Arkansas, stated that citizens “can breathe a sigh of relief” now that he has been apprehended.
She continued by expressing gratitude to the Department of Homeland Security for sending Border Patrol agents and to federal law enforcement officials who assisted in the search.
After his convictions, the former Gateway, Arkansas, police chief earned the moniker “Devil in the Ozarks.”.
Hardin shot James Appleton, then 59, to death in 2017 and entered a guilty plea to first-degree murder. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
In the city’s water department, Mr. Appleton was employed. Speaking to his brother-in-law, Gateway Mayor Andrew Tillman at the time, on February 23, 2017, he was shot and killed.
As Hardin was incarcerated for the murder of Mr. Appleton, DNA evidence surfaced that connected him to the long-unsolved November 1997 rape of a 27-year-old teacher at Rogers, Arkansas’s Frank Tillery Elementary School.
After entering a guilty plea, Hardin was given a 50-year sentence.
Hardin was an officer at the Eureka Springs Police Department prior to taking over as police chief at Gateway.
He was arrested the day after a top-tier Border Patrol unit was dispatched to search the mountainous area, which is well-known for its vast network of caverns.
According to the organization, the Border Patrol Tactical Team was sent in from the Texas border.
The team’s “unique capabilities and training are well-suited for the demands of this critical mission,” according to a statement from Chief Patrol Agent Gloria Chavez.
