Former Arkansas police chief’s prison escape offers unique challenges: experts The audacious escape of former Arkansas Police Chief Grant Hardin from the North Central Unit prison in Calico Rock, Arkansas, presents law enforcement with a complex and potentially prolonged challenge, experts say. Hardin, 56, a man previously known as the "Devil in the Ozarks" due to his conviction for murder and rape, vanished from the facility on Sunday afternoon while wearing a standard Arkansas Department of Corrections uniform. This escape, occurring after Hardin served decades behind bars for the 2017 murder of James Appleton, a city water employee shot in the face inside his work truck, coupled with a guilty plea in a 1997 rape case, underscores the intricate web of investigations surrounding him. Law enforcement is leveraging Hardin’s past as a police chief to anticipate his actions and refine their search strategy.

Eric Brown, a 24-year U.S. Army Special Forces veteran and CEO of Imperio Consulting, believes Hardin’s prior law enforcement experience provides a significant advantage. "A former police chief like Hardin ‘has a working knowledge of law enforcement procedures, patrol routines and how search operations are typically structured,’” Brown explained to Fox News Digital. "That gives him an initial edge. He knows how law enforcement thinks." Law enforcement is employing several key tactics based on this understanding. They are likely to utilize geo-fencing, license plate readers, and surveillance of known associates. Brown added that if Hardin is on foot, the pursuit will involve dogs, drones and thermal imaging. "Establishing a perimeter means thinking like the fugitive, assessing terrain, choke points and logical escape routes," he stated. Officials are actively scanning for disruptions – stolen vehicles, property break-ins, and supply thefts, as well as monitoring local chatter for any unusual activity. The core strategy revolves around disrupting Hardin’s patterns and preventing him from making critical mistakes common among fugitives, such as contacting family or using electronic devices.

Angelo Brown, Ph.D., an assistant professor of criminology at Arkansas State University, highlights the technological aspects of the search. "Law enforcement officials will likely be using drones and infrared camera technology to search heavily wooded areas in Stone County, where Hardin escaped, which is located just east of the Ozark Mountains," Brown said. The investigation is bolstered by Hardin’s extensive ties to several locations, including Garfield, Eureka Springs, Holiday Island, and Huntsville, as identified by the FBI. Brown emphasizes that Hardin’s police chief background suggests he has cultivated connections within law enforcement, potentially aiding his escape. He predicts Hardin will avoid common pitfalls, stating, "Getting away, that’s still very unlikely. Especially now, even if it is state-level corruption... the federal government’s involved in this search and investigation, the state police, various agencies are working on this. So, I think law enforcement is doing everything they can to keep people safe." Despite this, he acknowledges the inherent difficulty of the situation, noting, "it is impossible to ‘mitigate the risk completely’ with a fugitive on the run."

Authorities have gained some confidence in Hardin’s likely route and current location, stating, based on available information and team experience, he is "fairly close to this region." However, they recognize a single vehicle could facilitate his movement elsewhere, and a perimeter has been established around Stone County. As of now, officials remain "very confident that he is in the area." They urge the public to consider Hardin a "very dangerous individual" and to anticipate potential further crimes during his escape. Hardin was sentenced to 30 years for murder plus additional time for rape and pleaded guilty to both offenses. The investigation is further complicated by the extensive record of his past, including a DNA link to a 1997 rape cold case.

Key details about Hardin include his 6-foot height and 259-pound weight. The FBI is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to his recapture and is requesting that tipsters call 1-800-CALL-FBI with any relevant information. The recent escape of ten prisoners from a New Orleans correctional facility, with eight subsequently recaptured and two still at large, serves as a stark reminder of the challenges involved in managing high-risk inmates and underscores the urgency of Hardin’s apprehension.