A former police chief convicted of and was today being hunted by his former colleagues after escaping prison dressed as cop. The manhunt began on Sunday afternoon, during a routine inmate count. Officials say Grant Hardin, one of about 1,000 men housed at Calico Rock North Central Unit, had been missing for 15 to 20 minutes before anyone noticed.

According to the Stone County Sheriff’s Office, he managed to exit the prison through a controlled gate while pushing a trolley of utility materials and wearing an outfit intended to resemble a police uniform. “It has been determined that Hardin was wearing a makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement when he escaped the North Central Unit.

"He was not wearing a uniform, and all DOC-issued equipment has been accounted for,” said Rand Champion, a spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Corrections. He added that the department is reviewing hours of surveillance footage, retracing Hardin’s movements, and conducting interviews with staff.

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While there is video of Hardin exiting through the controlled gate, it remains unclear where and when he changed into the disguise or how he managed to move within the prison undetected.

Complicating the search were adverse conditions. Heavy rainfall at the time of the escape significantly hampered officers' ability to deploy drones and scent-tracking . “It’s hard for the dogs to pick up a scent, to put out a drone or helicopters,” Champion explained. “It hindered our officers, but hopefully it hindered the escapee as well.”

Given the time that has passed, officials say the search radius is expected to expand significantly. Hardin’s history in Arkansas law enforcement spans several decades, though it is marred by controversy and misconduct.

Since the 1990s, he had held numerous positions, including elected constable, but was repeatedly terminated for reasons ranging from excessive use of force to falsifying police reports. Despite his past, Hardin remained in various roles within law enforcement until his arrest in 2017.

That year, he was arrested and charged with the murder of James Appleton, an employee of the Gateway water department.

According to police affidavits, Appleton was driving a pickup truck and speaking on the phone with a relative when he was pulled over and shot in the head at point-blank range with a shotgun. Witnesses identified Hardin as the shooter. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 years in prison, though he never provided a motive.

While serving his sentence, a DNA match linked Hardin to an unsolved rape and kidnapping case dating back to 1997.

Amy Harrison, an elementary school teacher in Rogers, Arkansas, was assaulted in her school building while preparing her classroom on a Sunday. She was raped at gunpoint in a restroom, even as a church service took place down the hall. DNA recovered from her clothing was preserved for years, ultimately matching Hardin after he entered the prison system.

He pleaded guilty in 2018 and received an additional 50-year sentence. In the wake of the escape, police have set up roadblocks while checking every vehicle. Authorities fear that Hardin may attempt to steal a vehicle or take someone hostage in an effort to flee the area.

“I don’t feel like he’s got a whole lot of choice but to get a vehicle,” Stone County Sheriff Brandon Long said. “Whether he just steals a vehicle or he takes someone hostage with the vehicle is our biggest fear.”

Residents in the surrounding counties have been urged to remain vigilant, secure their homes and vehicles, and report any suspicious activity immediately. Law enforcement is warning the public not to approach Hardin if spotted.