by According to officials, two inmates in Arkansas were let go after they unwittingly assisted a former police commander who was found guilty of rape and murder in escaping from a high-security facility in May while wearing a phony police uniform.
According to Arkansas prison officials, one of the staff members, a culinary supervisor, permitted the inmate, Grant Hardin, to enter a loading dock where inmates were not supposed to be left alone. According to investigators, the other was a guard in a jail tower who buzzed open a gate and allowed Mr. Hardin to leave the facility without verifying that he was a legitimate law enforcement officer.
At a meeting Thursday, Arkansas Board of Corrections Chairman Benny Magness informed state lawmakers that both staff were fired for violating prison regulations. Their identities have not been made public.
Mr. Magness stated, “You had two people, unfortunately, and if either of them had said, No, if any of them had stopped, Mr. Hardin would not have gotten out.” He explained that it was an instance of human error rather than deliberate wrongdoing.
According to officials, Mr. Hardin, 56, who was employed in the prison kitchen, took advantage of his position to carry out his escape from the Calico Rock, Arkansas, jail on May 25. After a fierce manhunt, he was apprehended on June 6 less than two miles from the prison.
According to officials, he requested permission from the kitchen supervisor on the day of his escape to enter the loading dock and empty a cage containing cleaning agents.
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