A former police chief convicted of rape and first-degree murder escaped from Arkansas's North Central Unit Sunday afternoon, with the Department of Corrections determining hours later that Grant Hardin was "wearing a makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement when he escaped."

The Stone County Sheriff's Office said the 56-year-old, who is eight years into his combined 80-year sentence and formerly led two police departments, is considered "extremely dangerous and should not be approached." 

It initially claimed he fled through the "sally port wearing what appeared to be an ADC uniform," KFSM-TV paraphrased, but the Department of Corrections said at 11:30 pm Sunday he was not wearing such a uniform and "all DOC-issued equipment has been accounted for."

The Pea Ridge Police Department and Benton County Sheriff's Office warned he might show up there because of family and "strong ties" in the region. 

He was only identified as a match for the rape two years after he was convicted of murdering the Gateway, Arkansas mayor's brother-in-law James Appleton, based on 2003 DNA samples from the victim obtained via "John Doe" warrant to beat the statute of limitations, KFSM reported.