Former Arkansas constable arrested on capital murder charge in man's death

A Benton County Sheriff's Office deputy accompanies Grant Hardin (right) as he is led into the Benton County Courthouse Friday. Hardin was arrested in connection with the death of James Appleton, Sheriff Shawn Holloway said.
A Benton County Sheriff's Office deputy accompanies Grant Hardin (right) as he is led into the Benton County Courthouse Friday. Hardin was arrested in connection with the death of James Appleton, Sheriff Shawn Holloway said.

A former constable has been arrested in the death of a 59-year-old man in Benton County, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.

Grant Hardin, 48, is being held on a capital murder charge in the death of James Appleton, according to the newspaper.

County records show Hardin previously served two terms as constable in Benton County — one term from 2009 to 2010 and the latter from 2013 to 2014.

Appleton was found about 4:15 p.m. Thursday inside a white pickup on Gann Ridge Road between Garfield and Gateway, the sheriff’s office said. Authorities noted that he had a gunshot wound to his head.

Appleton’s body has been sent to the state Crime Laboratory in Little Rock for an autopsy.

Hardin, who has a listed home address in the 15600 block of Gann Ridge Road, remained at the Benton County jail as of Friday afternoon without bail, records show.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette previously reported that a Grant Hardin of the same name and former title also held positions as a police officer in Fayetteville, Huntsville, Eureka Springs and the since-shuttered Gateway Police Department.

Additional information regarding the shooting death was not immediately available.

Read Saturday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

Information for this article was contributed by Brandon Howard of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

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