Duane ‘Dog the Bounty Hunter‘ Chapman‘s police officer son was fired by his department for his role in the fatal high-speed chase that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old boy.
Garry Chapman, 24, who appeared alongside his father in several episodes of the long-running reality series Dog the Bounty Hunter, was terminated by the Priceville Police Department in Alabama for the September 6 pursuit that spanned multiple towns in Morgan County, Alabama, on September 6, WHNT reports. The younger Chapman had previously been placed on administrative leave as the department conducted an internal investigation into the fatal incident.
Priceville Police Chief Jerry Holmes fired Chapman as part of a decision that was supported by Mayor Sam Heflin, WHNT reports. Chapman filed an appeal arguing that his actions during the pursuit adhered to department policy and state law.
A city council hearing is scheduled to take place on October 14, according to FOX 54.
“The Supreme Court allows pursuit as long as you’re assessing danger throughout the pursuit. And it’s unfortunate that it turned out the way it did. But Garry followed the law, and he followed the policy. We hope that the City Council, after the hearing, will see it our way and recognize that Chapman is an asset to their city and not a detriment. And so hopefully he’ll be reinstated,” said Scott Morro, an attorney representing Chapman, via FOX 54.
“Garry Chapman is an excellent police officer who has made several cases for the City of Priceville, and he is their top police officer even though he has only been there a short period of time,” he added.
Police attempted to stop a vehicle allegedly driven by Archie Hale for moving violations and suspicion of DUI on September 6. The vehicle failed to stop on Interstate 65 just prior to 8:30 p.m. local time, at which point the pursuit was initiated, with Chapman joining the chase as it exited the interstate onto Main Street in Hartselle.
Hale allegedly smashed into a minivan carrying four teen boys before his own vehicle crashed into a ditch. The minivan was launched across the intersection and destroyed.
Tristan Hollis was among the four boys inside the minivan and transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Hale suffered serious injuries and was later charged with murder in relation to the crash, as well as several additional charges, possession of drug paraphernalia and prescription drugs, possession of a controlled substance, reckless endangerment, driving under the influence, attempting to elude a police officer and several traffic violations, according to inmate records obtained by the New York Post.
The other three teenagers in the minivan were all hospitalized in relation to the crash.
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