Dog the Bounty Hunter is preparing to go to war for his son Garry Chapman — blasting city officials who fired the young cop over a tragic Alabama police chase that left a teenager dead.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Garry’s lawyer Scott Morro revealed the reality TV star is furious at how his son has been treated by Priceville officials, and is expected to make his feelings clear at an October 13 hearing before the city council.
‘I don’t anticipate him speaking other than jumping up and calling them a bunch of a** wipes,’ Morro said.
‘Because they’re damaging his son.’
The 24-year-old officer — who appeared as a child on his father’s hit show Dog the Bounty Hunter — was fired last month following a September 6 pursuit of suspected drugged driver Archie Hale.
The chase ended when Hale allegedly plowed into a minivan in Hartselle, Alabama, killing 17-year-old Tristan Hollis.
Mayor Sam Heflin and Police Chief Jerry Holmes ruled Chapman had violated pursuit policy and terminated him, despite Chapman’s insistence he followed both department training and US Supreme Court precedent.
Morro says the decision is about politics, not policing.
Dog the Bounty Hunter star Duane Chapman’s, 72, police officer son, Garry Chapman, 24, was fired over his involvement in a fatal crash that left a teen dead; Chapman pictured with his father at his Police Graduation in Alabama
Chapman, seen here in his police uniform, will fight to be reinstated at an October 13 meeting of the city council
‘Because of media attention and politics, they’ve abandoned Garry and are trying to make him a scapegoat,’ the lawyer said.
Morro insisted Chapman is not hiding behind his famous father’s celebrity.
‘He’s trained by his father. His father’s excellent at what he does, but Garry wants to stand alone,’ said Morro.
‘He’s his own man. And he’s gonna be an excellent police officer slash attorney someday. This is just a bump in the road.’
Lawyer Scott Morro says Chapman is a ‘scapegoat’
Chapman, the son of Duane and his late wife Beth, had been working drug interdiction patrols in north Alabama.
On September 6, officers tried to pull over Hale on suspicion of DUI.
Hale allegedly fled at high speed, leading officers through Priceville and onto Main Street in Hartselle before running a red light and slamming into a minivan carrying four teens.
Hollis died later from his injuries. Hale was badly injured and now reportedly faces charges of murder, DUI, reckless endangerment and multiple drug offenses.
Morro says dashcam footage proves Chapman acted responsibly throughout the chase.
‘It shows the initial traffic stop, the suspect fleeing, other vehicles moving out of the way, and Garry keeping his distance with lights and sirens on,’ Morro said.
‘He did everything he was supposed to do, and probably saved lives — because the guy would have been driving recklessly anyway.’
Priceville’s policy states officers must end a pursuit if they believe the risks outweigh the benefits. Morro says that decision lies with the pursuing officer.
Chapman was sacked over his involvement in a chase on September 6 that left six people hospitalized and resulted in the death of 17-year-old Tristan Hollis; Chapman pictured on September 7
Hollis, who died in the accident, pictured in a post shared by his grandmother, Beth Campbell Vinson
The crash site pictured in news footage
‘The key word is “believes,”‘ he said. ‘Garry believed the greater risk was letting him go.’
Morro says if the city council does not reinstate Chapman, he will take the fight to county court — and may make the dashcam video public to clear his client’s name.
The lawyer said the tragedy was caused by the suspect, not the officers trying to stop him.
‘Any police officer is devastated when something like that happens, including Garry, but he shouldn’t be blamed. It’s the criminal that is to blame,’ Morro said.
Mayor Heflin said he could not comment on Chapman or other staffing matters in Priceville, a city of some 4,000 people.
The city and its police enforce the law ‘proactively and fairly’ and ‘consistent with applicable law and the Department’s Policies and Procedures’, he added.
Duane ‘Dog’ Chapman, 72, is the larger-than-life bounty hunter who shot to fame in the 2000s with his hit reality series, tracking down fugitives from Hawaii to Colorado with his late wife Beth and their sprawling brood of 13 children.
Known for his mullet, wraparound shades and no-nonsense style, Dog became a household name.
Garry grew up in front of the cameras, appearing on the show as a teenager before pursuing a career in law enforcement in Alabama. Beth died of throat cancer in 2019.
Chapman was recently featured on the Priceville Police Department’s social media in April
He shares Garry with his late fifth wife Beth Smith, who died from stage II throat cancer. The two also welcomed daughter Bonnie Joanne; Duane and Beth pictured 2005
Hollis’ grandmother Beth Campbell Vinson last month shared a heartbreaking tribute on Facebook, posting a photo of the 17-year-old.
‘It’s so hard to believe! My sweet 17-year-old grandson Tristan Hollis is in Jesus’ arms.’ she posted.
‘He passed away from injuries he sustained in a horrible auto accident last night in Hartselle. Please, please pray for my daughter Rachel, our family and the Hollis family.’
Morro says the city is trying to avoid liability, but at the cost of destroying a young officer’s career.
‘Policing critical incidents is not a pretty thing. It’s dangerous, and officers put their lives on the line every day. They shouldn’t be made scapegoats because a criminal causes a tragic accident.’
