The son of Dog the Bounty Hunter, Garry Chapman, has been reinstated to his role with the Priceville Police Department after a unanimous decision by the City Council. His return came just hours after he filed a $10 million lawsuit for wrongful termination following a high-speed chase that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old boy.
Chapman, who is 24 and the son of reality stars Alice and Duane Chapman, was initially put on administrative leave before being dismissed over the incident on September 6.
During a two-and-a-half hour closed session, the City Council discussed his case, which included testimony from his father. Duane Chapman expressed gratitude to the council for allowing his son another chance, while also acknowledging the tragic nature of the incident.
“Garry has always aspired to be a police officer,” Duane stated. “We truly appreciate this committee for considering him again,” underscoring his belief in second chances.
The chase began when Garry attempted to stop a driver, Archie Hale, who had a history of traffic violations and was reportedly drinking. Instead of pulling over, Hale led officers on a dangerous pursuit reaching speeds of 160 miles per hour, culminating in a crash with a minivan that carried four teenagers.
Tristan Hollis, one of the passengers, tragically succumbed to his injuries shortly after. The other passengers and Hale also sustained injuries, with Hale later taken into custody on various charges, including reckless homicide.
After the crash, Chapman faced scrutiny for violating pursuit policies and was subsequently fired. However, discussions among the council members ultimately led to his reinstatement. Though the Priceville Police Chief had supported the dismissal, Mayor Sam Heflin chose not to attend the vote on reinstatement.
Chapman joined the Priceville Police Department in January 2025 and has since worked with several law enforcement agencies across north Alabama. It’s worth noting that he had received two reprimands at Priceville, one due to a clerical mistake and another linked to a confrontation with a fellow officer, alongside a noted history of speeding violations.
