The son of Duane Chapman — better known as “Dog the Bounty Hunter” — has been fired from his job with the Priceville, Alabama, police department following a deadly high-speed chase that left a teenager dead.
Officials confirmed that Garry Chapman’s dismissal came after an internal review and was upheld by Mayor Sam Heflin. Chapman has appealed the decision, and a City Council hearing is scheduled for October 14.
The case stems from a September 6 pursuit in nearby Hartselle. Officers were chasing Archie Hale, who police said was driving under the influence, when Hale’s vehicle slammed into a minivan carrying four teenagers. Seventeen-year-old Tristan Hollis was killed in the crash, and six people in total were rushed to area hospitals.
Hale survived, was booked into the Morgan County Jail on September 11, and now faces a murder charge along with multiple counts including DUI, possession with intent, reckless endangerment, and attempting to elude.
For Tristan’s mother, Rachel Moore, the grief is overwhelming. “He was my only child,” she wrote in a public Facebook post. “Please pray for all the young men that were involved in this accident. Also, I ask for everyone to pray for the man, Archie Brandon Hale, that killed my sweet, precious son. Yes, he selfishly and maliciously took my son’s life, but in the end, my son is in a far better place than what is about to be bestowed amongst him.”
Chapman, the youngest son of the reality TV star, is now fighting to be reinstated. His attorney, Scott Morro, argued that the officer followed both law and policy during the pursuit. “The Supreme Court allows pursuit as long as you’re assessing danger throughout,” Morro told FOX54. “It’s unfortunate that it turned out the way it did. But Garry followed the law, and he followed the policy. We hope the City Council will recognize Chapman as an asset to their city and not a detriment.”
Chapman had only joined the Priceville Police Department in 2023. Now, whether his law enforcement career continues may depend on the outcome of his appeal.