A high-speed police chase led by the son of “Dog the Bounty Hunter” killed a teenager and reignited fury over reckless pursuit policies.

At a Glance

• Officer Garry Chapman, son of “Dog the Bounty Hunter,” initiated deadly pursuit.
• Crash killed an uninvolved teen and hospitalized three others.
• Incident unfolded between Priceville and Hartselle, Alabama in early September 2025.
• Chapman placed on paid administrative leave after the crash.
• Community demands policy changes and real accountability.

The Fatal Pursuit

Officer Garry Chapman engaged in a high-speed chase through Priceville on a September night that ended violently in nearby Hartselle. The pursuit collided with civilian vehicles, killing a teenager who had no involvement and injuring three more bystanders.

Chapman was quickly identified as the officer behind the chase, with officials confirming his connection to Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman. On September 9, Mayor Sam Heflin confirmed Chapman was placed on paid leave, calling it routine procedure.

Watch now: Reckless Police Chase Ends in Tragedy

For the family who lost a child, “routine” sounded hollow. The hospitalizations underscored that the officer’s decision to pursue turned a neighborhood street into a death trap.

Policies Under Fire

The deadly pursuit cast a spotlight on Alabama’s pursuit policies, which critics say leave too much discretion in the hands of officers. Studies from the Justice Department show that many chases end in crashes, with innocent lives routinely at risk.

Law enforcement experts argue that pursuits should be reserved for violent felony cases, not minor violations. Yet departments continue policies that prioritize apprehension over safety. Civilian deaths are dismissed as unintended consequences of police action, even though the danger is well documented.

The celebrity tie fueled national attention, but the core problem remained: taxpayer-backed officers making split-second decisions that carry catastrophic consequences.

Accountability Gap

Chapman’s placement on paid leave mirrored a national pattern. Officers involved in deadly incidents keep receiving public salaries while victims’ families bury their loved ones. This imbalance erodes trust between communities and police forces.

For critics, the system represents government overreach cloaked in procedure. Officers get protection, while citizens get funerals. This is why demands for reform grow louder each time another innocent dies in a chase.

Even conservative voices have joined calls for change, framing reckless pursuits as violations of constitutional protections. Communities argue that their rights are trampled when public safety becomes secondary to a chase.

Push for Real Reform

The twin towns of Priceville and Hartselle now wrestle with grief and anger. Residents demand tighter rules that shield the public, not endanger them. They want laws that limit pursuits to extreme cases and hold officers accountable for reckless choices.

This case joins a wider national debate on policing tactics. Across the country, local governments are weighing whether public safety should take precedence over high-risk chases. Each new tragedy adds momentum to calls for systemic change.

Until those policies shift, families will keep asking the same question: how many more innocent lives will be lost before leaders take action?

Sources

News 19
AL.com
Associated Press