“Dog the Bounty Hunter” chases fugitive and causes rollover crash; suspect escapes

**Xiphos** · 05-19-09, 10:32 PM

Denver Legal News Examiner: ?Dog the Bounty Hunter? chases fugitive and causes rollover crash; suspect escapes

Duane “Dog” Chapman, star of the A&E reality show “Dog the Bounty Hunter,” was involved in a crash while following a suspect earlier this morning, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department. Chapman, the self-proclaimed “Greatest Bounty Hunter in the World,” and his television crew were chasing Kelly Murphy, 20, who is wanted for skipping bail on a felony narcotics violation. The chase led Murphy to crash and roll over his vehicle, at which point Chapman’s daughter, Lisa, called police. By the time police arrived, Murphy had fled the scene. Chapman and his crew then continued the search for Murphy, but they have not yet located him.

Colorado Springs is not a lucky town for the Denver-born Chapman. Just last week, charges were dropped against Hoang Nguyen, who had been accused of shooting at Chapman and fellow bondsman Bobby Brown on April 21st. Nguyen, a fugitive for failing to appear on charges of attempted second-degree murder and domestic violence, was eventually apprehended by Chapman. Conflicting witness statements and a lack of evidence led prosecutors to drop the charges for the reported shooting. This incident also took place during the filming of Dog’s show, although the alleged shooting was not caught on tape.

The reality television show “Dog the Bounty Hunter” tracks Chapman as he hunts down fugitives who have skipped bail. He has also written a book, You Can Run But You Can’t Hide (Hyperion, 2007). Chapman, a Colorado native, currently resides in Hawaii. A tagline on his website reads:

"If you're on the run, Dog is gonna get you."

**GASheepdog** · 05-19-09, 10:45 PM

He should have been charged.

**jmur5074** · 05-19-09, 10:58 PM

What a jackass.

**Jks9199** · 05-19-09, 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by GASheepdog

He should have been charged.

Absolutely!

It amazes me that he hasn't gotten someone killed with his crap.

I don't have a problem with professional bail enforcement agents. The type who actually notify the police what's up, and have everything in order when they call a cop.

Unfortunately, they sure seem to be the exceptions. I like a pair that called us one day to arrest someone. They swore there was a court order on them out of Maryland. Nothing in NCIC. we even went so far as to call the courthouse that had supposedly issued the order. Nada. But I was supposed to hook this person on their say so... Yeah, right.

Or the idiot who caused a standoff in a no-tell motel until the tac team took him down with bean bag rounds...

**Pudge** · 05-19-09, 11:48 PM

I'm honestly suprised it took this long.

Morons

**ChesCopPodz** · 05-20-09, 12:22 AM

Everytime he comes here there's a ton of drama. I'm glad I don't work the part of town where he normally is, but he ventures up to my area every once in a while.

**lewisipso** · 05-20-09, 02:13 AM

Bounty hunting is about money and nothing else. Anyone who would put up money to allow the accused to get out and then lose that money is just shit out of luck in my opinion. Some of the people that he bonds or bails out are career criminals. It doesn't take a genius to figure they are not going to show up for court.
Endangering the public to recover a target for his monetary gain is not acceptable. I say charge him too.

**121Traffic** · 05-20-09, 04:47 AM

Absolutely, Lew.

In general I cannot STAND bail enforcers/bounty hunters. More than a few have given me the spiel about how we're on the same team, they're putting their lives on the line just like us, etc. I always like to remind them that if it weren't for them, these people would still be locked up waiting for their court proceedings in the first place. The Constitution guarantees that reasonable bail conditions be provided for by the court. It doesn't say that bail bondsman HAVE to put the surety up for anyone.

I would say we get a couple calls from bail enforcers a month. My watch CO thinks like I do. His belief, and he'll air it, is that they've got two choices. We can either respond in and arrest the fugitive (if there's a valid warrant in CCIC/NCIC) WITHOUT their assistance (so the surety goes back to the bail company IF the court grants it, and the enforcer collects NO bounty), or they can receive NO assistance from us whatsoever. They usually choose the latter option. The Sgt. tells dispatch to show us advised, close out the call as handled, and we don't even respond to the location. We'll come in later to mop up the shots fired if need be, but we will NOT assist bail enforcement. A good guy to work for.

The only time we've ever assisted the bonds people was with a fugitive child molester. They weren't enforcement types. They were an older couple who owned the company that actually put up the bail surety. We told them the deal that we would take custody, etc. They actually told us that it was fine. They did care about the money, but mostly they cared about the fact that their employee bailed the guy out in the first place. The couple was very apologetic, were real nice folks, who had standing orders to their employees that those accused of sex crimes would NOT be bailed out by their company. Apparently the employee disregarded the order and was terminated for it.

**121Traffic** · 05-20-09, 05:15 AM

UPDATE

COLORADO SPRINGS - News outlets in Colorado Springs are reporting that a reality television star and his crew took a wanted man into custody Tuesday hours after a rollover accident.

The Colorado Springs Gazette is reporting that Duane "Dog" Chapman, also known as Dog the Bounty Hunter, was in Colorado Springs Monday and Tuesday looking for Kelly Murphy.

Kelly was wanted on misdemeanor charges and had skipped out on bonds worth $6,000, according to the paper.

Concern grew early Tuesday morning when Murphy flipped his vehicle and some outlets reported that Dog had been involved.

The Gazette cites fellow bail bondsman Bobby Brown as saying that Murphy flipped his vehicle on his own and that no one in Dog's crew was involved in the crash.

Murphy was taken into custody at 2 p.m. to the El Paso County jail where he remains without bond, according to the paper.
9NEWS.com | Colorado's Online News Leader | Reports: 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' catches Springs suspect

**mack** · 05-20-09, 06:11 AM

I know a former Bail Bondsman/Bounty Hunter originally from Colorado who employed Chapman years and years ago. (he was also friends with Bobby Brown) He told me Chapman is a real asshole and spent his off hours stealing cars. The guy is nothing but a criminal who thinks he's a bigshot. Every time I've had the misfortune to land on the channel his show is on I just have to laugh at him and his grotesque wife.

**ChesCopPodz** · 05-20-09, 04:45 PM

I work with a couple of guys that actually got into big arguments with Dog because we got called for one reason or another and Dog didn't want us to take custody of the suspect, he wanted to take the guy in himself, and we weren't going to let that happen once we got on scene.

I haven't personally gone on a call involving him yet, but I'm sure it'll happen.

**MacLean** · 05-20-09, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by ChesCopPodz

I work with a couple of guys that actually got into big arguments with Dog because we got called for one reason or another and Dog didn't want us to take custody of the suspect, he wanted to take the guy in himself, and we weren't going to let that happen once we got on scene.

I haven't personally gone on a call involving him yet, but I'm sure it'll happen.

Why any big argument?

Hey Mr. convicted felon - GTFO or go to jail for obstruction!

Hey Mr. convicted felon - move or be moved!

**ex401mp** · 05-20-09, 06:33 PM

He is a fucking tool.

**Five-0** · 05-20-09, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by maclean

Why any big argument?

Hey Mr. convicted felon - GTFO or go to jail for obstruction!

Hey Mr. convicted felon - move or be moved!

Roger that. Can't that thing called the law be so helpful sometimes?

**Pudge** · 05-20-09, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by maclean

Why any big argument?

Hey Mr. convicted felon - GTFO or go to jail for obstruction!

Hey Mr. convicted felon - move or be moved!

Yeah, he and Tits Mcgee, the little wannabe MMA fighter, and the rest of the trailerpark crew would be having their little prayer-fest in Holding 3.

Fuck that.

**lewisipso** · 05-20-09, 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by 121Traffic

Absolutely, Lew.

In general I cannot STAND bail enforcers/bounty hunters. More than a few have given me the spiel about how we're on the same team, they're putting their lives on the line just like us, etc. I always like to remind them that if it weren't for them, these people would still be locked up waiting for their court proceedings in the first place. The Constitution guarantees that reasonable bail conditions be provided for by the court. It doesn't say that bail bondsman HAVE to put the surety up for anyone.

I would say we get a couple calls from bail enforcers a month. My watch CO thinks like I do. His belief, and he'll air it, is that they've got two choices. We can either respond in and arrest the fugitive (if there's a valid warrant in CCIC/NCIC) WITHOUT their assistance (so the surety goes back to the bail company IF the court grants it, and the enforcer collects NO bounty), or they can receive NO assistance from us whatsoever. They usually choose the latter option. The Sgt. tells dispatch to show us advised, close out the call as handled, and we don't even respond to the location. We'll come in later to mop up the shots fired if need be, but we will NOT assist bail enforcement. A good guy to work for.

The only time we've ever assisted the bonds people was with a fugitive child molester. They weren't enforcement types. They were an older couple who owned the company that actually put up the bail surety. We told them the deal that we would take custody, etc. They actually told us that it was fine. They did care about the money, but mostly they cared about the fact that their employee bailed the guy out in the first place. The couple was very apologetic, were real nice folks, who had standing orders to their employees that those accused of sex crimes would NOT be bailed out by their company. Apparently the employee disregarded the order and was terminated for it.

Unless I am over ruled by my Lt. I handle bounty calls and vehicle repossessions the same way. Good call IMO.

**10-42Adam** · 05-20-09, 11:14 PM

I've never liked Dog. Why the hell was he pursuing someone in a vehicle, anyway?!

I met a pair of bounty hunters in my area a couple weeks ago. I laughed at the sight of them as they were a father and son team who looked just like Dog and his crew! Ponytails, bandanas, badges on chain necklaces across their chests...hilarious!

**MacLean** · 06-24-09, 06:44 PM

I'm seriously surprised more of them aren't killed stuffing the wrong door.

"I don't need a warrant because of this old law, man..."

"Boom, wrong house asshole."

**countybear** · 06-24-09, 09:35 PM

There was a time when I had a fairly positive opinion of the bail bondsmen whom I dealt with (at a previous department). These guys had a (albeit unwritten) code about them, in that they never (and I do mean, never) bonded anyone who had a history of violence against the police including current charges, baby-rapers, or cases where the party could easily been considered a threat to a victim or witnesses. Those bondsmen and their chasers were granted courtesy by our officers in that when they had a skip to take down, we would stand by for containment purposes only (or to make sure nothing got out of hand). This was some time ago, admittedly.

Now, I haven't really had much use for bondsmen or chasers, but I consider each on their own merits. The chaser has a power to work off of that I as an LEO do not. If he's a pro, he won't often want my help anyway, since he has a distinct advantage, legally.

**Odd** · 06-25-09, 07:23 AM

In other mall ninja hygiene test washout news...

Pursuit ends with bail bondsmen in custody, woman in hospital

Snippet of their brilliance :

Police said her (the woman driving the skip around) maroon Dodge truck was rammed by the two trucks being driven by bail bondsmen. Her vehicle ended up in the lot at Bank of America, and she fell from the truck.

Both trucks with bail bondsmen in them fled the scene after the woman was run over. A citizen followed one of them, Speer said.

Police pulled one truck over a few blocks from the bank and took two of the bail bondsmen into custody. The second truck used in the pursuit was found in a residential area, Speer said, but the driver had fled.