Newly certified patrolman Garry Chapman, son of renowned TV personality Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman, safely recovered a missing child from Pennsylvania after a routine traffic stop.
The incident took place in DeKalb County, Alabama, during Garry Chapman’s first day on the job as a certified patrolman.
Ider Police Chief Stephen Malone shared the remarkable details of the case.
“Being able to make the call to this boy’s guardian, letting them know he’s safe and on his way home, is one of the most rewarding parts of this job,” Chief Malone stated in a press release.
The subject of the traffic stop, Amanda Beiland, 37, a resident of Ider, was subsequently charged with interference with child custody.
Chief Malone revealed that Beiland also had a prior charge for chemical endangerment of a child. She was taken into custody and booked at the DeKalb County Jail, with her bond amount yet to be determined.
Malone said that Officer Garry Chapman’s quick thinking and professionalism during the traffic stop proved pivotal to the case.
Upon inspecting Beiland’s vehicle, Officer Chapman discovered a young boy present. A subsequent background check revealed that the boy had been reported missing from Scranton, Pennsylvania, for over a week.
The child’s safety was of paramount concern to Chief Malone.
“Cases like these are very serious, and to know that this juvenile was missing from over 800 miles and five states away is extremely concerning to me,” he stressed. “Juveniles are very gullible, and that’s exactly why there are legal procedures in place to keep this from happening.”
The young boy is now in the process of being transported back to his guardian.
“The safety of children is (of) the utmost importance to us, regardless if they live within the community or even 800 miles away,” Chief Malone affirmed.
Coincidentally, Garry Chapman’s entrance into law enforcement was recently celebrated by his father, Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman.
Earlier this month, Duane Chapman had attended Garry’s graduation from the Northeast Alabama Law Enforcement Academy.
