Charges involve an alleged kidnapping three years ago
HONOLULU - TV reality star Duane "Dog" Chapman and two co-stars on his show were arrested early Thursday in Hawaii on charges of illegal detention and conspiracy in an alleged kidnapping three years ago in Mexico, U.S. Marshals said.
Chapman, 53, his son Leland Chapman, and associate Timothy Chapman were taken into custody in an operation involving 15 officers, said Mark Hanohano, U.S. Marshal for the district of Hawaii. They did not resist arrest, he said.
"All three were very compliant," Hanohano said. "It went down without incident."
Mona K. Wood, a publicist for the star of the popular A&E series "Dog the Bounty Hunter," said Chapman would be "vindicated."
"He arrests the bad guys — and he is definitely not one of them," she said.
The charges stem from Chapman's capture of Max Factor heir Andrew Luster on June 18, 2003 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Chapman's capture of Luster, a serial rapist, catapulted the bounty hunter to fame and led to the reality series on the A&E channel.
The three are being held in custody in Honolulu, and bail has not been set. They will face an extradition hearing to Mexico under terms of treaties between the U.S. and Mexico, Credic said.
Charges have been pending against the three since local police in Mexico arrested them shortly after they roped in Luster. They posted bail but never returned to Puerto Vallarta for their court hearing on July 15, 2003.
A U.S. warrant for their arrest was signed by a federal judge in Honolulu on Sept. 13, 2006.
The three were to face a hearing later Thursday in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren, Hanohano said. They were to be transported to a federal detention center at the Honolulu airport pending extradition.
"Dog the Bounty Hunter" is A&E's top-rated show.
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Poor Dog. Haha!