By Morgan M. Hurley | Downtown Editor
Local fans of the A&E hit series, “Dog the Bounty Hunter” are in for a treat on July 8, when Duane “Dog” Chapman joins his spiritual advisor the Rev. Tim Storey to kick off the mid-year meeting of the Professional Bail Agents of the United States (PBUS), held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, Downtown.
This special Sunday night session will be open to the public.
Chapman and his popular crime-fighting family have been catching criminals on the run and bringing them to justice for eight years on A&E and just finished up their eighth and final season with the cable network.
Rev. Storey is an internationally acclaimed author, speaker and life coach and has been offering spiritual guidance to the Chapman family for years.
Fans of the A&E television show may remember that he married the couple and has made several other appearances on the show.
Chapman first met Storey when his wife introduced them at Orchard Road Christian Center in Denver.
Storey prophesized over Dog during that meeting, telling him he was about to experience a great challenge. That challenge soon came in the name of extradition.
Years before, Chapman had captured the notorious Andrew Luster, the convicted serial rapist and Max Factor heir wanted on a $1 million dollar bond who was living under an assumed name in Puerto Vallarta. Since bounty hunting is illegal in Mexico, the bounty hunting team was arrested, and quickly after being released on bail they fled back to the United States. Several years later, Mexican authorities finally caught up with them and with shackles around his hands and ankles, Chapman and his son and colleague stood in front of a federal judge in Honolulu. Eventually the charges were dismissed, but it was a difficult, year-long struggle for America’s most famous bounty hunter.
Now that the show has wrapped, the Chapmans plan to spend more time at their home in Colorado, but their lives haven’t really changed.
“This is our first summer off in nine years,” Beth Chapman said in a phone interview. “It feels good and it’s fun … but we still have to do bail bonds and raise the kids. [Losing the show] is like a death in the family.”
Chapman admitted he often fretted over ratings, but with over 250 shows under his big black belt and syndication on its way, he seems content. In the short term, the New York Times best selling author has plans for more books – including one from Beth — and another book tour.
“I love writing and getting out and meeting people on the tour,” he said during the same call. “We hit 27 cities. I’ve been asking God, ‘what am I gonna do now?”
Beth is certain that with this door closing, many more are going to open for the popular family. “We will be right back,” she said.
As for the PBUS conference, Beth is glad this event is open to the general public.
“It’s a good opportunity to open up,” she said. “The industry has changed; it’s not a Chicago-style industry anymore and it is a good [industry] for families.”
In addition to keynote speaker Rev. Tim Storey on July 8, attendees will get inspirational words from Chapman as well as a book signing and meet & greet with the reality star, and will also enjoy a set with Christian music star, Jon Gibson. Gibson has nine solo albums (he is about to release his 10th in July), nine #1 hit songs and has played with numerous mainstream recording artists.
Those wishing to attend the event have two options. General Admission tickets are available for $40 that will include Keynote Speaker Rev. Tim Storey and a book signing with Dog Chapman.
VIP tickets ($100) will include a special PBUS reception, VIP admission & seating, front of the line pass for book signing and meet & greet with Dog Chapman. The $35 general admission ticket includes open seating for the event, as well as access to the book signing and meet-and-greet.
VIP reception begins at 5:00 p.m., doors for general admission open at 6:00 p.m., and the event starts at 7:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at thebountystore.com. For more information about Dog Chapman, his “most wanted,” or to see Beth’s blog, visit http://www.dogthebountyhunter.com/.
Dog Chapman will have both of his books (2009’s Where Mercy is Shown, Mercy is Given and 2007’s You Can Run But You Can’t Hide), available for purchase and signing.
PBUS is the professional association representing the 15,500 bail agents nationwide as the National Voice of the Bail Agent. Find out more at pbus.com.
