Dog the Bounty Hunter's son tracks fugitive to DeKalb County, Alabama

Britnay Kernell
Britnay Kernell
photo Britnay Kernell

The son of famed bounty hunter Duane 'Dog' Chapman tracked a wanted fugitive to Collinsville, Alabama, where law enforcement personnel arrested the suspect at Traveler's Inn near Interstate 59.

Leland Chapman had been tracking suspect Britnay Kernell, 32, for existing warrants in St. Charles, Missouri, on drug charges.

Kernell was arrested Sept. 20 at approximately 2 a.m. by the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office Narcotics and Criminal Interdiction Unit, according to the sheriff's office. The Collinsville Police Department assisted.

"We're happy to help bring a wanted fugitive to justice," according to a statement from DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden. "Especially when this person is busy committing new crimes in our area. DeKalb County is no place to hide for criminals."

Deputies and agents found methamphetamine while arresting Kernell and added new charges of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance, according to a release.

Kernell also had warrants in Jackson County and Fyffe, Alabama.

Leland Chapman and his team had tracked the suspect to Northeast Alabama in recent weeks. Investigators in Jackson and DeKalb counties worked with bounty hunters over two weeks. The investigation came to a conclusion with the arrest.

"I'd like to thank all of the people that helped us last night. If it wasn't for law enforcement we wouldn't be able to get her in custody," according to a statement from Leland Chapman. "That was the most important thing, is the coordination between all of the law enforcement officials and agencies. She was definitely on a crime spree. This manhunt and her crime spree spanned several states."

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