UPDATE: Duane `Dog’ Chapman Arrested, Freed On Bail

HONOLULU (UPDATE: September 18, 2006) — “Dog The Bounty Hunter” star Duane “Dog” Chapman and two of his cohorts are now free on bail after spending Thursday night in a federal detention center for their 2003 capture of Max Factor cosmetics heir Andrew Luster in Mexico.

Before a packed Honolulu courtroom on Friday, Chapman, 53, his son Leland, 29, and Timothy Chapman, 41, were ordered to wear electronic monitoring devices and not leave their homes, except for work, until their extradition hearings to face trial in Mexico. Bail was set at $300,000 for “Dog,” and $100,000 each for the other two men.

Chapman and his two co-stars had been arrested Thursday in Hawaii on charges of illegal detention and conspiracy in an alleged kidnapping three years ago.

Chapman, son Leland Chapman and associate Timothy Chapman were taken into custody and did not resist arrest, said Mark Hanohano, U.S. Marshal for the district of Hawaii. “It went down without incident,” Hanohano said.

Mona K. Wood, a publicist for the star of the popular cable 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 Villarta, Mexico, said Marshals spokeswoman Nikki Credic in Washington.

Chapman’s capture of Luster, who had fled the country after being convicted of raping three women, catapulted the 53-year-old bounty hunter to fame and led to the reality series on A&E.

The three are being held in Honolulu. 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.

Chapman’s son Leland, 29, and Timothy Chapman, 41, no relation, assist Chapman in exploits chronicled for the TV show around the Hawaiian Islands. The show focuses on Chapman’s family as much as the bounty hunting, which generally involves tracking down bail jumpers, often creating emotional scenes with repentant captives.

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 Villarta for their court hearing on July 15, 2003, Credic said.

Mexican authorities demanded that the Chapmans transfer Luster to Mexican police. Their refusal to do so led to their initial arrest.

A U.S. warrant for their arrest was signed by a federal judge in Honolulu on Wednesday.

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