Bounty hunter arrested in raid of chief's home speaks out

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - It was late at night; a valley home was surrounded by nearly a dozen people, pounding on the front door, yelling loudly, shining bright lights through the windows.

The group of bail bondsmen were looking for a man wanting out of Oklahoma; they received a tip that the man was inside the home. But instead of the fugitive, it was the home of Phoenix Police Chief Joseph Yahner.

The bondsmen went to the wrong home, and the owner of the company is behind bars. Now police are left with more questions than answers.

Police say he had a weapon unholstered during the ordeal and did not do his due diligence into validating the tip of the wanted suspect.

Brent Farley owns North Star Recovery and is speaking out after being charged for trespassing and disorderly conduct, he's now speaking out. Farley says he's misunderstood, he's not a rogue bounty hunter operating outside the law. He says they got a bad tip that led him to the wrong house.

"When the chief opened the door he was aggressive, I backed off," said Brent Farley.

Farley says he had no idea when his bounty hunter team raided the home belonging to Yahner.

"I understand it's 9:30 at night, I understand being angry, but it was over the top," said Farley.

Farley says Phoenix Police are overreacting, Farley is the only one of the nearly dozen people involved who is now behind bars. Phoenix Police say Farley pointed a gun at the chief.

"At no time did I pull out my gun," said Farley.

Farley's business isn't licensed; the state says he's not a registered recovery agent. He does have a criminal record; he was charged with a Class 6 Felony for Sex with a Minor earlier in his life. It's a charge that would get his application for registration denied.

"I do not have a license. However, other people on the scene did, if a suspect were there, an arrest would be made by one of them," said Farley.

He claims he's an account manager for Northstar Fugitive Recovery, and that he was operating within the confines of the law.

"It's not what I did that is the problem, it's who is involved. If the Chief of Police was not the one who answered the door, none of this would ever come to light," he said.

Farley also says he has paperwork at his home that proves he can posses a firearm.

Phoenix Police say Farley was charged with misdemeanor charges of criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct.