Tank's love of bounty hunting not changed by shooting
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Even a bullet can't make Frank 'Tank' Frazier second guess his decision to become a bounty hunter. The Ohio native has been tracking down those who have skipped out since 2018 and millions have watched him though his Bounty Tank YouTube channel and now on the over-the-air channel Busted.
Many of those viewers were watching Oct. 10, 2024, when Tank was shot twice while trying to serve a warrant. He has been recuperating from the wounds that injured his colon and kidney.
'I've always known it was a dangerous job and there's always the possibility you could get injured,' Tank says.
'Duster' takes fast path to tale of law and order
The fact Tank was involved in the violent act goes against the way he deals with his profession. He takes great pride in his role as a bail bondsman to demonstrate how to interact and communicate with defendants while showing them respect and grace. He's recognized for his non-violent approach to apprehending fugitives and bringing them to justice.
Tank sees tracking down the fugitives as a way to help them. He sees apprehending them as an end to the running by those for whom he is searching and stops them from having to look over their shoulders.
The term bounty hunter can create some misconception. Tank is not searching for mass murderers or serial killers when he is on the hunt. He knows that many of the fugitives he's seeking have committed minor crimes and will not spend a lot of time in jail.
There have been times when some of the captured fugitives have thanked him for allowing them to start life anew.
'One reason is that I am the reason they are out in the first place,' Tank says. 'I'm getting them out of jail, so I have to go get them.
'I get a lot of clients who call and thank me because they are tired of running and they are ready to change their life. And they appreciate the way I treated them. Sometimes things happen to good people, so you want to treat people with respect.'
Tank has a host of stories where his efforts have helped others. He recalls one young woman from Toledo he tracked down to a drug house. He didn't just apprehend her but gave her his information.
'Fight or Flight' cast dealt with some very 'plane' rules
Tank told her that once she got out of jail and was clean that she should call him and he would direct her to people who could help with her recovery.
'I remember that she was crying and was really frustrated and scared. A lot of the addicts are more afraid of getting dope sick while in jail than they are of me,' Tank says. 'She was worried about the withdrawals because they are terrible.
'She wound up calling me when she got out and I directed her to get some rehab and changing her life around. She called me six months ago to say thanks because she had turned her life around. There are others, but she specifically stands out because it was such an emotional moment.'
Tank certainly understands making a life change. The Cleveland native attended Hampton University on a football scholarship where he studied nursing. After a dislocated shoulder injury ended his football days, Tank focused on a career in the nursing profession, but it was never his passion.
His big life change came when he stumbled across the career of a bail bondsman and bounty hunter. After his first hunt, he realized he had found his career.
Tank's life has made so many big shifts, there are times when he wonders how he got to this place.
'Sometimes I can't even believe it,' Tank says. 'I never thought I would be doing this. I never thought I would be successful at it. I always thought that I would be doing nursing.
'It's a reality check, but I love it. I'm glad I am here.'
'Bakersfield 3' has stayed with former 17 News reporter
Tank may be sidelined now, but his bounty hunting past can be seen through his YouTube channel that offers complimentary clips with additional exclusive content available to subscribers. Since launching in 2019, the channel has grown close to 900,000 followers.
While on the mend, Tank has turned to music. His work as a rapper has been praised by both Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg for his musical contributions. Tank dropped a rap single on iTunes called 'Mr. Kick Door' from his Kick Door University album. More music is coming this month.
Music is filling the void until he is healthy enough to prowl the streets looking for fugitives. Until then, the reality series 'Bounty Tank' is available on Pluto TV, the Roku Channel and Tubi TV.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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