Huh? California sheriff raids Indiana business with warrant? Batmobile?

[TheJoker]

It's scary to live in a world where civilian "A" with connections so easily gets access to civilian "B"'s financial and online data with zero due process(...yeah, I get there's a paper trail based on the paperwork of corrupt/misinformed bureaucrats in both CA and IN), to the extent of freezing bank accounts and with the full cooperation of local authorities. I believe the first folks I'd call out are the local authorities that played along with zero due diligence.

 

[HoughMade]

It's scary to live in a world where civilian "A" with connections so easily gets access to civilian "B"'s financial and online data with zero due process(...yeah, I get there's a paper trail based on the paperwork of corrupt/misinformed bureaucrats in both CA and IN), to the extent of freezing bank accounts and with the full cooperation of local authorities. I believe the first folks I'd call out are the local authorities that played along with zero due diligence.

Have they actually gotten the financial info? Getting a warrant for it isn't the same as getting it. There's a whole process for challenging such things.

 

[Ingomike]

Have they actually gotten the financial info? Getting a warrant for it isn't the same as getting it. There's a whole process for challenging such things.

It was reported they did freeze bank accounts and took business records.

 

[CindyE]

Justice for Batman, organized by Mark Racop

1966 Batman fan Mark Racop's story of fighting corruption in the San Mateo Sheriff's department, as tol… Mark Racop needs your support for Justice for Batman

www.gofundme.com

 

[HoughMade]

It was reported they did freeze bank accounts and took business records.

I understand that they took 2 files from the business, but "freezing accounts". That is highly unusual and I have a fair amount of suspicion about the reporting.

 

[actaeon277]

Imagine that.
The real estate guy decided NOT to do the interview.

Gee.
I am SO surprised.

 

[thompal]

Have they actually gotten the financial info? Getting a warrant for it isn't the same as getting it. There's a whole process for challenging such things.

They froze his bank accounts.

 

[thompal]

Imagine that.
The real estate guy decided NOT to do the interview.

Gee.
I am SO surprised.

And the CA Sheriff behind it all has been on vacation, and isn't expected back for a month or so.

I get the feeling that they didn't expect to get caught in their corruption.

 

[Destro]

When there are services and money involved, the lines between a civil vs. criminal issue can be very blurry. Sometimes they can overlap.

I am wondering if the case is sealed because of financial information and/or sensitive information in it?

 

[DragonGunner]

Ft Wayne news from channel 15 just ran story and said rich guy missed multiple payments and no contact for 9 months. Which we knew, but now say the car has been paid in full but now he has to wait. Didn’t catch anything about charges being dropped. If car has been paid in full doesn’t sound like his bank account is still frozen.

 

[printcraft]

Ft Wayne news from channel 15 just ran story and said rich guy missed multiple payments and no contact for 9 months. Which we knew, but now say the car has been paid in full but now he has to wait. Didn’t catch anything about charges being dropped. If car has been paid in full doesn’t sound like his bank account is still frozen.

Paid in full before the ******** took off. Pissed off that he has to wait because he ****ed around.

 

[actaeon277]

And the CA Sheriff behind it all has been on vacation, and isn't expected back for a month or so.

I get the feeling that they didn't expect to get caught in their corruption.

Nobody ever thinks they'll get caught.
That's why they do it.

 

[actaeon277]

And the CA Sheriff behind it all has been on vacation, and isn't expected back for a month or so.

I get the feeling that they didn't expect to get caught in their corruption.

They sent someone to Indiana, but they can't send someone to where the Sheriff is?
Huh?

Awful lot of people taking vacations there.

 

[Alamo]

Local (Indiana) news:

California sheriff sends team to Logansport to raid Batmobile shop, allegedly at request of friend

Fiberglass Freaks was raided last by a California sheriff's office and the owner believes the sheriff did it as a favor to his friend, who is upset at how long his custom Batmobile is taking.

www.wrtv.com

nothing really different that hasn’t already been reported, but it also says his bank account has been frozen.

If so, that would seem to disrupt the delivery schedule for all his other customers. So now do they sue Racop over schedule slip?

EDIT: Well rats, apparently WRTV restricted the video from being played outside of YouTube.

 

[HoughMade]

I have real questions about the "bank accounts frozen" thing.

 

[printcraft]

If so, that would seem to disrupt the delivery schedule for all his other customers. So now do they sue Racop over schedule slip?

Where else are they going to go to get their bat mobile since he is the only one licensed to build them?

My conspiracy mind immediately goes to someone affiliated with the sheriff wants to steal the license rights from Racop
so they are going after him to get DC to drop licensing because of the "controversy" in favor of one of their other associates in commifornia.

 

[Ingomike]

Where else are they going to go to get their bat mobile since he is the only one licensed to build them?

My conspiracy mind immediately goes to someone affiliated with the sheriff wants to steal the license rights from Racop
so they are going after him to get DC to drop licensing because of the "controversy" in favor of one of their other associates in commifornia.

Holy conspiracy theories, Batman! Seems very plausible. Have seen similar, though no LEO involvement, over rights before…

 

[HoughMade]

Gotta be honest....I don't think Mr. Racop is getting rich off of those rights.

 

[Alamo]

Racop sez:

"People knew that the cars were expensive, and I knew that there would be a kind of stigma attached to it and people would say, 'Why is he having a GoFundMe when he sells these expensive cars?'" Racop said. "But the account is frozen. There's no access to the money. What little money I have is being used for everyday expenses regarding the business and payroll, and it's very expensive to hire a California attorney and pay for airfare and hotels."

He says he also had the post $10,000 bail in California.

Community provides support to Batmobile maker following raid by California officers

Aug. 3—The Logansport community is rallying around local business owner Mark Racop as he prepares to fight two criminal charges filed in California due to a business dispute. Racop owns the only shop licensed by DC Comics to build fully-functional 1966 Batmobile replicas. Racop said customer Sam...

news.yahoo.com

I’m still looking for an article that provides a ”legal” source for frezing an account.

 

[Alamo]

San Mateo County District Attorney Office looking into Batmobile raid

The case against a man who had his specialty car shop in Indiana raided by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies will undergo several further investigation to see if it should

www.smdailyjournal.com

Racop said a missed 2019 payment from Anagnostou and a lack of contact over nine months bumped Anagnostou to the end of the line for a car. However, (ADA) Wagstaffe said that based on bank and email records obtained of payments, the DA’s Office saw probable cause a crime was committed, with the DA’s Office in July charging Racop with fraud and misuse of construction funds, both felonies, which Racop denies. Wagstaffe said a key issue is a 2020 payment made by Anagnostou and questions if Racop had given away the car intended for Anagnostou.

And

Wagstaffe said allegations against the Sheriff’s Office would only be a criminal matter if it were in return for a tangible benefit, with no evidence of criminal misconduct. Wagstaffe said the manner of the operation is up to the Sheriff’s Office, such as how many deputies to send, and was outside the jurisdiction of the DA’s Office.

I think the sheriff is off the hook with the DA.