Well funky cheese and crackers Batman, I think someone stole the Batmobile.

[Commander Wallace]

From the headlines of the incredibly stupid.


Mark Racop is a minister and owner of a garage in Indiana called Fiberglass Freaks that builds replica Batmobiles That are said to be so good as to be indistinguishable from the original Batmobile. These replicas are licensed by DC comics who created the character, Batman.

A wealthy realtor in Atherton California, Sam Anagnostou Paid $ 170,000 toward his replica. Sam disappeared for 8 months and was not able to be reached. Sam also missed a $ 20,000 payment on his replica. Mark Racop after repeated attempts to reach Sam Anagnostou moved his replica down the delivery line to # 8. When Sam finally made contact with builder Mark Racop and made his $ 20,000 installment, Sam became angry to learn that his build had been moved down the line to #8.

Sam contactacted his friend, Sheriff Carlos Bolanos to get action. This was after the Atherton DA refused to file charges against builder Mark Racop. Sheriff Bolanos sent a four-man team across the country last week, to raid the garage that builds Batmobiles. It was their intent to seize the cars Mark was building and haul Mark Racop back to California to face charges. The Atherton DA has admitted in interviews if the facts presented are accurate, this was a civil case, not a criminal case.

The costs to send a 4 man team cost well over $ 1000 and now the town supervisors, people there and the DA want answers. Meanwhile, Sheriff Bolanos got out of town in a hurry and is purported to be on a month long " vacation. " Meanwhile, Builder Mark Racop's assets and bank accounts have been frozen.

Sheriff Belanos admitted to doing a favor for his friend and campaign supporter, realtor Sam Anagnostou

The U.S attorney general and FBI are said to be set to initiate an investigation.

https://abc7news.com/batmobile-raid-...case/12101778/

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime...ys/ar-AA10u8cN

https://jalopnik.com/san-mateo-count...ian-1849395770

https://abc7news.com/batmobile-raid-...rage/12113441/


In my opinion, this is a pretty big Fubar.

[August]

Originally Posted by Commander Wallace

From the headlines of the incredibly stupid.

...
In my opinion, this is a pretty big Fubar.

I've been following the story as well and agree. Even worse, now that his finances are frozen the poor guy can't pay his employees to work on any of the other cars on the assembly line, including the big shots car so now everyone has to wait for this to be settled in Civil court where it should have gone in the first place.


Definitely a dick move by the Sheriff but i'm not sure what they can do to him. I think he's an elected official so it won't even be easy to even fire him, let alone charge him with a crime.

[Jimbuna]

A bit of a mess in my estimation....straight out of a Batman comic.

[Commander Wallace]

Originally Posted by August

I've been following the story as well and agree. Even worse, now that his finances are frozen the poor guy can't pay his employees to work on any of the other cars on the assembly line, including the big shots car so now everyone has to wait for this to be settled in Civil court where it should have gone in the first place.


Definitely a dick move by the Sheriff but i'm not sure what they can do to him. I think he's an elected official so it won't even be easy to even fire him, let alone charge him with a crime.

Well, with regards to the Sheriff, I'm thinking malfeasance in office. You hit the nail on the head with regards to this being a civil case. To be sure, Mark Racop has the basis for a lawsuit since his business has been negatively impacted. His reputation has also taken a hit possibly impacting future sales of his cars. If Mark Racop losses his skilled workers and technicians because he can't pay them, that's even more of a basis for a lawsuit.

[Buddahaid]

I would have thought the Deputies had no authority outside of San Mateo County.

[August]

Originally Posted by Buddahaid

I would have thought the Deputies had no authority outside of San Mateo County.

I wondered too so I found this:

The San Mateo deputies arrived in July with signed California court documents and an extraditable arrest warrant signed by a San Mateo court that would have given officers the ability to transport Racop to California.

https://www.pharostribune.com/news/a...8dd793d42.html

Apparently it doesn't have to go through a local judge and that is surprising to me. I would have thought that they would have had to present the California order to an Indiana judge or at least a magistrate for approval before Indiana cops would let one of their citizens be dragged away to another state.


.

[Jeff-Groves]

And again, California reaches out and screws with other States.
I say let it go and be a Free Country and then build another Wall.

[Buddahaid]

Fine by me but you keep Southern California and Northern California keeps it's water from watering lawns in the desert.