NorCal sheriff orders raid on Indiana Batmobile garage

Apparition

Moab JuneFest 2024
Supporting Member
Ride of the Month Winner
Joined
Jan 17, 2020
Messages
62,741
Location
Twin Cities, MN
Too funny to be hidden in the political forum - Video in story link below.

Holy political favors, Batman! That's the allegation against San Mateo County Sheriff Carlos Bolanos for sending a four-man team across the country last week, to raid the garage that builds Batmobiles.

Turns out, one of the sheriff's friends ordered a Batmobile and wasn't happy with how long it's taking.

Your public money paid for the trip last week by the sheriff's investigators - four round-trip plane tickets, three nights of hotels, meals, rental cars, and a lot of overtime.

...


Owner Mark Racop has nine Batmobiles in production. He tells us Anagnostou was first in line, but missed a $20,000 payment: "And he disappeared on me for over eight months, almost nine months."

Racop moved Anagnostou to the bottom of the list; he'd have to wait a year and a half or two for his Batmobile.

Racop says, "He didn't like that, he exploded. He did pay off the entire car at that point, but he was absolutely livid to find out that his car was going to be delayed."

...

Mark Racop tells us, "Then, they showed the warrant saying that they were here to seize anything to do with his car. So I thought, 'Oh, they're coming in to pick up his car,' which is right behind me, by the way. I thought I was gonna have to move my other Batmobiles out of the way to be able to let them take this car."

But investigators took only two files of documents, according to the Search Warrant Return. Racop says they read his Miranda Rights, brought him to the local jail for an hour, but let him go. He only later found out they got a warrant for his Gmail, contacts and photos; that they froze his bank account; and charged him in California with two felonies — Obtaining Money by False Pretenses, and Diversion of Construction Funds.

"I was horrified. I've never gone through anything like this ever before in my life, I am on the side of good. As a Batman fan since I was 2 years old, this was a completely opposite side. I love '66 Batman and Batman always stood with the law."
..

1659354519686.png



https://abc7news.com/batmobile-raid...freaks-of-logansport-factory-raided/12083955/
 
Last edited:
  • Wow
  • Face Palm
Reactions: RINC and Farmergreg
Wow! That's scary. Although, this is the Sue-me state. I bet he could find a lawyer to sue the San Mateo Sheriff's department for big money!
 
So I just called and spoke to Mark Racop who this happened to (on July 19th). The sheriffs wanted to make it difficult for him to fight this and froze his accounts. He has a GoFundme set up. I am personally donating $100 to it. He will have to fight the criminal side first, then his lawyer will sue them in civil court. He is worried about getting a fair trial since he believes the Judge and the DA are in on this.

Let's make sure he gets a really good defense team! Please donate and help this guy!

https://gofund.me/f5fdacee

Also, I don't do Facebook, so please post this on all of your social media any way you can.
 
  • Like
  • Wow
Reactions: RINC and Apparition
An update from the builder:

September 29, 2022by Mark Racop, Organizer
We have great news! Mark Racop's charges have been dropped! The fundraising (both here and other donations) have totaled the legal fees for his defense. There will no doubt be additional legal fees in the near future. Thank you so much for your contributions to make this happen.


I doubt any charges will be filed, the Sheriff retired. The DA should be fired. Let's hope the Civil trial goes through and the San Mateo County pays for this BS.