Sheriff and everyone involved should face charges for wrongful investigation and defrauding the taxpayers. Agnastio should be on the hook to the taxpayers as well. The taxpayers should bring a class action lawsuit against all that were involved.

@Jr-qo4ls

Жыл бұрын

Agreed.

@Halcyon4799

Жыл бұрын

Never gonna happen

@philipdefibaugh5683

Жыл бұрын

@@Halcyon4799 truth, those responsible are way too connected to be charged.

@DavidThomas-fb8bq

Жыл бұрын

Batman wouldn't stand a chance with these clowns. Neither the joker.

Using taxpayers' money to investigate his friend's problem. This Sheriff should be fired!

@brucefreadrich1188

Жыл бұрын

Aren't they elected in some places in the United States?

@justjeff386

Жыл бұрын

*should be arrested. Fired is useless.

@mikehagmaier3949

Жыл бұрын

The people of San Mateo county fired him. He lost to another candidate during the last local election. And that was prior to this story breaking.

@lorettanericcio-bohlman567

Жыл бұрын

He’s been a long term scumbag

@leoncarrasco5218

Жыл бұрын

He was voted out and just serving the rest of his term.

The Sheriff is on vacation? Wasn't he on vacation when this began?!? Jesus doesn't the Sheriff ever work?

@brucefreadrich1188

Жыл бұрын

Why yes he was. Don't you take a 10+ week vacation every year? NO. You need to get on the grift like the California fuzz.

@87teggy

Жыл бұрын

Wow, must be nice. Abuse of power and constantly taking vacations. No accountability for his actions. How do I get a job like that?

@brucefreadrich1188

Жыл бұрын

@@87teggy Apparently it is an elected position. Go to your local city office some afternoon, see which positions are elected (sheriff, judge, parking commissioner, dog catcher - whatever). Run for whichever one seem profitable. Buy some pizza, and beer for your friend, family, coworkers, and neighbors on election day. Enjoy your new position and get your grift on.

@aztecace1

Жыл бұрын

I heard he's on a permanent vacation now, because it seems he lost his reelection bid.

@jeffreypark

Жыл бұрын

He made $302.374.44 in regular pay, $13,653.00 in "other pay", and $232,230.56 in benefits for a total of $548,258 in 2021. And who knows how much he has in his campaign funds.

Thank you ABC7. Nothing would have happened if you had not reported on this and followed up. I'm disgusted by what transpired, that it took so long to dismiss the case, and that no one is being held accountable. The Sheriff/DA should be held accountable. I hope the car maker can find a way to get out of the contract and not deliver the guy's car...and sue for damages for disrupting his business and finances. Seems to me the guy breached the contract when he didn't make his payment on time.

@brucefreadrich1188

Жыл бұрын

Sadly nothing would have happened at all if the headline didn't have the word "Batmobile" in it. Without that hook - this story would have been lining the bottom of a birdcage (metaphorically speaking).

I hope he sues the complaining party, Sheriff in CA AND Indiana (just for being involved) and the Deputies involved. Then hopefully they'll ALL be denied Qualified Immunity and hammered for a few million directly!!

How could it take so long to dismiss the case? This was clearly a civil case from day zero. The fact that the DA took 10 weeks to dismiss the case is completely unacceptable.

@PappyNet01

Жыл бұрын

I agree - the last video I saw was August 6th - Batmobile raid hearing canceled, San Mateo DA considers dropping case -- EXCLUSIVE

@rattanack1413

Жыл бұрын

And how much money went into this case. How many workers got paid to handle this case and kick it down the road. I agree should of been drop day 1.

@crissd8283

Жыл бұрын

@@rattanack1413 Completely ageee. The money spend to send the 4 cops across the country and pay their salary, hotels, cars, etc was the cheap part. The lawyers paid for by the tax payers is where the big money is. The government will end up spending way more then the 200k that these batmobiles cost and we the tax payer will foot the bill. Lawyers are the only ones to win.

@agolftweetler3995

Жыл бұрын

Easy to answer. It brings in the question the entire San Mateo municipality. They want to wait a couple months for it to die down and then try and be as quiet as possible when they open the exit door. 😂

@Lahng_Blackduke

Жыл бұрын

@@crissd8283 There was no reason for any kind of case at all, civil or criminal. Dude fell behind on his payments so he got moved to the end of the line. He could have asked for his money back, but instead he got his buddy the Sheriff to file fake charges. I hope the auto maker takes them both to the cleaners.

Why is no one in jail? Do you see them smirking and avoiding accountability? When officials don't prosecute and jail those given the power to arrest for their crimes, they lose all credibility with the public. Shame on them all in San Mateo.

You should most definitely sue the sheriff for he is the one that overstepped using his authority to help a donor. But the whole city should not suffer because of one dirty cop

@nickanderson412

Жыл бұрын

If they do, maybe they'll be more discerning next time.

@alicevanderbruggen8711

Жыл бұрын

He needs to sue Mr Moneybags for starting the drama in the first place.

The cost of the wrongful investigation exceeds the value of the car contracted; who is going to pay for that?

@harryknackers7892

Жыл бұрын

UMMMMMMM the taxpayers.

@copblocker4654

Жыл бұрын

unfortunately US

@lawrencebraun7616

Жыл бұрын

California will gust wright more traffic tickets to pay for the raid

@JH-rk9gd

Жыл бұрын

The cost was under $11,000.00, the car is $200,000.00. The cops are supposed to help us when we are victims of theft.

@jonicampbell9452

Жыл бұрын

Us, of course. We pay & pay & pay, when are we going to get tired of it?

Excellent reporting from top to bottom! Dan Noyes investigated a situation that could appear more "comic" than criminal, and revealed a truly compelling human rights nightmare with jaw-dropping details. And i don't live anywhere near San Mateo. 🌟👏

This was civil from the very beginning the sheriff overstepped to help his big money donor and he should be punished for this. Glad to judge saw through this scam

@mbryson2899

Жыл бұрын

The worst part is that the buyer *did* in fact first file a civil lawsuit...and that civil case was dismissed. It was after the civil case was dismissed that he ran to his pet Sheriff to drum up baseless criminal charges. The Sheriff obeyed his donor and sent deputies out to Indiana. A San Mateo DA's office lawyer then constructed charges. They also froze Mr. Racop's (the Batmobile manufacturer) bank accounts and seized his computers which essentially shut down his business. Corruption all the way around.

@bobroberts2371

Жыл бұрын

It aint over yet, I expect the car buyer to sue in civil court and put the builder out of business by dragging a court case out but never going to trial. Or, if the buyer is playing the long game, sue after delivery of the car under a lemon law / expectation that the car does not act like the one in the TV show. Look up " Vexatious litigation "

I hope a group of lawyers helps this guy go after the sheriff and the city.

@jonicampbell9452

Жыл бұрын

Hope he sues them all and becomes extremely wealthy!

Great reporting, we have few investigative reporters left in the news business. This story is a perfect example of why the press needs to report facts, not opinions, and expose the pay for play bootlickers.

And what about criminal charges for the Sheriff? The case against the garage owner isn't even suitable for civil court as the customers car wasn't built due to a failure to pay on time. The customer literally has no grounds to sue.

I haven't heard, but did the car builder get his finances unfrozen? Last I remember, they were still frozen

@PappyNet01

Жыл бұрын

Good Question? I would like to know too.

@bobroberts2371

Жыл бұрын

It aint over yet, I expect the car buyer to sue in civil court and put the builder out of business by dragging a court case out but never going to trial. Or, if the buyer is playing the long game, sue after delivery of the car under a lemon law / expectation that the car does not act like the one in the TV show. Look up " Vexatious litigation "

nominate this reporter for an investigative reporter award.

@PappyNet01

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, I wonder if he could find Hunter Biden? or another Chinese Spy in the California Democrats?

@fuckyourfeelings3779

Жыл бұрын

Hopefully he doesnt get Epsteined!

@lorettanericcio-bohlman567

Жыл бұрын

Dan Noyes

Dan Noyes deserves a Pulitzer Prize for this story. Well done. So good to see someone doing great journalism.

I don't know if Mr. Racop (sp) will sue the soon-to-be ex-Sheriff and his former customer or how far that will go. If the residents of San Mateo County want to see justice done, they will have to press the County Commission to do it. At a minimum, the cost of the investigation, including sending officers to Indiana, should be shouldered by the Realtor who started this mess AND the Sheriff that allowed this to happen. If those funds come from the soon-to-be ex-Sheriff's retirement, so be it. He can ask his wealthy Realtor friend to reimburse him.

He should counter sue for damages

Dismiss the charges? You serious? Where's the consequences for miss using (stealing) tax payers money for their own cause? Got to make example out of this. They have done this before and they will do it again, this was the one time they were caught. 100%

That poor man....I think it's all pretty obvious.

There's rampant crime in the streets and this sheriff's on extended vacation, avoiding accountability and hiding out. I'm a big supporters of police but it's people like him that undermines public trust in law enforcement officers. They abuse the powers of their office and hunt down, ruin the lives of innocent people.

I don't live in CA or IN and I subscribed just for this story. Thank you for the updates!

Clear and apparent corruption should not be tolerated.

On vacation? Man the San Mateo County sheriff is useless! No wonder he was voted out of office. Good job on reporting this this matter!

Keep the pressure on that corrupt sheriff, great reporting work

Holly Cow Batman...those taxpayers sure got raked over the coal. "Good point, Robin...good point."

How about the investigation into why resources were wasted so a big crybaby could get his Batmobile faster?

@lorettanericcio-bohlman567

Жыл бұрын

It wasn’t just faster, he was missing his payments when they put him further down the list 😡

Unbelievable! DA is a putz!

Yeah we're still gonna need the sheriff and his lackeys to step down AND face charges for wasting taxpayer money

The real criminals wear a suit and tie….

The Sheriff needs to be Fired from his job!

I hope this didn’t effect Mark’s licensing with DC. Builds great cars and takes lots of effort to get done right. A shame that someone got too impatient for their car and had to make him go through this

There is justice in this World… Yes…

Lawsuit, lawsuit, lawsuit!

Mr. Noyes, you are a credit to your profession! Please please please pursue it to the end, we would like to know if the San Mateo bad actors are held to account for their misuse of the law and of taxpayer dollars as they should be.

Thank you Dan for getting justice for Fiberglass Freaks.

Good job news team!

It should be on the criminal level prosecution for the sheriff and perpetrator of this farce

Sue the county of San Mateo Sheriff department. They'll offer to settle out of court.

The Indiana dude should sue San Mateo County, the sheriff, the rich guy, anyone he can determine was involved in this travesty. And thanks to investigating reporting of ABC7.

Holy Smokes Batman, the Joker almost got away!!!

I would be suing the DA and the Sheriff!!

The DA must have realized that this action by a developer elitist and his corrupt pals in law enforcement is exactly what it is “WRONG”

@justjeff386

Жыл бұрын

more likely he realized he was complicit in criminal misconduct and that would come out in any trial so he's hoping it all goes away now.

Garnish Bolanos’ pension until every wasted taxpayer cent is paid back in full.

Good work on this awesome coverage. Don't let this case fall off the radar. The corrupt sheriff and DA are counting on it.

Kudos to the news media on this one. Shame to law enforcements blatant cronyism.

This level of corruption is criminal. Why there are no charges coming against the sherif and the rich guy who paid him off?

Bat mobile builder seems like the nicest guy.

Dan should get a batmobile

It aint over yet, I expect the car buyer to sue in civil court and put the builder out of business by dragging a court case out but never going to trial. Or, if the buyer is playing the long game, sue after delivery of the car under a lemon law / expectation that the car does not act like the one in the TV show. Look up " Vexatious litigation "

Now prosecute that sheriff for abuse of authority.

Great ending 🕆💛🕊

The guy canceled the order and he's having a Barbie adventure van built

Sick with all the evidence you can't even charge those crooked cops!!!

Something is up with that DA. I suspect he was cutting a backroom deal with the Sheriff. IMO what happened: - The Sheriff and DA are good friends. - The Sheriff is supposed to be leaving office after losing the election. Absent commission of serious crimes, he will be entitled to the large pension earned to date. - If the Sheriff was prosecuted and CONVICTED for the long list of felonies that apply in this case HE WOULD LOSE WHATEVER PENSION HE HAS EARNED. - So the DA and Sheriff conspire to delay resolution as long as possible, to hopefully see this story story blow over, at least until the Sheriff leaves office and his pension is secure. - Yes, that means the DA is possibly corrupt too. ____________________ The Attorney General Rob Bonta should take over this matter. (Side note: no guarantees that anything will be done by the AG since I assume the AG and county DA would be simpatico. Which is why the fed needs to step in to investigate this as a public corruption and crimes against an Indiana citizen.) If I were the Batmobile victim I would contact the FBI to file a criminal complaint, and request the Dept. of Justice pursue federal charges (when the Sheriff conspired to cross state lines, to abuse his authority, he committed federal crimes). Note: The citizens of San Mateo County have claims too. They are victims of the Sheriff and DA using taxpayer monies to fund their criminal conspiracy, and for improper/illegal purpose. Sound far fetched? Well, I remember a Contra Costa County supervisor having her office staff do a small amount of work on her campaign. For making a few phone calls on county time and using gov. equipment (phones and photocopier) that public official was prosecuted and went to jail. This Sheriff spent thousands of dollars (the public's money) to intimidate and harass an innocent businessman, all this on behalf of his friend. (By the way, the Batmobile purchaser may be in criminal jeopardy too, as a co-conspirator if he participated in the criminal scheme, filed a false police report or is too guilty of false imprisonment.) There's a lot of people who should end up in jail or prison because of this. If these people get a pass on their committing felonies, including stealing money, then the system is more corrupt than I thought. And who knows, if the Attorney General Rob Bonta does nothing, then he's corrupt too. All the more reason the U.S. Dept. of Justice needs to look into this.

The sheriff, DA, and judge need to read a Batman comic book to introduce themselves to the concept of true justice and fair play.

Such a blatant abuse of power.

“Bat mobile lost it’s wheel, and the joker got away” That rich guy makes a poor super hero!

It's obvious the sheriff and the real-estate agent were friends. It might not be a surprise if the sheriff retires soon....

So it's only us taxpayers footing the bill for this corrupt Sheriff's transgressions, because the corrupt AG isn't interested in investigating. Sadly, the ending was predictable.

Good to see a few people realized a mistake was made and a lesson learned. Especially how money is spent in the wrong direction and could be used as monetary gifts for children that attend Mr. Racop's church and had to go without needs due to assets being frozen along with seniors and the disabled who were made to suffer. The major lesson to be learned is that people in Indiana are not stupid when it comes to human dignity and generosity.

@niahoward1920

Жыл бұрын

No disrespect, but it was not a mistake, it was an intentional crime perpetrated upon an innocent man, by a dirty sheriff.

When is that unethical sheriff be arrested? What a thug.

Abuse of power should not go unanswered.

A rich man denied his Batmobile? Merely because he wouldn't pay? What is this country coming to?

Carlos bolanos and the trafficking case and FBI 4 years back,?

@niahoward1920

Жыл бұрын

Do tell.

You mean these local cops drove over 2000 miles to intimidate someone? These are stalkers.

@JH-rk9gd

Жыл бұрын

No they flew there to investigate someone who got ripped off of 200 grand, that’s supposed to be their job

@Lynn-kh5rs

Жыл бұрын

@@JH-rk9gd Sam A. was NOT ripped off 200K, punk realtor MISSED A PAYMENT! After several attempts to contact buyer(Sam A.), Racop put the build to the end of the line. THEN and ONLY THEN did Sam A. pay the balance owed on the car. Sam A. got pissy when he found out the build was delayed because Sam A. MISSED PAYMENTS. Get your facts straight!

@lorettanericcio-bohlman567

Жыл бұрын

JH, reading comprehension not big in your sphere?

Now go after the crooked sheriff, actions should have a consequences

@lorettanericcio-bohlman567

Жыл бұрын

BOLANOS

That sheriff is probably going to get away with this overreach of power. What a horrible thing he did.

Absolutely inspiring.

I hope they unfreeze this man's bank account!

Look at that guy It’s gonna take decades to finish that car 😂

That's lawyers for ya

It is appalling that anyone in law enforcement thought that criminal charges were ever appropriate in this case, or that a California Sheriff had any enforcement powers in Illinois. 18USC 242 Deprivation of Liberty Under the Color of Law. I hope that the shop owner goes after these lowlifes who betrayed their oaths.

The sheriff should be forced to resign. That's an appalling abuse of power, and the fact that the DA even considered the case after learning of the circumstances doesn't speak too highly of him, either.

Should sue the Sheriff for abuse of office, and the guy who initiated, this action, at least loss of any and all monies he has paid, to this custom car maker. No Batmobile for him.

why did the indiana authorities allow this

When were his funds released? Were they fully released?

I hope our d.a. files charges against the cops in California.

Time to FIRE the Sheriff, D.A, and anyone involved what a waste on tax payers money. Oh yeah send the bill too the one who started it because he didn’t get his toy before Christmas 😢

I hope the shop owner sue's!!!... At the very least.. refund the money with a 25% surcharge! ... The shop owner deserves it

Shame POLICE

Something is untoward here; Golly Gee Willickers, Batman! Better answer the Batphone, the sheriff launches a criminal investigation because his doner complained?

That sheriff should go to the jail

All swept under the rug...

Alright! How many pigs are going to jail!! And when!!!?

Fire the Sheriff now he should be required to repay the SMC. Such a sad story and glad we have you watching out for us taxpayers Dan!!.. Now could you teach the elected officials how to do it? (stand up for us).

Holy abuse of powers and corruption Batman.

He needs to sue the sheriff

That sheriff is a coward. If you have the balls to order something like this then you should have the balls to face the media and public.

Im happy for him.

when a spoiled rich guy has friends in high city offices and sends them out to harass someone who is not giving him his Batmobile.....lots of corruption going on so just drop the case and lets all forget about it.

So, when will the Sherriff go to jail?

Definitely someone threw his toys out of his pram.

It’s crazy how corrupt San Mateo county is

Hope he hires a lawyer and sue them bach.

Almost seems like a job for Batman.

Glad to see it is over.

It will end up in the SCOTUS. Stay tunned!!!

Someone needs to remind that smug sheriff spokes person that we pay his salary and instead of smiling and laughing at you he should take this a lot more seriously