San Mateo County has hired a former Alameda County Superior Court judge to conduct an independent investigation into the handling of the raid of an Indiana specialty car shop by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies involving a custom Batmobile.
The county has hired Winifred Smith, who spent 21 years as a judge and 26 years as deputy attorney general in California. Don Horsley, president of the Board of Supervisors said the county picked someone who had no connection to the board or the Sheriff’s Office to avoid conflicts of interest and to reassure residents.
“This is not a criminal case,” Horsley said. “It’s just a question of was this best judgment.”
The investigation will look at the decision-making of the Sheriff’s Office for the raid under scrutiny because of allegations Sheriff Carlos Bolanos had deputies conduct the July 19 raid of Fiberglass Freaks as a favor to a friend. The issue stems from an alleged contract payment dispute between Fiberglass Freaks owner Mark Racop and Bay Area real estate broker Sam Anagnostou over the purchase of a Batmobile. Anagnostou ordered a car from Racop. The disagreements over the delivery timeline and contract details led to Anagnostou filing a police report with the Atherton Police Department and a civil suit in San Mateo County Superior Court that was eventually dismissed. However, sheriff’s deputies raided Racop’s shop in Logansport, Indiana, on July 19, with the DA’s Office charging Racop with fraud and misuse of construction funds, both felonies. The allegations and circumstances led to the county announcing earlier in the month it would launch an independent investigation. The Board of Supervisors has also asked the state attorney to investigate the issue.
Smith signed a contract with the county for her work and will meet with San Mateo County Manager Mike Callagy Aug. 31 to discuss the investigation scope and provide more information on how she will proceed. The investigation will likely involve talking with the Sheriff’s Office about its actions and the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office about the affidavits signed in the case.
Callagy said the county had not suggested a timeline for investigation completion, other than it hopes to finish as quickly as possible. District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said he was not concerned about his office’s action and would be happy to speak with her. Wagstaffe said he had not decided whether to make other prosecutors in his office available to speak.
I don't see why Horsley would conclude “This is not a criminal case.” Why would it not be criminal for the Sheriff to use county resources to go to another state and jail someone on the basis of what seems to be a business disagreement as a favor for a "friend." If this is not criminal, it certainly should be. I hope they also investigate the DA participation.
It's the good ol' boys network. People were forewarned when Bolanos was in Vegas and went to a brothel in the middle of a run down neighborhood. No one believed he really thought it was a legitimate massage joint. Neither did he.
Go on line, look up RCPD Sgt. Frank Wilkins vs Redwood City to see the depth of dishonesty which cost Redwood City a lot of money. Did you know that if you believe in god you are mentally ill? Bolanos believed so. That case only cost RWC $800,000.
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO
personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who
make comments. Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. Don't threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Anyone violating these rules will be issued a
warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be
revoked.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
(3) comments
I don't see why Horsley would conclude “This is not a criminal case.” Why would it not be criminal for the Sheriff to use county resources to go to another state and jail someone on the basis of what seems to be a business disagreement as a favor for a "friend." If this is not criminal, it certainly should be. I hope they also investigate the DA participation.
It's the good ol' boys network. People were forewarned when Bolanos was in Vegas and went to a brothel in the middle of a run down neighborhood. No one believed he really thought it was a legitimate massage joint. Neither did he.
Go on line, look up RCPD Sgt. Frank Wilkins vs Redwood City to see the depth of dishonesty which cost Redwood City a lot of money. Did you know that if you believe in god you are mentally ill? Bolanos believed so. That case only cost RWC $800,000.
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.