Parker23.

[Nebe]

Mike Laptew is the one who should be calling the cops.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[wader-dad]

I helped organize the event with Toby. The guy suffers from severe mental illness and years of substance abuse. No excuse ?? but mental illness exists. Right after the fundraiser his father cut him off- he may be institutionalized right now.

I think we will recover the money I am working on it. I have been dealing with an illness in my family and have not been able to put my efforts in finding him but may get the money from his father.

[Jenn]

Nebe...I edited the the thread title just in case there is a user with the other name.

I am not for public shaming myself but I am trusting that all of the longtime members saying it's true as merit that this thread should stay put, at least for the moment.

If what is being said in in fact true I do hope that no one takes this into their own hands but gets police involved and let them sort out the details. One of the best qualities we have on this site is that many members are good upstanding folks ready to stick up for each other and what is right but please do it the right way.

[Slipknot]

[PaulS]

Originally Posted by wader-dad

I helped organize the event with Toby. The guy suffers from severe mental illness and years of substance abuse. No excuse ?? but mental illness exists. Right after the fundraiser his father cut him off- he may be institutionalized right now.

I don't believe it was malicious bc he paid cash for a lot of the tickets. Hopefully, the $ is recovered.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[bassballer]

Originally Posted by Nebe

Mike Laptew is the one who should be calling the cops.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Yup. Less Tog pictures.

How that guy could be taken seriously after those insurance claim posts is beyond me.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Nebe

Mike Laptew is the one who should be calling the cops.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I don't think Laptew has any culpability in this. He gave the guy a ride. Not like Mike was the Getaway driver.

Mike, like Alberto, was offering time (I assume for free) to help with the Fundraiser. I do not think he did anything wrong, certainly I cannot see him being a collaborator on this.

[wader-dad]

I want to assure everyone that due to the immense generosity of lots of people here and in the surfcasting community, the fundraising event was a big success and the money raised is protected for Anton III.

We raised close to $6,000 even without the money still due. Toby did a great job on short notice to get great items donated.

I did not want to send the check until I was satisfied that the money would be held in a protected account for Anton's education as we promised. I drafted an education trust for Anton III which is being managed by a close family member of Anton's mother. The funds can only be used for Anton.

To give you some more insight to what we were dealing with, he bought hundreds of dollars of raffle tickets - maybe $500 or more and just handed out many of the tickets to people. He was the high bidder on a donated new Van Staal reel and asked who the youngest kid in the room was and he gave the reel to that kid. It was clear that he was in an extreme manic state but we did not expect the check to bounce.

Mike Laptew generously donated his time to make a presentation and some of his art to the fundraiser and could not feel worse about it. Yes I am sorry he brought him.

So let not loose sight of the fact that it was a great event and we did it for Tony and his son.

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by wader-dad

To give you some more insight to what we were dealing with, he bought hundreds of dollars of raffle tickets - maybe $500 or more and just handed out many of the tickets to people. He was the high bidder on a donated new Van Staal reel and asked who the youngest kid in the room was and he gave the reel to that kid. It was clear that he was in an extreme manic state but we did not expect the check to bounce.

This is troubling, sorry to say, since it puts some culpability on the organizers.

It is easy in retrospect (and if I had been running things my enthusiasm for the cause would probably have let me make the same mistake so I am not trying to be critical here) but even a charity should not profit from someone's mental illness.

If the items can not be recovered through the family or the man himself once he is treated (a very possible outcome) then I think legal action won't go very far in this case and it is best to live, learn, and move on.

All around a sad situation. I suspect Parker 22 is to be pitied rather than excoriated. His family is suffering as well.