I met him a number of years ago. He didn't seem like a bad guy but I only had one conversation with him at Home Depot one morning. He saw a SB.com sticker on my truck and approached me. This was before the infamous "rouge wave" incident. I know he had a number of personal issues later in life and I don't think the business referred to is his. I think it's his fathers.
Absolutely no excuse for anything he has done from the Rolex stuff to this horrible stunt with Tony's kid.
My personal opinion is that if the report is true then legal action should be instituted against him .

It's 100% true.
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What ya waiting for NEBE ...call the cops, U spear headed this blog.

This is the only time that I have agreed with Spence......U best make sure U R right.....:)

It feels good doesn't it? :hihi:

Whomever has facts should file a complaint. I'm not looking out for the guy but I'm also against internet shaming. If we're really talking 2K shorted from a charity case then the police will have great interest.

Mike Laptew is the one who should be calling the cops.
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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.

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.

I don't believe it was malicious bc he paid cash for a lot of the tickets. Hopefully, the $ is recovered.
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:shocked::eek::shocked:

Now that's funny.

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Wow some People, I hope it turns out for the better

Laptew seems like a good guy and am willing to bet he feels some sort of peripheral accountability here being that he was the chaperon to this scumbag. I bet he is doing everything in his power to help the donators retrieve what was given and in turn help Anton. I certainly can't see how he wouldn't want to.

GG

I'd suggest everyone chill until some investigation is done.

Agree with the idea people should let the law take care of this, but wow, my stomach is knotted up about just how bad this is. I only fished with Tony twice, never met his son but know how proud he was of him. Its just sad....
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I agree with Spence. Let the police do their job. When mental illness comes into play, things get complicated. I don't know his situation, but given the fact that he went on a spending spree, he may have been in a manic state.

I hope the money is recovered. This is very sad on a multitude of different levels...

Lets roll this back a little.

• I am sure CSA is on top of this as indicated elsewhere in this thread. If they need our help little s-b or BIG Fishing Community all they need to do is ask. I suspect they have a plan in place.
• I had seen Parker23 once or twice for brief periods of time before seeing him at the fundraiser. He was (beyond?) a little over the top that day. There is/was likely other issues going in with him at the time but not our orange to peel. As mentioned above Metal Illness is tough.
• Now is not the time to do the knee-jerk Social Innernets Justice Warrior schtick. If CSA needs help, if Tony's fund needs help, and there is an appropriate way to help, we as a community should. But grabbing our torches and pitchforks is not the way to go.

Toby and Rob,

For whatever the circumstances, if the bounced check goes
unresolved, please let the community know.

If the hat were passed for a collection to make up for the lost funds, I
for one would be interested in contributing. For the sake of Tony,
Anton, and those who donated items and services to the fundraiser.

It was a great event. I was amazed at the generosity and depth of
the donations and the participants. Its a shame that this small
incident can overshadow the spirit of that night. I really feel that
this situation is correctable.

Yup. Less Tog pictures.

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

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.

Yesterday I posted on my fb page, has anyone seen that guy Bruce & that he's had 2 of my sculptures and other peoples donations for about 4+ months now. Didn't mean it to turn into a bash fest from guys not involved or never met him. Appreciate the friends that have tried searching. This goes back to April I think it was, I just had it with trying to make contact and not receiving one reply, email, phone call, or any hint of things working out. I've tried, I know Mike Has tried a lot and none of us knew him well enough to see this coming. I'm assuming long term treatment or worse? But I betcha one phone call in 4+ months is allowed unless he's passed. Yea I'm pissed off . And think that many months was long enough to get 1 reply or call about all the donations that are probably sitting in a storage unit or basement or driveway. I received a laundry list email of efforts attempting to reclaim the donations, and appreciate the efforts. Not sure where to go from here yet. I'll think about it over the week, try to speak with the family & my friends involved again & again. Would love more help, I really hate feeling burned especially it being from a charity for Tony's boy. I guess next years fundraiser or any future events will be cash or certified check. This is a tight knit fishing family & this sucks all around. For everyone. Would be great to see it resolved this year. We've been patient, really patient.
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Fluke for president! (Walter for VP!) or vice versa :hihi:
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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.

Someone said "this is not the time" contact the police. I'm doubtful that would resolve anything. I think it is the time after 4+ months with no contact here. I'd rather try and get the stuff back or see the family square it. One more try with the family maybe. Then if all else fails after 6 months a court claim I assume. I don't think the police have a donation debt unit, or can even write him a ticket at this point. Maybe if you went to court first. Not sure I'll ask my neighbor. Will talk with Mike and club friends today and throughout the next couple weeks. If it wasn't for the kid I might just wash my hands of it. My nickname's not doormat its fluke...... There will be more fundraisers coming. I think I'll create a small opportunity at our seasons end BBQ gathering of the goats. This feels lousy I'll tell ya. It's not the burning me that feels so lousy it's anton's stuff. I spent a long time on just the whale carving , and it meant something to me, that's why I brought it.
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Wader Dad, thank you for doing everything and thank you for listing the positives.
From my perspective as an artist who donates work to charities from time to time, I am a little sensitive to things like this and when I heard what happened I blew a gasket. If there is another fundraiser for Antone, count me in for a donation.
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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.

So as a follow up, his account has not been accessed here since February.

To all of the CSA folks and everyone that participated, you all did a spectacular job - truly - with this event. It is hard to describe to all those that were not there how well organized and run this fundraiser was, especially for the pickup game it was.

Set aside parker23 for now and let it ride on the courts/po po handle it.
I would strongly suggest we turn this around and make it better than before.
How about we start a "go fund me" these seem to do really well for situations such as this.

I will gladly donate $100. For Tony's son.

5/0
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A go fund me page was arranged when Tony Got sick not sure if it is still open or not.
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Still open.

http://www.gofundme.com/hihqog
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Careful. That could be linked to Tony's bank account which would probably be a black hole. Go fund me will take the money but it might not end up in the right hands.
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