Hey, Stop Thief, Or I’Ll Call The, Oh Never Mind

Motorcycle dealer George Latus loaned the Portland Police Department and federal crime fighters a Harley to use as a decoy to nail a gang of thieves.

One year later, Latus has concluded that the biggest crooks of all may be wearing badges.

The cops not only had the $14,250 bike stolen out from under their noses, but they have yet to honor a signed contract promising to reimburse Latus in the event of a loss.

“If you can’t trust the police, who can you trust?” wonders the Spokane resident who owns dealerships here and in Portland.

Latus’ lawyer recently sent a demand letter to Portland’s legal beagles. The message is simple: Pay up or face a tort claim against the city.

“Although everyone agrees (Latus) should be paid, no payment has been forthcoming,” writes attorney Robert Dougherty. “My client did not make any profit on this transaction and, in fact, has had to absorb the cost of my services just to recover the cost of the motorcycle.”

June 29, 1999, was the day undercover Portland police officer Dan Thompson strolled into Latus Motors with a proposal.

He needed a bike to use as bait against an outlaw motorcycle gang. The sting was a joint operation among the Portland police, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Latus agreed, thinking “anything we could do to thwart motorcycle theft was a good deal.”

Of course, you don’t scratch your way into a 40 percent tax bracket by being dumb. For protection, Latus typed a reasonable contract outlining the terms of the loan.

In a nutshell, the cops got free use of a 1994 Harley Softail for 60 days. But “if the motorcycle is not returned, Latus Motors Harley-Davidson, Inc., will be reimbursed for the loss …”

Thompson, 49, signed on behalf of the police and the feds. A day or so later, two undercover officers put the Harley in a rented trailer and drove away to thwart evil.

The 60 days came and went. Latus forgot about the bike. Then one day he wondered: “Did we ever get back that bike we loaned the police?”

Latus called Thompson, who relayed a most embarrassing tale. The story has been confirmed by police sources.

First, the bike and U-Haul trailer were stolen while the feds who picked it up were eating lunch.

As luck would have it, however, the theft was done by the very baddies the cops were after. When the motorcycle gang was eventually collared, police seized $43,000 in cash, stolen bikes and weapons including shotguns, pistols, assault rifles and a rocket launcher.

Included in the haul was the Latus loaner.

Well, some of it.

The once-beautiful bike had been reduced to a front end, fuel tank, rear wheel and fender. “I just figured, `OK, it happened,”’ says Latus. “They’ll just pay me and make it right.”

Dream on. Despite the overwhelming success of the bust, none of the agencies involved wants to claim responsibility for the Harley.

Poor Thompson was turned into the scapegoat.

His lieutenant supervisor told Latus the 25-year veteran exceeded his authority by signing the contract.

As a result, the officer was booted off the Criminal Intelligence Unit, banished to the East Precinct to work patrol and is being investigated by Internal Affairs.

“George came through like a champ,” says Thompson. “He came through as a citizen trying to help and he got burned.”

Latus has had one offer he wisely refused.

The DEA recently said Latus could be paid, but only if he gives two sets of fingerprints and registers as a confidential informant.

It’s a lousy deal. Latus should be paid for the bike. Period. Getting the money as an informant would count as taxable income.

Besides, “I wasn’t a snitch,” says Latus. “That’s not what I was.”

It would be great to hear the suits give their side to all this. But calls to the DEA, Portland Police Department and Portland City Attorney’s Office were not returned.

Maybe they’re too busy sucker punching the next good Samaritan.

“With stuff like this, how could they ever expect to get any citizen cooperation?” asks Latus. “I know I won’t be doing it again.”