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LA judge dismisses part of camp ranger's lawsuit seeking cut of Dorner reward money
Rick Heltebrake relates the tale of how Christopher Dorner hijacked his truck on Highway 38 to reporters while his dog Suni hangs around.
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LA judge dismisses part of camp ranger's lawsuit seeking cut of Dorner reward money
A judge Friday dismissed part of a lawsuit brought by a camp ranger who says he helped authorities find ex-LAPD officer Christopher Dorner and wants part of the reward.
The County of Riverside successfully argued that Richard Heltebrake had no claim on the $400,000 the county offered for information about Dorner. Heltebrake had argued his call to a San Bernardino sheriff's deputy after being carjacked by Dorner helped lead authorities to the mountain cabin where Dorner later died.
RELATED: LAPD manhunt: The search for alleged cop killer Christopher Dorner
Attorney Kirk Hallam, who represented Riverside County, argued that Heltebrake's call came after Dorner exchanged gunfire with rangers from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
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Hallam also represents Jim and Karen Reynolds, who called police after they found Dorner hiding in their Big Bear cabin. The Reynolds received 80 percent of all of the reward money offered in the case, while 20 percent went to the man who initially found Dorner's burned out truck in the San Bernardino mountains.
Heltebrake's attorney, Alan Thomas, said he'll confer with his client on whether to appeal the decision by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Elizabeth White. Meanwhile, Heltebrake still has cases pending against the City of Los Angeles and City of Riverside regarding their rewards.
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