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More bad news today for Richard Heltebrake, the man carjacked in Big Bear by fugitive ex-cop Christopher Dorner before the fatal showdown at an area cabin.
Heltebrake, a camp ranger, had filed a request in court asking for the disbursement of the $1 million reward money to be blocked. Today, Judge Luis Lavin "declined to grant a temporary restraining order that would have stopped authorities from disbursing the money," reports L.A. Now.
Earlier this week, the Los Angeles Police Department announced the reward would be split three ways among applicants seeking a share of the funds. 80 percent of the money will go to the couple held hostage in their Big Bear cabin by Dorner, 15 percent to a Snow Summit resort employee whose tip about Dorner's truck shifted the manhunt to Big Bear, and five percent to a Corona tow truck driver who spotted Dorner the morning the manhunt was launched.
Heltebrake was not awarded a cut.
A report issued by the LAPD explains that Heltebrake was not considered eligible because law enforcement were already aware of Dorner being on the run in Big Bear at the time of his carjacking. The information Heltebrake provided to 911 was not deemed as "leading to Dorner's capture," since officers "had already spotted Dorner driving a white pickup."
Lavin's decision to not block disbursement was made "citing lack of irreparable harm and because Heltebrake had not properly served several parties who may have opposed the order."
An attorney for Heltebrake has long-maintained his client should be rewarded at least $1 million. Heltebrake had applied for the reward during the initial phase, but did not reapply after the LAPD revised the guidelines.
The first installment of the money is slated to be disbursed today.
Read our full coverage on the Christopher Dorner case here.
