Viewer - Live chat with Leo Urban, owner of Leo's Bail Bonds

Live chat with Leo Urban, owner of Leo's Bail Bonds

Wednesday October 24, 2012

2:33

Brian Wheeler:

Good afternoon! Leo Urban has just arrived in our office and will be taking questions. Thanks to readers for your patience!

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:33 Brian Wheeler

2:34

[Comment From Aaron AupperleeAaron Aupperlee: ]

Leo, it must be a great day for you and your company. What was your first reaction upon hearing the Ricky Wheeldon had been captured?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:34 Aaron Aupperlee

2:34

Brian Wheeler:

We have a few questions from readers, too. We will get to them as fast as we can!

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:34 Brian Wheeler

2:35

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

well i was very pleased that he was in custody and that the safty and welfare of comunity

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:35 Leo Urban

2:36

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

is very important to me

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:36 Leo Urban

2:36

[Comment From JanJan: ]

What was the hardest part about catching Ricky?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:36 Jan

2:38

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

The hardest part about catching Ricky was getting those leads and working on those leads. But when you have people harboring him and hiding them out, it makes your job a lot tougher. You have to dig deeper in that haystack.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:38 Leo Urban

2:38

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

what was the name of the person he was caught with

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:38 Guest

2:39

[Comment From Aaron AupperleeAaron Aupperlee: ]

Police have not yet released that person's name. He has not been formally arraigned yet. Police hope he will be arraigned later this afternoon.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:39 Aaron Aupperlee

2:39

[Comment From PatPat: ]

Why did you feel you needed Duane Chapman

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:39 Pat

2:40

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

Duane is a celebrity. And anytime you ge a celebrity who does bounty hunting, it brings in information. We had several leads prior to Duane coming here. Once he arrived, the phone rang off the wall. We received several leads that we believe led to his capture last night.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:40 Leo Urban

2:40

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Leo, Working with first-class individuals like Duane and Beth Chapman must have been a profound and life-altering experience for you. Can you tell us what you’ve learned from them that we can apply in our everyday lives?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:40 Guest

2:42

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

You learn a lot from celebrities, first and foremost. I've known Duane for a while, and I have a great deal of respect for him. When he came to town, like I said, the phone kept ringing and leads kept coming. That developed seceral leads that were critical in his apprehension. We past along several leads to the state task force and the federal marshall at about 11 o'clock yesterday morning. I was advised that without the leads that we gave them, the apprehension probably wouldn't have gone down.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:42 Leo Urban

2:44

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

I take a lot of pride in that knowing that all the work and effort and time we put in to this along with Dog's assistance in the last couple weeks alogn with my team worked very hard in this. You'd be surprised how much information we received before dog got here and right after dog got here. He was instrumental in the capture even though we didn't do the actual take down.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:44 Leo Urban

2:44

[Comment From JessicaJessica: ]

I am sure you are happy he has been captured but would it have been better if Dog would have apprehended him? Just because of the fact he has been here so long working the case.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:44 Jessica

2:46

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

I'm sure we all would have liked to be the one to apprehend, but ultimately it matters not who apprehends him, as long as we are able to take the fugitive off the streets. People don't understand that when you have a cooperative effort of law enforcement, you sometimes don't realize how tough it can be and how dangerous it can be. It's important that everybody knows that this was cooperative. It took a whole lot of work on everybody's part, and I commend my people, only because I have a great bounty team. They're happy for the apprehension, but they're a little bit disappointed that they weren't the ones to catch him.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:46 Leo Urban

2:47

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

And if you don't mind, I'd like to thank my wife for putting up with me through all of the and the toll it took on me and my family.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:47 Leo Urban

2:47

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

How long did authorities know where he was before arresting him? Were they monitoring him for a period of time, or did they make an immediate apprehension?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:47 Guest

2:48

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

We met with the federal marshal and msp task force 11 a.m. yesterday. Based on the information, I was told, without the information we gave them and the leads we gave them, this take down would not have occurred. I guess you could say from 11 a.m. yesterday and 1 a.m. this morning. We had been building this information for about a week.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:48 Leo Urban

2:48

[Comment From JoelJoel: ]

Congrats! Joel - Mid-Michigan Bail

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:48 Joel

2:48

[Comment From PatPat: ]

I am sure The Chapman's will agree that it really doesn't matter who takes him down as long as he is captured. Without the information that you had before they arrived it might not as been as easy for them to get their "man.". You deserve most of the credit.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:48 Pat

2:49

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

Thank you, Joel, I appreciate it.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:49 Leo Urban

2:50

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

But again, understand it does take a cooperative effort between bail enforcement, law enforcement, Duane, JNET ... all of those people stepped up. It takes a cooperative effort of this nature.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:50 Leo Urban

2:50

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Congrats to everyone involved.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:50 Guest

2:50

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

is it true that dog and chris were not in town when he was caught? dog wnent home and chris is in florida.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:50 Guest

2:51

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

Chris left yesterday to go to a football game that he has been waiting for forever. Dog didn't leave until last night, to go and have plans of returning in a few days. After meeting with the marshall and the state police, we kind of decided to step back and take a break. Dog planned to come back if nothing happened in a few days.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:51 Leo Urban

2:51

[Comment From ChrisChris: ]

Were the chapman's filming while there

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:51 Chris

2:52

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

The Chapmans were filming all the time they were here. They didn't film the apprehension because they had left.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:52 Leo Urban

2:52

[Comment From Aaron AupperleeAaron Aupperlee: ]

I spoke with Dog this afternoon. He will be here for the sentencing in November. He and Beth started on another case this afternoon.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:52 Aaron Aupperlee

2:52

[Comment From SpencerSpencer: ]

Congratulations on the arrest Sr. did he fight or did he go easy?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:52 Spencer

2:53

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

He went without incident. There was no resistance whatsoever. He went peacefully and without incident. I talked to one of the officers involved.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:53 Leo Urban

2:53

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

With this experience will there be extra supervision on those with high bonds?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:53 Guest

2:55

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

Of course. But what people don't realize is that when we write bonds of this magitude or this size, we just don't jump in our car and the bond because it's a big bond and it's going to make a lot of money. It's something that we look at. We looked at collateral and knew there would be houses. We go that extra mile.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:55 Leo Urban

2:56

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

With my mom being Wheeldons nieghbor at the home that he ran the theft ring out of and then my a neighbor close to my dads house being suspected of helping Wheeldon is was a great relief to hear that he was in custody this morning. If it wasnt for all the concerned citizens and great detective work he would have slipped through the system. VERY greatful that no one was injured during his arrest, which was my biggest fear. Good job everyone involved!

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:56 Guest

2:56

[Comment From shirleyshirley: ]

did anyone go to the house tht they though he was at?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:56 shirley

2:58

Leo Urban:

First of all, we didn't know he was at that resiudence until our leads led us there. Initially, one of our areas of concern was the Leslie area. We worked the Leslie area very diligently, As you know, fugitives dont stay at one place very long. He didn't stay at one location. You feel like you're several steps behind him, and then it all reverts and circles back to the original point where it all started. You just never know.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 2:58 Leo Urban

3:00

[Comment From Aaron AupperleeAaron Aupperlee: ]

Did Ricky ever leave the state or country?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:00 Aaron Aupperlee

3:00

Leo Urban:

We only had information one time that was anything solid that he had left Michigan, and was in Indiana. We had information that he was in other states, but al our intel sent us back to this area, that he wasn't going to go far from his mom. His mom is a very nice lady. She is 83 years old. She went through hell. What did know or didn't know about Ricky, I don't know. I do believe she may have talked to him. I talked to Luella several times. I hugged her when she cried. I had tears in my eyes for her. I hope maybe now that he is in custody she can relax and not worry so much about what might happen to him. I wish her well, and I wish things could have been different for her.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:00 Leo Urban

3:01

[Comment From SpencerSpencer: ]

Now that he had been caught will that 100 grand be returned to you? I am sure most of the community agree that it should be.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:01 Spencer

3:02

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

First of all, it was an agreement that we made with the courts. i do appreciate the coutrs working with us on this. The remaining balance of the money will not have to be repaid now. As far as the $100,000 coming back to me, I don't know yet. That is something that we will have to deal with down the road.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:02 Leo Urban

3:04

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

I was a little disappointed when the article came out on Mlive that we paid the first $100,000 and they came out and exploited how they were going to spend the money. I thought it was very unprofessional that they would come out and do that. We are all in financial trouble right now. I just didn't like how the prosecutor and commissioners talked about how they were going to spend my money.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:04 Leo Urban

3:04

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Will his 81 year old mother get some of her belongings back now that he has been aprehended?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:04 Guest

3:04

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

What Happens with his Mothers house? Does she get it back

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:04 Guest

3:06

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

Luella has already moved out of her house. No she will not get them back becuse there is a lot of expense and debt out there to be taken care of and that's the point of collateral. We did give her an offer about giving the house back if Ricky turned himself in.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:06 Leo Urban

3:06

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

She has all of her belongings. We didn't take any of her belongings it was just her homes. I even allowed her to stay in the home longer. I think Luella knew what was going on. Very nice lady. My thoughts and prayers go out to her.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:06 Leo Urban

3:07

[Comment From CindyCindy: ]

How much money did you spend on Dog's work here?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:07 Cindy

3:08

Leo Urban:

I really can't comment. I haven't had a chance to figure it out. We still have a lot of work to do. We have a lot of expenses out on this. I'm going to say about $120,000 to $150,000 we have out on expenses on this, in the last five months trying to catch this guy.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:08 Leo Urban

3:08

[Comment From Lee RoyLee Roy: ]

My son wants to be a bounty hunter when he grows up. Any words of advice?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:08 Lee Roy

3:09

Leo Urban:

Take some law enforcement courses, some criminal justice courses. Pick a good bail enforcement team that has experience, that knows the ins and outs of the game. There are a lot of bail enforcement people out there who step beyond their bounds sometimes. Use your common sense, and most importantly, take a lot of notes.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:09 Leo Urban

3:09

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Was Ricky staying in the Leslie area?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:09 Guest

3:10

Leo Urban:

He's probably been in every county in the state of Michigan. It just so happens he came back to one of the locations we started at.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:10 Leo Urban

3:10

Brian Wheeler:

Will anybody ever sit down with Ricky Wheeldon to figure out how he eluded capture for so long?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:10 Brian Wheeler

3:11

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

I'm sure that sooner or later someone will sit down and talk and see what he'll tell them. He's not under any obligation to talk. He won't be talking to be unless he requested a visit with me. So I guess I can't say further than that.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:11 Leo Urban

3:11

[Comment From Lodise Bail BondsLodise Bail Bonds: ]

Congratulations on the apprehension. You run a top notch operation.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:11 Lodise Bail Bonds

3:12

Leo Urban:

That last comment should have said, "He won't be talking to me ...."

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:12 Leo Urban

3:12

Leo Urban:

Thank you, to Lodise Bail Bonds, for your support and all your help you've given me through this. It will not be forgotten. And you know, Jeff, anything you need, all you have to do is call and I'll be there for you.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:12 Leo Urban

3:13

[Comment From Aaron AupperleeAaron Aupperlee: ]

Maybe Ricky will request a visit from Danielle Salisbury or me. He would talk to Danielle on the phone during the trial.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:13 Aaron Aupperlee

3:13

[Comment From DeniseDenise: ]

What about the folks who were helping him elude y'all for so long? Will they be prosecuted as well?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:13 Denise

3:14

Leo Urban:

On that note, that's strictly up to the prosecutor, and we have to be able to establish all those people who harbored him. Just a phone call to him, that would not do it. That's a question that really would have to be answered by the prosecuting attorney.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:14 Leo Urban

3:14

[Comment From Aaron AupperleeAaron Aupperlee: ]

I can add that the driver arrested with Ricky will likely face harboring charges, according to police.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:14 Aaron Aupperlee

3:14

[Comment From Tom bycroftTom bycroft: ]

Thank you for the great info and honesty leo am in uk and we dont have bail bonds .so am enjoying learning the ways of a bailsbonds man .

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:14 Tom bycroft

3:14

Leo Urban:

Thank you.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:14 Leo Urban

3:15

[Comment From Aaron AupperleeAaron Aupperlee: ]

Tom, this was my first experience writing about the bail bonds process. It was fascinating to learn about.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:15 Aaron Aupperlee

3:15

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Does DOG get paid since he did not actually arrest him?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:15 Guest

3:16

Leo Urban:

Here's how it works: Most of the bounty hunters work for the bounty. Like I said, I don';t know what Dog's expenses will be because to this point, it's too early. That's something we'll discuss and deal with. The normal procedure is you hire someone to pursue a bounty, they have to be the ones to make the capture.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:16 Leo Urban

3:16

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Do bond companies such as yours carry any type of insurance for situations such as this? Or are all costs out of pocket?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:16 Guest

3:17

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

At least he is captured and everyone is at peace with him behind bars

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:17 Guest

3:17

[Comment From PennyPenny: ]

Congrats and glad this all worked out for you and family Leo!

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:17 Penny

3:18

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

Yes we have insurance companies that back us but utilimately we have what we call a buff account, an account where we put some money in every week based on the amount of bonds we write and that builds up every week. Ultimately it is on us.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:18 Leo Urban

3:18

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Congrats everyone!! Very good job ..

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:18 Guest

3:18

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

I want to say that your company did an outstanding job hunting down a dangerous criminal and your job sometimes is very thankless. Thanks

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:18 Guest

3:18

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Great to hear this man is off the streets. Nice work! Scary he was only miles from where I live.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:18 Guest

3:19

[Comment From Danielle SalisburyDanielle Salisbury: ]

How does this case stack up against others you have handled?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:19 Danielle Salisbury

3:20

Leo Urban:

This is the biggest and most stressful case I have ever dealt with, and that includes my time in law enforcement. Very time consuming. Stressful.It takes a toll on your family. It takes a toll on your business. Just a lot of things come into play. When it starts taking a toll on your family, it's tough. Fortunately, I have a wife who puts up with my crap. Now that Ricky's back in, we've got a few things to clean up and then we're going to get away for a while and lay low.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:20 Leo Urban

3:21

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Can you comment on the tactic that were criticized during the hunt for Mr. Wheeler. Is this a technique that you have used, were you aware of Dog's tactics or intentions before going out?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:21 Guest

3:21

Brian Wheeler:

By the way, it's Ricky Wheeldon. I'm Mr. Wheeler!

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:21 Brian Wheeler

3:24

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

When someone comes to the door with a weapon in their hand, you react accordingly, that may be with raising voices, telling someone to drop their, weapon, because once again our safe and health and welfare are number 1.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:24 Leo Urban

3:25

Leo Urban:

I will say that we had a lead that Ricky was there, and it was not the first time he was there. We had a lot of information that these two people were assisting him and harboring him. Sometimes, you go to those situations and tempers flare. if people take offense to some language that was used, well, sometimes that happens. Your tensions are roaring. But the sympathy routine and going to the newspaper was a little bit much. "Poor me!" Well, it wasn't "poor me." Sorry that it happened, but you should have thought about that before you got involved in that.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:25 Leo Urban

3:26

[Comment From Joe buckJoe buck: ]

will Dog's show still air even though he didn't catch him? is the reason he is coming back in November becuase of the show?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:26 Joe buck

3:26

Leo Urban:

Yes. Some of it will air, and he's coming back to film another show.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:26 Leo Urban

3:26

[Comment From SaltickySalticky: ]

Will Dog and Beth be helping with any other cases?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:26 Salticky

3:27

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

Yes. They're plan is that they are going to come back and we're going to do some more apprehensions and Dog and Beth are going to do the Christmas show down here. And I'm looking forward to that. I've developed a good relationship with them. They are good people, and God bless them. It has been an honor to work with them.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:27 Leo Urban

3:28

[Comment From GuestGuest: ]

Does dog know that the fugitive has been captured?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:28 Guest

3:29

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

He was very excited. He was very happy for us that we got him. He confident with the information that we gave him that within a day or two we'd have him. And he was gracious. He stepped back at my request to let the fugitive team and the Marshals go after him. It's a cooperation.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:29 Leo Urban

3:29

[Comment From Tom bycroftTom bycroft: ]

Do u ever get time to switch off and have time to relax ?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:29 Tom bycroft

3:30

Leo Urban:

In this particular case, the answer is no. As Dog would say, the hunt is on. And when the hunt's on, it doesn't stop until you apprehend the fugitive you're looking for. The minute you do that, all of your leads disappear and you have to start all over.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:30 Leo Urban

3:31

[Comment From JenniferJennifer: ]

I am glad they have caught him. Congrats Leo. I was hoping to met Dog and Beth while they were here. My grandma especially wants to me him. she has been watching his show since I showed it to her. Even got my grandpa watching it too. Congrats again.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:31 Jennifer

3:31

[Comment From TawnyaTawnya: ]

I just want to say thank you for all your hard work and dedication during this time trying your hardest to do what was neccesary

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:31 Tawnya

3:31

[Comment From Leo UrbanLeo Urban: ]

Jennifer, Dog will be back. When he comes back, call me, and I'll see what I can do. Thanks.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:31 Leo Urban

3:32

[Comment From RonRon: ]

I have to admit I am bit confused at your comment about not being sure if you are going to get our $100,00 back from the county. Unless I don’t understand your business, you make money off suspected criminals and you put up the bond so they can get out of jail. If this is true and if they skip, isn’t that a cost of doing business for you?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:32 Ron

3:33

Leo Urban:

I guess I don't understand the question. It's a situation where it's a legal issue and I don't know where that's going to go. We'll have to find out where that goes. But based on our agreement with the court, we're not expecting to get that money back.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:33 Leo Urban

3:33

[Comment From Tom bycroftTom bycroft: ]

Iwod you write all this into a book about not just this case but also all other cases and how u work ?

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:33 Tom bycroft

3:34

Leo Urban:

I plan on trying to write a book on this one. I've got to find me someone who can help me write it. I'm serious. It would make a hell of a story.

Wednesday October 24, 2012 3:34 Leo Urban

3:34

Brian Wheeler:

Thanks, everyone. Because of time, we're going to end this conversation. Thank you to Leo for taking the time to answer questions.