The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office today seized one of Lafayette Gatling’s charter busses after the former operator of the Roanoke Rapids Theatre failed to pay his 2010 taxes to the county.

Sheriff Jeff Frazier said Deputy Fred Whitaker served papers to seize the bus this morning. It was located at Pope Funeral Home.

“We go seize property to offset the debt,” Frazier said.

A sign on the bus.

County Tax Collector Pamela M. Harris said the taxes are owed by Gatling Charter Incorporated, which the Chicago businessman was running out of the theater before he was ousted last fall for failing to make his payments on the venue.

Gatling owes the county $12,588.97, Harris said. The taxes were due in September and became delinquent in January.

The bus at the courthouse parking lot is one of two Gatling has registered in the company’s name. The other bus has not been located, Harris said.

Harris talked to Gatling last week and he was supposed to call back but failed to do so.

Gatling and the city are involved in a lawsuit against each other.

The city claims Gatling failed to honor the contract he had with the city to run the venue. Gatling claims the city breached its contract with him.

Gatling’s last theater payment was in May for $35,000. He still owes the city $539,419.05.