Pennsylvania vendor issued arrest warrant for failing to pay for 9-11 memorial fundraiser

An arrest warrant has been issued for Michael Allen Ritter, owner of Mike’s Custom Apparel and Gifts, for failing to provide 500 pre-paid T-shirts and decals for a 9-11 memorial motorcycle ride in Lycoming County. Ritter accepted $7,456 from the event organizer, promising the shirts would be ready by Aug. 1 or a full refund would be given. The non-profit organization, 9-11 Memorial Ride Coalition, did not receive the shirts or a refund and was unable to contact Ritter. As a result, they had to seek donations to cover the cost of the event. Despite the setback, the coalition managed to raise enough money to order shirts from an out-of-state vendor in time for the event, which attracted thousands of motorcyclists for the 42-mile ride through Lycoming County. The sale of shirts and merchandise at the event serves as the organization’s fundraiser, as participation in the ride is free. This year, the coalition decided to support a local business by using Ritter’s services, only to be left without the promised merchandise. This incident highlights the importance of due diligence when choosing vendors for events and the potential impact of their failure to deliver on promises made.

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