Comics crime watch: Annapolis, Md., revisited

Remember Gerry Roberts, the distraught collector who wouldn't rest until the person who stole 1,000 of his vintage comics was brought to justice? Well, he was accused of turning vigilante in his quest to recover his books.

The Annapolis Capital reports that Roberts spent Monday afternoon in court, defending himself against a man who claimed the collector left threatening messages on his answering machine last week in an attempt to recover the stolen goods. T.J. Erickson had received a temporary peace order on Friday, stipulating that Roberts stay away from his home and workplace.

On Tuesday, Roberts was triumphant as a District Court judge rejected a request for a permanent peace order, saying Roberts' behavior was troubling but didn't constitute harassment.

"I was really angry and yelled at T.J. that if he had anything to do with it, he would be in trouble too," Roberts told the newspaper afterward. "It's really sad, because he was my friend."