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| General Yo M10 - EVIDENCE |
| Exhibit #2339 |
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| Type | Special Release |
| Shape | H Shape |
| Axle | Bearing |
| Color | Half clear/Half red |
| Packaging | Boxed |
| Construction | Multi-piece aluminum |
| Diameter | 56 mm |
| Width | 44 mm |
| Gap Width | 4 mm |
| Weight | 66 gm |
| Condition | Mint |
| Number Produced | 10 |
| Date | 2013 |
| Owner | Rick Brough |
| Compare |  |
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This model of yo-yo by "General Yo" is the second run of "M10" (Model 10), shipped December, 2013. The "Clear" colored halve is actually a very light silver. According to the General Yo website, a total of ten were produced in this color combination. Out of those ten, I believe only two or three were made available with the added "EVIDENCE" engraving.
When the M10 was released, the "splash" colored editions came with a grooved, size C ball bearing axle. However, the solid and "Comp" colored editions came with a flat, size C AIGR (Aircraft Instrument Gyro Rated) ball bearing axle. Also, the Comp editions--as noted by "Comp" being engraved about 13mm to the right of the star in the middle of the halve--had less time put into their testing and tuning. As such, the Comp editions are not considered as smooth. They also cost $20 less than the "A" grade M10s like the one seen in this exhibit.
The Great Yo-Yo Caper of 2013
What is unique about the yo-yo in this exhibit is that it was held as evidence—along with 27 other yo-yos that were shipped together from the same manufacturer—for two years in a police case that involved, among other things, theft.
According to YoYoExpert, back in late 2013, a shipment of new General Yo M10 yo-yos were sent to YoYoExpert headquarters in Massachusetts. But the package never arrived. Tracking information indicated that the package was delivered to their building's mail center. However, several weeks later, it was discovered that an eBay seller was attempting to auction off some of the hijacked yo-yos. (I have also read that some were being sold on Craigslist) YoYoExpert contacted local police to open a case. The yo-yos were eventually recovered and held as evidence against two Chicopee residents.
On www.masslive.com, an online news source for Massachusetts local news, the following story was reported on March 20, 2014 by Fred Contrada:
"Easthampton yo-yo theft partly unraveled with arraignments of Chicopee man and woman - NORTHAMPTON - Two Chicopee residents have been charged in a high-end yo-yo caper that police have yet to completely unravel.
Ralph Rivera, 34, and Sarah Kellogg, 30, both of 25 Muzzy St., pleaded innocent in Northampton District Court Tuesday to charges stemming from the theft of 28 yo-yos valued at a total of $1,787. Kellogg is charged with two counts of receiving stolen property and one count of larceny over $250, Rivera with one count of receiving stolen property and two of larceny over $250.
According to court documents, Easthampton police began investigating the yo-yo theft after Andre Boulay, the owner of YoYo Expert in the Eastworks building, reported that a package with some high-end yo-yos was stolen from the building's mail center in December. Boulay told police the special yo-yos are only sold in two other stores in the U.S. He also reported that he had seen some of them for sale on eBay by someone with the screen name hobmaster.
Police identified hobmaster as Michael DesChenes, who owns a hobby shop in the eastern part of the state. When police visited DesChenes, he told them he had bought the yo-yos for $450 from a woman named Sarah and another man who had come to his store. He subsequently identified Sarah from police photos as Kellogg and her companion as Rivera.
When police spoke to Kellogg about the incident, she allegedly admitted selling the yo-yos to DesChenes but said she took the box from a friend she identified only as Jessie.
Kellogg told investigators she was driving Jessie to purchase drugs, according to court documents. When he exited the car, she spotted the box of yo-yos. Because Jessie owed her $80, Kellogg said, she took the box. Kellogg told police that she and Rivera sold the yo-yos to get money for groceries and to pay bills.
Judge Mark D. Mason released Kellogg on her own recognizance, but set bail for Rivera at $250, an amount he posted later that day. Mason continued both cases to April 10."
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More than two years later, on March 21, 2016, the case was finally settled. The yo-yo evidence was released and returned to YoYoExpert. The yo-yos were immediately sent to an engraver to have "EVIDENCE" added to the side of one halve, further identifying its illustrious past.
On Wednesday, March 23, 2016, at 8:00 p.m. EST YoYoExpert officially offered the yos for sale to the public.
"And now you know, the rest of the story. Paul Harvey... good day." | |
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