So this is another article written by the reporter on the same day as a side story. Guess they don't have much to fill up their newspapers out there.
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"Bail Enforcement: More a lifestyle than a living."
By Larry Hendricks
Sun Staff Reporter
09/21/2005
Don't call him a bounty hunter. He prefers the term bail enforcement agent.
Josh Haarbrink, "26 going on 40," works for CV Enterprises, located in Vancouver, Wash. The business contracts with A-Affordable Bonds to track down bail jumpers.
He was reached by cell phone Tuesday afternoon, once his bail jumper had been takin into custody by local law enforcement. He was already on his way to Phoenix to catch a plane back to Vancouver.
The usual term for his live of work is bounty hunter. He prefers bail enforcement agent, because bounty hunter has such a bad reputation. He's been at it for four years.
"I got into it by accident," Haarbrink said. An acquaintance of his was quitting and suggested he put in for the job.
The works isn't easy, and the pay isn't good. He said his company works on a combination of retainer and commissions.
He would not say how much he makes, or how much he would make by his bail jumpers capture. But he did say that the industry's best hunting grounds -- California -- has bail enforcement agents making upwards of $50,000 a year.
"It's definitely not a career though," he said. "It's more of a hobby."
A kamjority of bail enforcement agents work part time, relying on other jobs to pay the bills. He said he works full time as a bail enforcement agent. He thrives on trying to track down people who've jumped bail.
Haarbrink's journey to track down Robert Ethetton began in Idaho. His quarry took him through Colorado, New Mexico and Mexico before turning back to Arizona. He's put in a lot of time on the road, conducting surveilance and talking with people who might have information on Ethetton.
He's single and doesn't have a family, he said. The lifestyle makes it impossible to have a family.
"Maybe someday," he added.
He said that his first oder of business once he's home will be to catch up on sleep. He's only slept 45 minutes in the last two days. He laughed and said he also said he needs a shower.