Lafayette Gatling has paid his tax bill to the county and the charter bus the county seized is back with him.

County Tax Collector Pamela M. Harris said Gatling paid his bill Thursday and had someone come get the bus.

The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday seized the bus 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. It was located at Pope Funeral Home.

Harris said Tuesday the taxes were 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 owed 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 was one of two Gatling has registered in the company’s name.

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.