I was accused of stealing a car after I loaned it from the dealership – they called cops on me for a ‘ridiculous reason’
A DRIVER feared for his life after police drew their weapons at him and told him he could be shot for stealing his loaner SUV.
The high school teacher was the victim of a paperwork mistake that led to a call to police.
Jamie Rogers took his car to the service center of a local dealership for repairs three years ago and was issued a loaner vehicle to make his shift as a high school athletic trainer.
On his way to the Costa Mesa, California campus, he was pulled over by police, where he was detained at gunpoint.
He said officers told him that he was considered "armed and dangerous" and "could be shot" if he failed to follow instructions, he told CBS Los Angeles.
"Seeing all the guns pointed at me, I just prayed 'God, please help me through this. I need you to help,'" Rogers recalled.
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The Orange County Auto Theft Task Force eventually released Rogers, but Jamie and his wife filed a lawsuit against the agency, where attorneys discovered what happened.
The dealership that loaned him the vehicle mistakenly reported the SUV as stolen.
Natalie was confused as to how that could have been a mistake.
"What do you mean the car was stolen? We had it for two months," she said.
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"It was a lot to process, and the more I did, the more the fear worry, and anxiety set in."
Scott Harlan, the attorney representing the couple, reported that the dealership claimed to have lost the paperwork on the loaner.
Without the paperwork at hand, the dealership assumed it was stolen.
Harlan said a simple mistake caused an incredible amount of stress for the couple.
"This incident was entirely avoidable," said Harlan.
"One of the stories is that one of the papers or paperwork fell behind the cabinet. It's such a shame at how that has impacted Jamie and Natalie's life."
Jamie said the incident hit a little too close to home, especially as a non-white resident.
Dealership Tips
Here are some expert tips when purchasing a car from a dealership lot:
- 1. Set your price: Ensure you've calculated your monthly budget before going to the lot. You should include the car's loan payment, insurance costs, fuel, and regular maintenance.
- 2. Research: Make sure you know which cars you're interested in test driving before you reach the dealership.
- 3. Pre-approval: Secure financing before you go to the dealership. Dealerships may give you a better interest rate if they are competing with an outside bank.
- 4. Test away: Get behind the wheel before making any payments. A car purchase will be worth thousands of dollars - drivers should ensure they like the drivetrain, steering feel, and comfort of the car before taking it off the lot
- 5. Haggle: Drivers should always try to negotiate the price. There are so many good cars on the American market - buyers have a strong hand when negotiating price.
Source: Kelley Blue Book
He went as far as switching careers to avoid commuting along the stretch of highway which resulted in genuine fear for his life.
"It was the one-year anniversary of George Floyd, and that was on my mind," said Rogers.
"I'm thinking 'God, please let me see my family again. I do not want to be another statistic.'"
After three years of being haunted by the incident, Jamie and Natalie are planning to sue the dealership for emotional distress.
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They're also failing a lemon lawsuit against the dealership.
CBS reporters reached out to the dealership's attorney but have not heard back.