Dealer’s Mistake Led to US Officer Being Handcuffed at Gunpoint Due to His New Truck | Carscoops

      A Coast Guard officer’s truck acquisition ended with drawn weapons after a dealership mistake led to a stolen vehicle report.

      by Thanos Pappas

      Coast Guard officer Shane Sprague purchased a GMC Sierra AT4X and was later accused of theft.

      A dealership in Florida reported the truck as stolen following a significant paperwork error during the transaction.

      Sprague is now taking legal action against the dealership for negligence, false imprisonment, and emotional distress.

      Acquiring a new vehicle is typically a joyful milestone, but for Coast Guard officer Shane Sprague, that experience quickly turned distressing. Just days after he drove away in his GMC, deputies pulled him from the truck at gunpoint, believing it to be stolen. The confusion stemmed from a mistake made by the dealership.

      The vehicle in question was a slightly used 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X in Thunderstorm Gray. Sprague bought it on June 21 from Doral Volkswagen in South Florida for $61,230. He made a $15,000 down payment, traded in his son’s 2012 Ford Focus for $1,500, and financed the remaining balance through the dealership.

      Paperwork Mistake

      Documents reviewed by Autonews indicated that the sale initially seemed straightforward. A dealership employee even captured a photo of Sprague smiling next to the truck. However, behind the scenes, the finance manager allegedly entered the incorrect VIN. This error made it seem as if the Sierra had not been sold and instead linked Sprague’s license plate to a less expensive 2024 Chevrolet 1500.

      Days later, the dealership reported the GMC as stolen and activated its LoJack system, raising significant concerns since Sprague’s government security clearance prohibits tracking devices, and he had never agreed to one. As the chief maintenance officer at the Opa Locka Coast Guard station overseeing helicopters used for presidential visits, this mistake was particularly troubling.

      Confronted at Gunpoint

      The situation escalated on July 1, when Sprague was leaving a physical therapy session. According to the lawsuit, an unmarked Ford F-150 hit his rear bumper before Broward County deputies surrounded him with weapons drawn. Bodycam footage shared on TikTok captures the Coast Guard officer being handcuffed, searched, and left in a police vehicle without an explanation for his detainment.

      Sprague was taken to the police station and interrogated about the truck. He clarified that he had purchased it days earlier and that all the relevant documents were stored on a USB drive at his residence. After consulting with the dealership, detectives finally recognized him as the legitimate owner and released him, but by then, the Sierra had been towed and was no longer available to him.

      From Purchase to Lawsuit

      Following the incident, Sprague canceled the purchase and received his deposit back. He subsequently filed a lawsuit against the dealership, alleging negligence, false imprisonment, emotional distress, and violation of Florida’s consumer protection law, and is seeking damages.

      A representative from Lithia Motors, which owns Doral Volkswagen, issued a statement saying, “We acknowledge the situation and sincerely apologize to Mr. Sprague. This was an isolated incident caused by human error and does not reflect the level of service we strive to provide at Doral Volkswagen. We are committed to reaching a resolution and are in direct communication with Mr. Sprague’s attorney.”

      The bodycam footage showcasing the moment Sprague was detained over the truck he legally purchased has been shared. As the case advances, he is seeking a refund and hopes his next vehicle purchase will be much less eventful.