I was accused of stealing a car after loaning it to the dealership – they called the police for a ‘ridiculous reason’

A DRIVER feared for his life after police pointed their guns at him and told him he could be shot for stealing his borrowed SUV.

The high school teacher was the victim of a bureaucratic error that led to a call to police.

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Jamie Rogers took his car to a local dealership’s service center for repairs three years ago and was loaned a vehicle to do his shift as a high school athletic trainer.

On his way to the Costa Mesa, California, campus, he was stopped by police, where he was detained at gunpoint.

He said he was told by officers that he was considered “armed and dangerous” and “could be shot” if he didn’t follow instructions, he said. CBS Los Angeles.

“Seeing all the guns pointed at me, I just prayed, ‘God, please help me with this. I need your help,’” Rogers recalled.

The Orange County Auto Theft Task Force eventually released Rogers, but Jamie and his wife filed a lawsuit against the agency, where lawyers discovered what happened.

The dealership that loaned him the vehicle erroneously reported that the SUV was stolen.

Natalie was confused about how this could have been a mistake.

“What do you mean the car was stolen? We stayed with him for two months,” she said.

“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, said the dealership claimed to have lost the loan paperwork.

Without the paperwork in hand, the dealership assumed it was stolen.

Harlan said a simple mistake caused incredible stress for the couple.

“This incident was completely preventable,” Harlan said.

“One of the stories is that one of the papers or paperwork fell behind the cabinet. It’s a shame how this has impacted Jamie and Natalie’s lives.”

Jamie said the incident hit a little too close to home, especially for a resident of color.

Tips for dealerships

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• 1. Set your price: Make sure you have calculated your monthly budget before going to the lot. You must include your car loan payment, insurance costs, fuel and regular maintenance.
• 2. Research: Make sure you know which cars you’re interested in testing before you get to the dealership.
• 3. Pre-approval: Secure financing before going to the dealership. Dealerships may offer a better interest rate if they are competing with an outside bank.
• 4. Test: Drive before making any payments. Buying a car will be worth thousands of dollars – drivers should ensure they like the car’s drivetrain, steering and comfort before driving 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 in negotiating prices.

Source: Kelley Blue Book

He went so far as to change careers to avoid commuting along the stretch of highway, resulting in genuine fear for his life.

“It was the one-year anniversary of George Floydand that was on my mind,” Rogers said.

“I’m thinking ‘God, please let me see my family again. I don’t want to be another statistic.'”

After three years haunted by the incident, Jamie and Natalie plan to sue the dealership for emotional distress.

They are also failing in a lawsuit against the dealership.

CBS reporters reached out to the dealership’s attorney but received no response.