Dealership Typo Gets a Veteran’s New GMC Rammed By Police

There is nothing better than driving home in a brand-new car. This fantastic aroma, beautiful paint job, and the fact that you can finally drive off the lot in the car of your dreams is something many people would cherish for years to come. New car owners tend to baby their cars and find every excuse to drive them so they do not get scratched or dented. New car owners should be able to cherish and enjoy their car without having to fear the road they drive on.

However, this was not the case for Chief Warrant Officer Shane Sprague. Ten days after buying his new truck, law enforcement officers pulled him over, pointed guns at his head, and arrested him for stealing a truck. They did not realize it was the truck he had just bought that day. This one mistake by the dealership caused a huge misunderstanding resulting in Sprague being jailed, humiliated in front of his peers, and left him with having to pay for a rental car.

1. Dream Truck Becomes Reality

Shane Sprague has finally saved up enough money to buy his dream truck. The beautiful GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X was exactly what he had been looking for. It came with luxury features, great tech specs, and the power he needed to tackle any terrain. Sprague was truly ecstatic to be able to own the beautiful Thunderstorm Gray colored pickup. Everything was going smoothly for the proud father of two until he made the mistake of buying the wrong VIN.

Purchase Highlights:

• Dream truck purchased.
• Premium AT4X model.
• $15,000 down payment.
• Trade-in completed.
• Purchase went smoothly.

Shane Sprague made his dream come true on June 21 when he bought his brand-new GMC Sierra from Doral Volkswagen in South Florida. Sprague was able to make a large down payment and trade in his sons Ford Focus. The dealership even got his picture next to the beautiful truck to commemorate the sale and big day.

2. Small Administrative Mistake Becomes a Big Problem

Small clerical errors have a way of becoming big problems. Small mistakes made during the paperwork process of the sale caused a huge misunderstanding between the dealership and Sprague. The VIN number was the problem. VINs are very important to the identification of vehicles. The incorrect VIN number resulted in a false report of stolen property and a felony stop for Sprague. The simple administrative mistake resulted in him spending hours in jail, getting humiliated in front of his peers, and causing serious legal issues between him and the dealership.

VIN Error Impact:

• Incorrect VIN entered.
• Records became inaccurate.
• Truck reported missing.
• LoJack activated.
• Police investigation began.

Because of the incorrect VIN number, the dealership was unable to locate the vehicle. Employees thought the truck had stolen from the dealership. As a result, they reported the vehicle stolen and activated the LoJack. Instead of having the proper VIN number displayed in the system they had a different VIN number. The dealership was unaware of the clerical error during the sale. The simple mistake of having the wrong VIN number resulted in a felony stop for Shane Sprague.

3. An Unexpected Security Issue

The LoJack that was secretly placed onto the truck resulted in another huge problem for Sprague. Sprague was a United States Coast Guard officer with a high level of responsibility. He was required to keep a low profile and keep many details of his job confidential. As a result of him being in this line of work the tracking device that was placed on his vehicle was seen to be a bigger threat. This one mistake by the dealership caused more than just a false report of stolen property it caused major security concerns for the Coast Guard.

Security Concerns:

• Government security clearance.
• Sensitive military position.
• Unauthorized tracking activated.
• Personal privacy concerns.
• Additional legal issues.

Shane Sprague worked in the Coast Guard where he took care of helicopters that the president used to travel. His position in the Coast Guard caused him to face additional legal problems during this case. Sprague was upset about the tracking device being activated without his consent. However the dealership did not see it as a problem, but rather an effective way to recover the “stolen” vehicle. The tracking device resulted in even more legal problems for both parties involved in the sale of the truck.

4. Felony Stop Becomes a Huge Mistake

A routine drives down the road turned into a huge misunderstanding for Sprague. Sprague had just finished up physical therapy and on his way home he was stopped by law enforcement. The simple drive turned into a scary situation when Sprague was surrounded by police officers with guns pointed at him. Sprague had just made the biggest mistake of his life by purchasing the wrong VIN.

Traffic Stop Events:

• Felony stops initiated.
• Deputies surrounded truck.
• Driver handcuffed.
• Police investigation continued.
• Confusion throughout encounter.

As a result of a few clerical errors during the sale, police officers were chasing after a vehicle that rightfully belonged to its new owner. Sprague was a veteran Coast Guard member and had served for thirty years. Being a veteran, he knew it was unusual for a police officer to hand cuff him and surround him with guns pointed at him for a simple traffic stop. The misunderstanding that occurred that fateful day for Sprague was scary and unexpected.

5. Four Hours Behind Bars

Sprague had been handcuffed and was put in the back of a police car so they could investigate further. The misunderstanding between the dealership and Sprague had cost him four long hours in jail. Sprague was a U.S. Coast Guard officer and it was expected that he would cooperate with the investigation. Throughout the investigation Sprague kept telling them that the truck belonged to him, but it took four long hours for them to realize it was the wrong VIN number.

Investigation Outcome:

• Four-hour detention.
• Ownership verified.
• Dealership admitted error.
• Charges dismissed.
• Truck impounded.

The police contacted Doral Volkswagen to investigate the ownership of the vehicle. It was not long before the dealership admitted fault in the misunderstanding. They had the wrong VIN number for the vehicle. Once that was realized Sprague was released from jail since he was falsely accused for driving a stolen vehicle. Sprague was falsely accused for driving a stolen vehicle and was released from jail after four long hours.

6. Public Humiliation

Being falsely accused and then released left Sprague feeling humiliated. The U.S. Coast Guard veteran was frustrated with the entire ordeal that had taken place. It all started with a clerical error and ended with Sprague having to deal with the embarrassment of it all. After the misunderstanding had been resolved Sprague still felt that it had taken a huge toll on him and his reputation.

Emotional Impact:

• Reputation damaged.
• Public embarrassment.
• Online attention increased.
• Emotional distress continued.
• Trust deeply affected.

News of his arrest and mug shot had gone viral across the internet. Friends and colleagues were wondering what had happened. Sprague, a U.S. Coast Guard officer suffered from embarrassment as a result of the entire ordeal. The last thing he wanted was to be in the news for reasons other than serving his country. His entire reputation had changed in the blink of an eye after his arrest.

7. Walking Away from the Dream Truck

With everything that had happened Sprague was glad to walk away from the dream truck. He was a U.S. Coast Guard officer and had just been falsely accused of driving a stolen vehicle. Sprague was frustrated with the dealership for the clerical error that caused the huge misunderstanding. Sprague was not happy with his decision to buy the dream truck anymore. He was more than ready to walk away from what was supposed to be a dream come true for him.

Purchase Canceled:

• Truck ownership ended.
• Deposit fully refunded.
• Rental vehicle used.
• Emotional burden remained.
• Trust permanently broken.

The clerical error caused by the dealership resulted in Sprague having to cancel his purchase of the beautiful vehicle. The dealership returned his $15,000 down payment since he would no longer be purchasing the vehicle. Although the $15,000 was returned, the misunderstanding had left a big impact on Sprague. Sprague was left with having to rent a vehicle after everything that had taken place.

8. Going to Court

The clerical error made by the dealership resulted in a misunderstanding which caused false accusations to be made against Sprague. Sprague was falsely accused and was left feeling frustrated with everything that had taken place. He was a U.S Coast Guard veteran and was embarrassed with how everything had turned out. Sprague took the issue to court in hopes of being compensated for the misunderstanding that had occurred between him and the dealership.

Legal Claims:

• Lawsuit filed.
• Negligence alleged.
• False imprisonment claim.
• Emotional distress sought.
• Consumer law violations.

According to the lawsuit filed by Sprague, the dealership had acted negligently when false accusations were made against him. Sprague stated that if the dealership had done their job correctly everything that had occurred would have never taken place. He is suing the dealership for false imprisonment and emotional distress. The lawsuit filed by Sprague is seeking compensation for the misunderstanding between him and the dealership. It is believed that if the dealership had properly done their duty everything that had taken place would have never occurred.

9. The Dealership Responds

The dealership, Doral Volkswagen admitted fault in the misunderstanding that had occurred. They apologized to Sprague for the clerical error that had been made. They felt it was a one-time occurrence and that they would never let it happen again. Even though they apologized to Sprague the lawsuit filed by him continued to go back and forth in court. The misunderstanding that had occurred between the dealership and Sprague was a huge nightmare for everyone involved.

Dealership Response:

• Public apology issued.
• Human error acknowledged.
• Arbitration requested.
• Legal defense continued.
• Mixed public reactions.

Along with the apology the dealership requested that the case be taken to private arbitration rather than a public court hearing. The request for private arbitration caught the public’s attention. Some felt that the apology was a smart move whereas others were not satisfied with the request for private arbitration. The misunderstanding that had occurred left a big impact on the public’s opinion of the dealership.

10. A Lesson Learned

There are many things that can go wrong when it comes to the paperwork process during a sale. One simple clerical error can lead to a huge misunderstanding. The dealership admitted fault for the misunderstanding that had occurred between them and Sprague. They apologized to him for the clerical error that had been made.

Key Takeaways:

• Accurate paperwork matters.
• Customer trust essential.
• Errors have consequences.
• Accountability remains important.
• Verification prevents mistakes.

As a consumer it is important that you trust that the dealership has your best interests in mind. However it is not always the case. As a consumer it is important to know that when it comes to the sale, it is the dealership’s job to ensure everything is done properly so you do not have to worry about the fine print. Everything that had occurred between the dealership and Sprague is an example of why it is important for a dealership to take the fine print seriously.