by Buying a car turned into a tragedy
Purchasing a new car should be a joyful event, but for Coast Guard Officer Shane Spragg, this moment turned into a real nightmare. Just a few days after he drove off in his new GMC pickup, he was stopped by law enforcement under the threat of weapons, believing the car was stolen. As it turned out, the entire situation occurred due to an error by the auto dealership.
Error in the documents
The car that caused the incident is a 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4X in Thunderstorm Gray. Spragg purchased it on June 21 from the Doral Volkswagen dealership in South Florida for $61,230. He made an initial deposit of $15,000, traded in his son’s 2012 Ford Focus for $1,500, and financed the remaining amount through the dealer.
At first, everything looked like a standard deal. A dealership employee even took a photo of Spragg next to the car. However, as reported, the finance manager entered the wrong VIN code, causing the car to appear as unsold in the system, and Spragg’s license plate was linked to a cheaper Chevrolet 1500.
Tracking activation and detention
A few days later, the dealership reported the GMC as stolen and activated the LoJack tracking system. This raised serious concerns, as Spragg’s official position prohibits the use of tracking devices, and he never consented to it. As the head of the maintenance department at the Coast Guard station in Opa-Locka, he is responsible for helicopters used during visits by President Donald Trump, making this situation even more significant.
The incident reached its climax on July 1 when Spragg was leaving a physical therapy appointment. According to the lawsuit, an unidentified Ford F-150 hit his rear bumper, after which Broward County sheriffs surrounded him with weapons drawn. Body camera footage shows the Coast Guard officer being handcuffed, searched, and left in a police car without an explanation for his detention.
Consequences and lawsuit
Spragg was taken to the police station, where he explained that he had purchased the car a few days earlier and that all the documents were stored on a USB drive at his home. After contacting the dealership, detectives realized he was indeed the legal owner and released him. However, by that time, the car had already been towed, and Spragg could not use it.
After the incident, Spragg canceled the purchase and got his deposit back. He also filed a lawsuit against the dealership, accusing it of negligence, false imprisonment, emotional trauma, and violation of the Florida Consumer Protection Act, demanding compensation for damages.
A representative of Lithia Motors, which owns Doral Volkswagen, stated: “We are aware of the situation and offer our sincere apologies to Mr. Spragg. This was an isolated incident caused by human error. It does not reflect the level of service we provide to our customers at Doral Volkswagen. We are committed to finding a solution and are in direct contact with Mr. Spragg’s attorney.”
The case continues to be reviewed, and Spragg hopes his next car purchase will be much calmer.
Errors in documentation can have serious consequences, especially when it comes to such important matters as vehicle ownership. This story is a reminder of the importance of careful transaction processing and checking all details to avoid similar situations. For civil servants like Spragg, such incidents can affect not only personal life but also professional reputation and safety.
