Public Complaint No. 1723791224 - 1946481822

I was in the Harbor Freight Store with my dad to purchase on rain check, a rigid 4" polyurethane caster. I purchased two, one in each of the prior two weeks as I was getting a highly unusual 25% off a single item coupon given to one and only one of the two accounts I was handling for my parents suggesting the Harbor Freight Corporation may have been involved in setting up a malicious arrest as I reported Sheriff Dave Daniel on corruption some months prior. Officer Thomas Smyth coincidentally was a deputy under Sheriff Dave Daniel. In continuance, my plan I told my dad on the phone was to purchase a caster on a rain check if out of stock as we went to the store 4 days prior and it was out of stock and needed to make use of the coupon before it expired the following day. I saw again, on that evening of August 9, 2023 that it was still out of stock. What I did to help facilitate the rain check purchase was to take the came type of item but in a 5" size to the cashier so he could easily see the item I want to purchase but in a 4" size. Strangely, the cashier refused to allow the purchase and instantly got on the phone with the manager, namely, Joshua Machen. I was wondering what the odd happening was all about. I was explaining while that was going on that I know where the item is supposed to be if in stock as I purchased two of them in recent weeks and was out of stock 4 days prior. I did not need anyone to tell me where the item is supposed to be located. The cashier transmitted to me that the item would be at the floor level and I instantly corrected him and said no it wouldn't be as I had plenty of knowledge of it already. And so I had to lose my place in line for no good reason. When I went back to the aisle to where the manager was, I saw him looking at the floor level and noted to him that he was wasting my time as I needed to get to another store before it closed. He was confused. I then went to the shelving and pointed out in an empty bin where it was supposed to be located. The manager then chose to play a delaying game on me and my father, acting like he'd find the item in the back but would keep coming back to the aisle. After so much of the games I told him I was going to report him to the corporate office. That's when he yelled out the one and only word, "F**K". I then proceeded in professional words that that was not good for business. At that time he had a coworker dial 911. I finished my little talk about that rude employee, and noticed a customer near me giving me the thumbs up. I already was out of the shelving area but my dad chose to ask one more time if the manager was going to locate the item. He said he wouldn't. A moment later two officers arrived, Thomas Smyth and his supervisor who didn't talk in my presence in the store, Sergeant Michal Mace. Thomas Smyth asked me what happened. I told him the only thing of importance that the manager yelled the F word at me. He asked me if that was all and I said no, and explained to him that the cashier refused to allow a rain check purchase and that the manager was causing trouble and kept repeating 5", 5", 5" and not actually locating the item which was out of stock per the empty bin. Officer Smyth didn't even ask the manager about why he yelled the F word at me and just launched into accusing me of being on drugs, not doing anything in regards to dealing with the situation. After I made it clear that I do not do drugs and that I preach against it, he then launched into accusing me of drinking alcohol. His questioning kept going on and on and eventually asked me what I drank that day. I told him water. He then acted crazy, like if he were on drugs, exclaiming "OK, I had enough, you're being detained" and before he even finished his words he was reaching for my hands to put handcuffs on me. I was shocked as I did nothing wrong, committed no crime at all. I went to the store to purchase an item, the manager played a game and then yelled the F word at me. Telling the manager that that was not good to do could not in any way shape or form be considered unlawful. Officer Smyth then grabbed my left arm so aggressively that he gave me a bruise and rushed me out of the store as if I murdered someone. Clearly, he was creating a ruckus so he could build up a fictional story in his report, projecting his behavior onto me. Once outside I shouted to my mother who was in a vehicle to watch what the cops were doing to me. Right at that moment Thomas Smyth arrested me. And so this went from being detained to being arrested and learned nothing in the 30 second interval. I was not physically resisting in the least and his supervisor came up from behind me and with two hands, slammed me against the patrol vehicle. A moment later as I was getting in the patrol car, Sergent Mace then shoved me in with such great force that I nearly toppled over. When I was in the backseat and when Thomas Smyth got into the front seat, I asked him why he was arresting me and he cited my age followed by "you're a big boy now". I then repeatedly asked to speak to a supervisor who wasn't a bad actor and in each instance I was denied. I heard later that Sergeant Mace outside of the vehicle told my witness mother, "when your son gets out of jail, he'll be a man, no longer a boy". Such strange, unwarranted remarks, as if they knew about me already suggesting this was indeed a set-up arrest for vengeance of me reporting Smyth's former boss, Sheriff Dave Daniel. One notable event when I was in jail was Deputy Robert Selby telling me, "You're the last person I'd want to see." which further points to a malicious, set-up arrest. When I was released from jail on August 10, 2023, I was handed my cell phone which I thought was strange as I didn't give them my cell phone. The protective plastic peel was removed that I always like to keep on, a gummy substance was on the surface and the case was partly opened. I had to plug it in to get it to turn on then after several days it was totally inoperable. Settings were changed including the ringer and when in text messaging, a voice appeared that I never set up to happen. I asked my dad about the cell phone and he told me that Officer Smyth coerced it from him. My dad was 86 years old! I consider this as elder abuse. My cell phone was not needed for anything but to unlawfully search in hopes to actually find something unlawful to further destroy my life. I obtained the report as soon as I could which wasn't ready for a couple of weeks. In it was a fictional story that required me to make an 8 page supplemental addressing most of the lies.