I told you I was in business when I first got out of the Navy. The Navy trained me to be an electrician. Navy power systems are, by the nature of being on ships, industrial in nature. Many of you will be passingly familiar with the Army’s MOS system. The Navy has something similar called Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC). While your rate may be something like Electrician’s Mate, you can attend specialty schools within that rate to add specialization to it. The NEC code from attending a particular school gets added to your personnel file, so it can be used to fill the needs of future command assignments.
I earned three of them while I served:
- 4632 (Auxiliaries Electrical System Technician)
- 4615 (Electric Motor Rewinder)
- 4613 (IMA Outside Electrical Journeyman)
Because of that, I was uniquely qualified to work on electric motors, generators, and motor controls. It’s also why I ran my own business for a couple of years. I’m not sure how good I would be at this point, it’s been a number of years (OK, 30-something) since I have rewound an electric motor. While I was in business, I had a guy working for me that would pickup and deliver repair jobs for me. I had one of those small pickup trucks that I let him use to do the job for me.
One day, he just didn’t return from making deliveries. A couple of days later, I got a letter from the state, telling me that, as the registered owner of the vehicle, someone had declared the vehicle abandoned on his property, and they would be issuing a new title in that person’s name in 14 days.
I went looking for him and my truck. When I arrived at his house, he told me I couldn’t have the truck back, and chased me from his property with a 2 foot length of metal pipe in his hand, telling me if he saw me on his property again, he would knock my teeth out. I went to the Sheriff’s office to make a complaint.
The Sheriff himself explained to me that, because I had given him the keys, it was a civil matter and I would have to take him to court. Since the truck was over the limit in value for small claims, it would require a lawyer and a bit of money and time. I asked him what he would do if one of his deputies quit and refused to return his patrol cruiser. The Sheriff replied: “That’s different.” Then I was told the police wouldn’t get involved, so I would have to deal with it myself.
So that’s what I did. A friend of his told me that he had gotten a new job at a company making roofing trusses. I went to that workplace, and there was my truck. So I tried to start the truck with my keys, but it wouldn’t start. I popped the hood, and the wire from the distributor to the spark plug was missing. That’s fine, I had my wife drive the vehicle we arrived in, hooked a tow rope to both vehicles, and was about ready to drive off.
That’s when my former employee came out with a bunch of his coworkers in tow, saying: “I told you what would happen if you came near my property again,” and began advancing towards me with a hammer in his hand. I pepper sprayed the living shit out of him.
As he was rolling on the ground, I was about to get in the truck to be towed off, when his coworkers began yelling and advancing towards me. So I did the most direct thing- I pulled a Remington 870 from my vehicle and pumped the slide. “Who wants to be a fucking hero?”
No one did. So I drove away as they yelled about calling the cops.
An hour later, I got a call from the Sheriff, who said he wanted to talk to me. I met him at his office.
- Sheriff: “That boy you attacked had to go to the hospital. He might be blind.”
- Me: “It’s pepper spray, he will be fine.”
- Sheriff: “I could arrest you for armed robbery.”
- Me: “It’s my truck, registered in my name and it was self defense. Besides, you told me to deal with it myself. I dealt with it.”
- Sheriff: “That’s not what I meant, and you know it. I should arrest you.”
- Me: “We both know it won’t stick. Look, no one was permanently injured, no laws were broken. I got my truck back.”
- Sheriff: “I don’t approve of your actions, but you’re right. No laws were broken.”
- Me: “OK, I guess we’re done here.”
I sold the truck. The sheriff retired more than a decade ago. I don’t know what happened to the ex employee. Haven’t seen him since.
21 Comments
GreenCross4Safety · October 7, 2026 at 4:23 am
Good stuff, thank you.
Tree Mike · October 7, 2026 at 5:54 am
People are fricken wretched!
YourAverageJoe · October 8, 2026 at 9:53 pm
Your sheriff was wearing the “Peace Officer” hat that day instead of the “Law Enforcement Officer” hat.
Harris County Constables do the same fucking shit here in Houston.
Fido · October 9, 2026 at 2:06 pm
I heard somewhere awhile back that police were not created to bring justice to criminals. The general public can handle that job just fine.
Police were created to protect the accused from the general public, until an investigation and trial can occur.
This view makes much of the world far easier to model.
Divemedic · October 9, 2026 at 4:36 pm
That’s been pointed out on this very site. Police are ethically there in a government by and for the people to ensure that those who are accused of a crime receive due process.
In tyrannical regimes, they are there to ensure that the tyrants remain in power.
Boneman · October 7, 2026 at 5:56 am
Yeah… the law is utterly absurd when it comes to this sort of thing. If you “Loan” someone your vehicle and hand them the keys it’s almost like signing over the title to them.
Had that happen once myself… Allowed a family member to use a vehicle and when they didn’t return it I ran a game on them. I called them up and told them they had better not be caught driving it as I had reported it stolen (I had not). I gambled that they didn’t know about the “Permission in Perpetuity” (they did not) clause and they immediately returned the vehicle.
It’s almost as if you need to have a written document stating what the limits of this “Permission” is… Inclusive of a RETURN date or policy.
Utterly absurd.
Kentucky Headhunter · October 7, 2026 at 6:48 am
The sheriff explained to me that since I hadn’t donated $10000 to his last election campaign, he didn’t give a fuck about me or my truck.
Wild, wild west · October 7, 2026 at 8:12 am
I spewed covfefe thru my nose when I got to the “living shit” pepper spray part.
Florida Man, or Arkansas? I know a little sumpin-sumpin about the Harrison area; if it was there, I wouldn’t be surprised.
Seamrog · October 7, 2026 at 9:14 am
I love this post. Happy ending, justice served, all that.
Feral Underclass · October 7, 2026 at 10:42 am
Yup, had a family member, brother in law, borrow my Dad’s pickup, move from Wisconsin to Washington state with it and “couldn’t find the time” to return it. After about a year I rode the train from WI to WA to retrieve the truck. When I got there it wouldn’t run. I had to rebuild the carburetor and put brakes on it before it was road worthy. The front end was still pretty wobbly but I managed to nurse it back to WI. Dad was happy his truck was back home and the family member didn’t come around much after that.
Georgiaboy61 · October 7, 2026 at 12:12 pm
Man alive, DM, you are a real super hero. I’m not being sarcastic; you’re one heck of a man. You’re got some stones on you. I’d like to be just like you when I grow up!
JebTexas · October 7, 2026 at 12:16 pm
No matter how bad we hate the .gov, we don’t hate them enough.
Grumpy51 · October 7, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Ya need to write a book – “Adventures of DiveMedic” or some sort……
Big Ruckus D · October 7, 2026 at 1:35 pm
Your employee, and the sheriff, were both fucking jackoffs. I maintain a policy of not loaning anything to anyone anymore because of situations like this. It’s also one the reasons I hate cops, with the blatant two faced double standard bullshit they pull. You played the situation well and had an acceptable outcome. But that sheriff could’ve made a huge pain in the ass for you, and it seems obvious he really wanted to. Fuck him.
Fido · October 7, 2026 at 2:45 pm
* Me: “It’s my truck, registered in my name and it was self defense. Besides, you told me to
deal with it myself. I dealt with it.”
* Sheriff: “That’s not what I meant, and you know it. I should arrest you.”
I’d like to think I’d have responded with:
“I know no such thing. You said yourself it would be different if it was you, well it *is* me. I assumed that’s what you meant, and still do.”
But I know better. Hindsight gives you courage.
As does youth! Great story!
Birdog357 · October 7, 2026 at 6:11 pm
Man, your state sucks….
From Google’s AI:
Yes, an employee who refuses to return a company vehicle can face criminal charges in Indiana, depending on the specific circumstances and intent.
Legal Classifications in Indiana
• Theft (Indiana Code § 35-43-4-2): If an employee knowingly or intentionally keeps a company vehicle with the intent to deprive the employer of its value or use, it can be charged as theft.
• Because a motor vehicle is involved, theft of a car typically escalates to a Level 6 felony (valued between $750 and $49,999) or a Level 5 felony (valued at $50,000 or more, or with prior related vehicle theft convictions).
• Auto Theft (Indiana Code § 35-43-4-2.5): Knowingly or intentionally exerting unauthorized control over someone else’s motor vehicle with the intent to deprive the owner of its value or use constitutes auto theft.
• Criminal Conversion (Indiana Code § 35-43-4-3): If the initial possession of the vehicle was authorized (for example, the employee was given permission to drive it for work), keeping it past the point of authorization without a clear intent to permanently steal it can sometimes be charged as criminal conversion (a Class A misdemeanor or a Level 6 felony under specific lease/failure-to-return provisions).
The Key Factor: “Intent”
The core distinction in Indiana courts usually hinges on intent:
• If the employee simply forgot, misunderstood instructions, or had a delayed communication about returning a company car after termination, police may treat it as a civil/contract dispute rather than a crime.
• If the employee ignores repeated demands to return the vehicle, cuts off contact, or uses the vehicle as their own property, prosecutors are much more likely to pursue criminal theft or auto theft charges.
If you are dealing with a specific situation, tell me:
• Was the vehicle assigned to the employee for regular work use, or was it supposed to be returned immediately upon termination?
• Has the employer made a written demand for its return?
Divemedic · October 8, 2026 at 4:11 am
Nice AI response.
It isn’t that the act wasn’t illegal, because it was. However, the cops didn’t want to do anything. You can’t make them.
Birdog357 · October 8, 2026 at 1:07 pm
I literally did say it was from google AI. But it did show code cites.
Treefarmer · October 7, 2026 at 6:53 pm
I’m glad bad stuff never happened to me, but now I don’t have the interesting stories to tell like you do!
Jester · October 7, 2026 at 10:08 pm
That is where, additionally Cops get it wrong. They don’t want to bother to do the work so punt it over to the civil court, yet we all know if it was one of their own’s vehicle they would be there with a tow truck and Swat team. I don’t mind them saying it’s an insurance claim or whatnot. I don’t mind them saying that it’s a matter between contested parties. Then don’t have a problem when the item is recovered by any means needed. And even if a item is “loaned” or borrowed or as a business action a vehicle is loaned to an employee once the demand for who holds the item is given it needs to be returned. I bet you don’t see a lot of Banks or Credit Unions saying or following that pathway that, oh gosh it’s just sitting here somewhere. What a joke. Glad you were able to resolve it DM
TRX · October 8, 2026 at 1:23 pm
Something similar is a regular occurrence with over-the-road truckers. The trucking companies are always hiring, and they hire dregs that will work for cheap. Every now and then when a new hire gets out on the road by himself, he’ll “quit” and take the truck with him. Even if they find the guy later, he has no assets, and the courts don’t seem interested in Grand Theft Auto if it’s a big truck.
You’d think a semi-tractor would be a hard thing to fence, but the recovery rate is very low. It used to be pretty easy to get a truck over the border into Canada; I don’t know what it’s like now. The rest are probably parted out and the unwanted bits crushed.
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