Man says he was fired for cooperating with police

MARTINSBURG – An Inwood man says he was fired after directing police investigating stolen license plates to the boyfriend of a secretary at his former employer.

David S. Reed filed a lawsuit April 24 in Berkeley Circuit Court against Winchester Auto Dealers Exchange, an auto auction located in Bunker Hill.

Reed says he was hired by Winchester in November 2007 and was fired on March 5, 2009.

According to the complaint, on Feb. 28, 2009, the manager of State Line Exxon came to the gate of Winchester.

The manager told the plaintiff that in the past several weeks, people leaving in cars from the auction had been stealing license plates from the vehicles of his employees.

The manager told Reed that an individual driving a dark Volvo station wagon had just come from the auction and stole a license plate from a State Line Exxon employee's vehicle.

Reed says he checked the gate passes and discovered that an individual named "Tyrone" had just purchased a vehicle matching that description the same day.

According to the complaint, Tyrone worked for a dealer that frequently bought vehicles from the Winchester auction.

Tyrone was also dating a secretary in the auction office named "Pam," the complaint says.

Reed said he called Josh Mayhugh, Winchester's office manager, and asked that he come to the gate. Mayhugh then took the manager of State Line Exxon to his office.

Subsequently, several sheriff's deputies from Frederick County, Md., showed up at the gate and Reed escorted them to Mayhugh's office.

The deputies later returned to the gate and asked Reed who had bought the Volvo that day. Reed says he told them the truth.

Later that evening, Reed says he got a call from Pam, who was allegedly cursing and threatening Reed for identifying Tyrone.

On March 3, 2009, Reed says he was suspended from his job for a week. He was fired on March 5 for "providing information to the police," the complaint says.

Reed is seeking compensatory and punitive damages and legal costs.

Harry P. Waddell is representing the plaintiff.

Berkeley Circuit Court case number: 09-C-358