My name is T. Watts. I have been a resident of Lucerne since 1997. In that time, I have worked in the recovery community as a drug and alcohol counselor and am currently nearing retirement with a company that provides services for developmentally disabled adults.

I am a property owner, deacon in the church, radio show host, author and journalist. I've never been convicted of a felony and the only times I have been inside jail in Lake County were as a member of Alcoholics Anonymous Hospital & Institutions Committee, whose duty it is to bring AA meetings to the inmates.

Nonetheless, I was involved in a dangerous incident with an apparent undercover task force deputy on Sept. 15, 2014.

What follows is my account of the incident which was submitted in a formal complaint on Sept. 21.

On Monday, Sept. 15, 2014, at approximately 5:10 p.m. while traveling westbound on Highway 20 in Nice, I suddenly noticed I was being aggressively tailgated by an unknown person or persons in a black, full-sized pickup truck, possibly four-wheel drive, with a very high lift kit. I could not see the driver as the windows seemed to be tinted.

I became very concerned at this potentially dangerous situation. At Stokes Avenue, I took evasive action, turning on my left turn signal and suddenly turning left in a brief gap in the flow of traffic in the opposite direction.

Due to the traffic after the gap, the black truck was detained for approximately 20 seconds, which enabled me to advance ahead of the truck, roughly a quarter of a mile.

When I stopped at the stop sign at Nice-Lucerne Cutoff, in my rear view mirror, the truck in a dangerous exhibition of speed, had closed the gap between us and again was right behind me.

I signaled and turn left onto Nice-Lucerne Cutoff and the truck aggressively followed. He then turned on his red and blue emergency lights and revealing himself finally, to be apparently, some sort of undercover officer. I pulled over immediately and when he approached my vehicle on the passenger side, I spoke first.

“If you’re wondering why a pulled that quick left turn back there, I was taking evasive action as a result of your aggressive and unsafe tailgating. I had no idea who you were and it appeared to be a dangerous situation.”

“I wasn’t tailgating you, but you put the public at risk with the turn you made. Let me see your driver license, registration and proof of insurance.” He said this with rancor and vehemence. His arrogance and rudeness had me shaking with an adrenaline rush.

After taking my paperwork, it is obvious to me that this guy has already compromised the truth. While he was running me back at his vehicle, I called Sheriff Frank Rivero who thankfully answered the phone. When the officer returned to my vehicle, I was asking the sheriff to look into this matter.

When I told the officer I was talking to his boss, his demeanor changed and he demonstrated a tad more politeness. “That’s fine. I’m sorry you feel that I was tailgating you, but I was not. Here is your paperwork back.”

At that point I asked him how many car lengths behind me was he back on Highway 20 when I noticed him dangerously riding my bumper. “Several,” he said.

“Man, you were as close to me then as you are now,” I said.

“Mr. Watts, turn on your left front turn signal.”

I complied. I imagine that since he already knew my rear turn signal worked, he should probably check the front as well in case he had to fabricate even more to his report. After inspecting the left front turn signal, he again reiterated, “Mr. Watts, I’m sorry you perceive that you were being tailgated. You were not. Have a good day.”

That was the end of my contact with him. I don’t know his name. He was very rude and aggressive, at first giving no real reason why I was on his radar in the first place.

As a law abiding, gainfully employed, property owning, taxpaying senior citizen, I believe a better explanation than the one he provided is in order. I am standing by for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office official response. Protect and serve me, please.

When the above statement was submitted, I was informed by Sgt. Norm Taylor that the investigation of the incident could take up to a year.

On Nov. 14, incoming Sheriff Brian Martin was interviewed on Olga Martin Steele's call-in radio show on KPFZ, 88.1.

I called the show and anonymously spoke with Sheriff-elect Martin about the incident. Interestingly enough, Martin responded to my query by stating that the investigation shouldn't take a year. This was heard on live radio by perhaps thousands of people.

After repeated attempts to contact Sgt. Norm Taylor, I was called by Sgt. Steve Herdt, head of the LCSO Task Force. He requested that I meet with him to discuss my complaint.

On Tuesday, Dec. 16, I met with him in what turned out to be a taped “fact gathering” meeting in which Sgt. Herdt asked many questions.

During the course of the meeting, I made it clear that I believe the LCSO would be well served to offer me an apology.

On Dec. 18, I received a letter from Sgt. Taylor reiterating that the investigative process can take up to a year. No kidding?

My concern here is not only the correct interpretation of the law. I'm also gazing into the eyes of the proverbial elephant in the room whose ID card is indexed as racial profiling. Unless I bring it up it's a non-issue.

Yes,we're tired of the race card, too. I, for one, refuse to be silent on travesties such as these.

T. Watts lives in Lucerne, Calif.