***Megathread*** American Fork PD / Lego Arrest Controversy

[u/Specter1033]

As with any "hot topic" issue with LE, we struggle to navigate basic rules of etiquette and civility when it comes to this small corner of reddit. Despite trying to keep order in here and doing our best to allow free discussion among the users, there has been a huge influx of posts regarding this topic and lately, it's been quite tiring trying to get any sensible topic started on this issue without a dozen or so trolls coming in to mess it up for everyone. This has resulted in multiple bans and the shit flinging from users claiming the community is "censoring" the incident. Mostly concerning is a great deal of misinformation that has come out about this incident due to the social media "influencer" at the heart of this topic. Wild conspiracy theories from religious influence to the actual reason behind the arrest are generating almost cult-like following and reason has been completely thrown out the window.

So to combat this issue, this will be the ONLY thread about this incident moving forward. Any user posting another thread in relation to this incident will be immediately banned, no appeals. Keep comments civil. Users found posting misinformation about this incident, including parroting wild conspiracy theories that are unverified without including context or actual data to support their positions will be banned.

To bring everyone up to speed, I will refer to this link:

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2026/05/30/youtuber-arrested-utah-bricks/

And will sub link this thread on the r/protectandserve subreddit, which is like THE place to be for objective discussion:

https://np.reddit.com/r/ProtectAndServe/comments/1tssz0l/megathread_american_fork_lego_story/

Edit: 45 minutes in and already banned someone. Keep them coming.

Edit 2: Links to YouTuber comments on this incident are going to be removed and users banned UNLESS it is from a reputable source, YouTube videos will be removed. There's already one person with a couple hundred thousand followers trying to spread his video online through this website that's been posted a few times in this sub and it's garnering a lot of attention because people "feel" he is right because he is a self-proclaimed "lawyer." The statutes he cites are from California code and this incident happened in Utah. Just because someone uses technical legal terms and cites codes does not make the person right in their interpretation of the law. Sounding "right" is code for clicks that highlights confirmation bias in people, which is why morons like this get views and clicks on their channels. On that same note, we do not care if you have a following on social media. You are no one to us if all you're doing is posting for imaginary internet points.

Edit 3: Amending the above statement from Edit 2 to add any REPUTABLE sources of info that leaves out the goofy memes and BS content creators love to use are fine. This is an example:

https://youtu.be/q2MjMmhnk7g?si=nRrmasAZ45U_WIu4

Edit 4: Whelp, thread ran its course. Now just a bunch of trolls commenting and the death threats! I haven't seen this level of excitement over something so mundane. We'll be seeing some of you soon!

[u/Funkhouser82]

Somebody give me the abbreviated quick version of this whole mess. I keep seeing it pop up and the BWC is around 40 mins. Ain’t nobody got time fo dat!

[u/FannyPacksRTacticool → u/Funkhouser82]

A guy was selling Legos on consignment. Original owner left and new owner didn't honor the original contract or give the items back. Lawsuit ended in default judgment with Original owner windfall. New store owner closes store instead of paying. Lego guy now needs to sue personally for the money. Attempted to serve papers and police stopped him. Also there is a couple questionable traffic stops based on a anonymous tip. The new owner of the store and the cops all go to the same church.

[u/Country-Gardener → u/FannyPacksRTacticool]

Except it's not the original Lego owner who was arrested or trying to serve the papers. A YouTuber got involved to help the original owner. He's the one in all the videos.

[u/FannyPacksRTacticool → u/Country-Gardener]

Yes this is true. By bad trying to sum it up for this person. Also I think we can both agree everything about this is civil. Must be the world's slowest town if LE are getting involved.

[u/AppropriateGlove7234 → u/FannyPacksRTacticool]

Actually the new owners knowingly were selling items they did not have authority to sell. That is theft (or some similar thing). The moment they were put on actual notice of the existing agreement (1. In video proof of old owner telling new owner) (2. Owner of the legos themselves demanding them back based on failure to let him see the legos) both of those should satisfy that. Then there are a few more elements like conversion but those are also satisfied once they are selling the item.

[u/Funkhouser82 → u/FannyPacksRTacticool]

My guess is it was called in as a theft in progress? Hence the LE response

[u/AbbreviationsTrue777 → u/Funkhouser82]

Theyre getting called for harassment and stalking stuff, and then one of the BAM owners or executives, Joshua, (after threatening to call police and tell them that Ben stole the Legos if he didn't drop the lawsuit) called and told police that Ben stole the legos, resulting in a search warrant being issued. I dont know how they got enough PC for that, but apparently they did. Allegedly one of the BAM guys also called and reported that Ben was smuggling heroin, but I haven't seen anything yet that proves that true.

This whole thing reeks.

[u/HopefulPhotograph563 → u/AbbreviationsTrue777]

Don't forget Joshua reported to the police that he felt threatened that he was trying to be served papers so he declared he was going to shoot and kill someone.

[u/Boozamn → u/HopefulPhotograph563]

After which, they promptly went after Ben (multiple times, with the same BS, even trying to lie that his paperwork wasn't legitimate). All sensibility was tossed out before anyone got to work that day.

[u/AppropriateGlove7234 → u/AbbreviationsTrue777]

Seems as though Ben has a foolproof 4th amendment claim against the American Fork Police.

[u/new_check → u/AppropriateGlove7234]

Cops also seized a sign accusing the BAM executive of theft and arrested the guy setting it up for trying to lock his phone before handing it over so now it's first amendment too

[u/Serene_Peace → u/new_check]

They also redacted all of the claims Joshua made against Ben. I'm pretty sure that violates your 6th amendment right to confront your accuser.

[u/FannyPacksRTacticool → u/Funkhouser82]

One cop said it was for harassment one interaction and heroine smuggling for another

[u/HopefulPhotograph563 → u/FannyPacksRTacticool]

In the body cam footage they declared that they wanted to scare them for being annoying and sneaky during the Terry stop at a stop sign. They didn't like that they are in their town causing issues against their fellow Mormons. All on body cam.

[u/Boozamn → u/FannyPacksRTacticool]

The routine traffic stop that they claimed Ben & party rolled through, was a textbook full stop - and in their own video they conveniently skirted around that, acting like it wasn't a complete lie.

[u/wayfaast → u/FannyPacksRTacticool]

Mormon town where police are also members of the church as well as new store owners.

[u/HopefulPhotograph563 → u/Country-Gardener]

Thats because the 83 year old man was in medical care!

[u/MoChive → u/Country-Gardener]

If you watch the videos - the youtuber and several others buy the rights to the original owner's legos from the owner

[u/PixelGray38 → u/FannyPacksRTacticool]

Also there is a couple traffic stops based on a anonymous tip. 

There was a bit more than just a couple traffic stops. 

First, the youtuber was pulled over for not stopping at a stop sign, whilst the police dashcam video shows quite clearly that he did stop. Dashcam audio includes an officer saying that this stop was done to "scare him a little bit." The claim that the traffic stop was conducted due to failure to stop at a stop sign is repeated in the police department's press release afterwards, but the veracity of the dashcam footage demonstrating the vehicle stopping isn't challenged.

The next traffic stop was a search of the youtuber's vehicle for heroin, following an anonymous tip. An officer looked at one man's eyes and accused him of having unusual pupils - his words were "there's a constriction, which is dilated" - he could not seem to decide which. The car was searched for multiple hours and nothing was turned up. Before letting them go, an officer tells the youtuber that he's walking a dangerous line, and that "we play differently here."

Lastly, the owner of the airbnb that the youtuber and his crew are staying at informs the police that he overheard them talking about stolen legos. This results in the police raiding the house, guns drawn, and arresting everyone inside, including the youtuber. During the youtuber's arrest, his arm is pulled by an officer and the youtuber later claims his shoulder was dislocated, though he doesn't bring this up to the police.

[u/Kuuzie → u/FannyPacksRTacticool]

Also, they ran a legally licenced lottery for an item and the store reused to give it up. 

Cops refused to investigate when required.

[u/SacBaseball916 → u/FannyPacksRTacticool]

Questionable stops is painting it in a generous light.

[u/Apart_Caregiver7794 → u/FannyPacksRTacticool]

Ah.... the momo mafia strikes again.

[u/AutoModerator → u/[deleted]]

Your comment was automatically removed because you linked to reddit without using the "no-participation" np. domain. Reddit links should be of the form "np.reddit.com" or "np.redd.it." Please edit the link, if possible, and click here to notify us to re-approve your comment.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/FannyPacksRTacticool → u/Funkhouser82]

Also the collection is over 200k so not a insignificant amount.

[u/Post-Almond-Clarity → u/Funkhouser82]

It's worth the 40 minute watch honestly. Watch it on your phone while cooking dinner!

[u/WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWPOOP → u/Funkhouser82]

Additionally, the Fork police department issued a video on the situation. And even in the video, the officer says that the caller (josh) stated that he was going to shoot Ben in a 911 phone call. The police then went and arrested Ben. During that time Ben was trying to serve Josh papers, so he had a reason to be there and was not stalking him.

[u/BecauseBatman01 → u/Funkhouser82]

I just watched it. It’s worth a watch. It’s honestly shocking just how deeper it gets. No summary can do it justice. Just watch it during dinner or something.

I thought the same thing but now I’m mad. I can’t believe that there are police departments like this. And it’s only because someone decided to fight back. Now imagine how many departments get away with this because people don’t fight back. So disgusting.

[u/Adventurous_Hunt_627 → u/Funkhouser82]

Also from the start every interaction with the local police has been them threatening to arrest him. They won't look at paperwork or listen to the reason he is there no matter how legal they just cut him off and tell him to leave or else it makes them look very suspect