A dispute over an alleged wrongful arrest and the loss of personal property has led to a federal lawsuit involving a former employee of a national trucking company and multiple law enforcement agencies. The complaint outlines claims that the plaintiff was unlawfully detained for 121 days, lost valuable possessions including legally registered firearms, and suffered reputational harm as a result of actions taken by his former employer and public officials.
The lawsuit was filed by Kimarlo Ragland in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina on April 22, 2026. The named defendants include Heartland Express Inc. of Iowa (doing business as Heartland Express), several individual managers at Heartland Express, West Virginia State Police, Putnam County West Virginia Sheriff’s Office and Magistrate Office personnel, as well as Cisive Inc., a background screening company.
According to the complaint, Ragland began working for Heartland Express on January 23, 2025 as a southeast regional truck driver based out of Chester, Virginia. He alleges that after four months with the company he was falsely accused by management of stealing his assigned truck—an accusation that led to his arrest on May 15, 2025 while he was driving home to return the vehicle following what he describes as workplace harassment and pay disputes.
Ragland states that all his personal belongings were inside the truck at the time of his arrest: “This case arise from the unlawful + unconstitutional seizure and theft of all the plaintiffs personal property including his money, both his legally registered handguns…clothes, shoes amongst a host of other valuables violating the 4m 5m +4″ amendments of the US constitution inter alia.” He further claims that after being stopped by deputies in West Virginia based on information relayed from Heartland Express management through multiple jurisdictions—information he characterizes as false—he was jailed for more than four months before charges were expunged from his record.
The complaint accuses specific individuals at Heartland Express—including then Vice President Todd Tremble (since replaced by Don McGlaughlin), shop manager Rodney Arnett in Columbus Ohio, terminal manager Nessa Long in Kingsport Tennessee, driver manager Cory Bolden in Kingsport Tennessee, and human resources representative Dave Dalmasso—of acting “with malice” or “evil motive” to deprive him of wages due or create an unsafe work environment. Ragland alleges racial discrimination throughout these interactions: “Heartland utilized an EXTREME effort to execute…by stealing [and] depriving plaintiff of all his possessions…solely because he is black.” He also asserts that law enforcement officers failed to follow proper procedures during his arrest: “Upon being stopped, plaintiff was ejected from vehicle via deputies…falsely feloniously arrested on ‘Receiving/Transferring a stolen vehicle’ notwithstanding its absence from NCIC/stolen database.”
The suit also names members of law enforcement—including Sean Fletcher and Austin McKeown (Putnam County deputies), Jane Doe/John Doe officers with West Virginia State Police—and magistrates Linda Hunt and Jean Luikart. Ragland claims these officials set unattainable bail without considering his lack of criminal history or financial status: “Defendant Luikart made no inquiry into financial standing…set bond significantly higher than statutory limit…failed to consider fact plaintiff had lived at or about same address entire life.” He further alleges extended pretrial detention due to judicial decisions despite lack of evidence presented at hearings.
In addition to accusations against Heartland Express regarding wage theft and hostile work conditions prior to separation from employment—including alleged manipulation or withholding of pay—the complaint addresses post-arrest events. Ragland says he attempted through family members to recover his belongings but received inconsistent responses from company representatives about their whereabouts; ultimately he learned most items had been disposed except for his wallet. He also reports ongoing difficulties obtaining employment due to allegedly inaccurate or defamatory statements reported by Cisive Inc., which provides background checks for trucking companies: “CiSive continue[s] to disclose such false unverified and inaccurate information/report to third parties,” Ragland writes.
Ragland seeks actual damages for lost property (including firearms), compensatory damages for mental anguish and physical health impacts resulting from incarceration—including weight loss requiring medical treatment—and punitive damages against all defendants jointly and severally. The legal basis cited includes violations under federal civil rights statutes (42 U.S.C. §§1981-1989), Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C §1681), various constitutional amendments (Fourth, Fifth, Eighth, Ninth, Fourteenth), as well as state tort claims such as defamation and conversion.
The court filing requests a jury trial but notes that some defendants have not waived governmental immunity. No attorney names are listed in this portion of the document; Ragland appears self-represented according to statements within the filing. The case is identified as Case 5:26-cv-00264-FL.
Source: 526cv00264_Ragland_v_Heartland_Express_Inc_Complaint_Eastern_District_North_Carolina.pdf
