Then said, "I never believed wearing a uniform meant somebody could hurt another person just because he was angry."
The courtroom remained silent.
The defense examined Marcus's role in the towing complaints.
His attorney questioned whether Marcus had developed a personal dislike for Hale before the incident.
Marcus acknowledged that he had concerns about the sergeant's towing decisions.
He also acknowledged that he had helped organize complaints and intended to speak at the council hearing.
But he denied threatening Hale or provoking him on the sidewalk.
The attorney asked whether he had approached the sergeant angrily.
Marcus considered the question.
"Yes. I was upset when I saw my tire being damaged."
The attorney leaned forward.
"So you were angry?"
Marcus nodded.
"I was."
"Could the sergeant have interpreted your behavior as threatening?"
Marcus paused.
Then answered.
"I kept my hands visible, didn't move toward him aggressively, and offered to cooperate with a proper investigation."
The attorney asked whether he understood that police officers sometimes needed to restrain individuals for safety.
Marcus nodded.
"Yes."
Then the attorney asked whether Marcus believed his military service entitled him to special consideration.
Marcus shook his head.
"No."
For a moment, he looked toward Walter.
Then back at the attorney.
"I don't think anybody should have to be a veteran to get fair treatment."
The courtroom became quiet.
Marcus continued.
"I was asking the sergeant to verify the facts and stop damaging my property. That's something anyone should be able to do."
The attorney asked several more questions.
Marcus answered.
Then he was excused.
As he returned to his seat, Renee reached for his hand.
He squeezed it.
For the first time, he felt that the incident was no longer something he had to carry alone.
Laura Sutton testified about what she observed from the hardware store's office.
She explained the camera system, the original recording, the preservation process, and the sequence of events she witnessed.
Evelyn Miller described the store's camera installation and confirmed that the footage came from the system operating at the time.
The technical examiner discussed the original video files and the relevant metadata.
The proceedings did not depend on a dramatic courtroom surprise.
The evidence had already been preserved and examined.