Attorney questions whether seizure was made up to retaliate against deputy

The lawyer for a Howard County deputy accused of humiliating a Subway employee contends claims of a seizure may have been made up.

ABC 17 News reported on the incident Thursday after the employee, Neda Smith, said she had a seizure when Deputy Bradley Young took a picture of her and later posted it on Facebook, writing, “Yeah, not ordering from you today.”

On Friday, Young’s Columbia-based attorney, A.W. Smith told ABC 17 News the woman said she was sick but did not require further assistance after the incident. When Young returned to the store 30 minutes later and saw the employee serving food to customers, he posted the photo.

“I think that his intentions were to inform his friends and family there was a sick person that was continuing to serve food at a Subway restaurant,” said Smith.

Young’s attorney claims the seizure may have been made up as retaliation by the store manager, who had a negative encounter with Young prior to the incident.