Cape Coral family claims neighbor mocked disability and acted inappropriately

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

John Lackey, a Cape Coral resident who has been disabled for more than 22 years, says he and his family have faced troubling interactions with their neighbor, Tam Nguyen, over the past year.

In a video from May 4, 2025, Nguyen appears to taunt Lackey, telling him to wave. Lackey, who has no arms, is seen riding his handicap-accessible bike.

"And he likes to tell me that I'm not waving here. Your he says, you know, waving because he knows that he's taunting my disability because I don't have hands to wave," Lackey said.

The Lackeys claim Nguyen has mocked John’s disability by placing his arms inside his shirt. Nguyen was arrested in May 2025 following the incident, but the State Attorney’s Office initially declined to file charges. Less than a month later, the office reduced the charges to a felony battery charge, which was ultimately dropped in February 2026.

After experiencing other interactions with Nguyen, the Lackeys installed over $4,000 worth of security cameras on their property. Kim Lackey said she had another unsettling encounter with Nguyen last Saturday.

"I looked down there, and he walks into the middle of the street and unzips. And he grabbed his privates, and he shook them at me and then zipped up, and I was shocked," Kim said.

Nguyen denied the allegations, telling Gulf Coast News, over the phone, that he did not flash anyone.

"I only grab my waistband," Nguyen said.

Nguyen also claimed his neighbors are discriminating against him because of his race.

The Lackeys said they called the police after the incident. Officers came to their home and took a report, but did not arrest Nguyen. According to John Lackey, police told them they could not make an arrest because they did not witness the exposure, even though it was caught on video.

"He had come back for some additional evidence, and he said that they were reviewing the evidence and talking with the state attorney," Lackey said.

John and Kim Lackey expressed concern about their children being exposed to vulgar actions and words.

"I think that anywhere you live, you can find individuals that you don't relate to or even necessarily get along with. But I think it's up to us to understand that and then not take it any further than that. It doesn't need to become a more or a continuous battle," John said.

The Lackeys said police informed them they would work with the State Attorney’s Office to determine if there is enough evidence to take further action.

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