05/23/2025
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Many of you have witnessed a video circulating involving one of our trusted employees. We want to clear made up rumors circulating out there. We do not support violent behavior by anyone, and this employee is definitely not a violent person. He would give the shirt off his own back to a stranger. This employee did not know the owner was outside the business. He heard shouting outside and looked to see what was happening. Our employee felt threatened by (this stranger to him) Mr Paulson’s aggressive shouting towards the owner, the employee reacted, and attempted to remove the phone from Mr Paulson’s hand in which he approached the owner already recording his approach in front of our business. Mr Paulson was standing on the public sidewalk in front of our business. Our employee did not directly attack Mr Paulson, but due to words said by our employee, it turns Mr Paulson’s actions of assaulting our employee turn into a self defense case for Mr Paulson. That’s how the law works in this incident.
Our employee is badly bruised and scraped up from Mr Paulson’s aggressive actions. He will be sore tomorrow, but should recover.
There is more to this story that you are not seeing. Mr Paulson is also accusing our business of selling illegal products. We DO NOT and WILL NOT sell any illegal products in our stores. All of our products are legal in the State of South Dakota and come from reputable distributors.
We would be happy to share more of what happened with anyone that wants to stop in and ask. We always strive to take the high road and do things right. We pride that in ourselves.
Mr Paulson has been antagonizing our business all day, coming into our new location earlier in the day and making threats to an owner and accusing of actions that are simply false. He would not stop shouting and listen to what the owner was trying to say. This erratic behavior happened in front of many witnesses, including our customers.
Mr Paulson is upset that we relocated into the location his related business was located in over 2 years ago. We have been in business slightly longer, but relatively the same amount of time as Mr Paulson, and have moved on a few occasions. We felt this move was a great way for us to cater to our valued customers. We now have a nice big parking lot to host events if we wish and customers will have ease coming and going. We also needed more space for our Motoplex business. When the space came available to rent, it was a hands down, no brainer business decision.
Mr Paulson’s actions today against America’s Smoke are extremely unprofessional from a local business man that we have personally supported at his various businesses. We have always wished him the most success, as we know the struggles being a business owner can have. Our owners have handled the situation with Mr Paulson as professionally as possible, and local authorities are monitoring the situation. Mr Paulson has been banned from our premises due to his actions.
We thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you in the new store! Stop in! We feel it is looking amazing!
Thank you.
Dustin and Danny
