FLINT, Michigan — Jamie McGarry did what he thought was right when he confronted a man who illegally parked in a handicapped spot at Hurley Health and Fitness.

The gym says McGarry went too far though and revoked the 31-year-old Davison man’s membership.

“Pretty simply, I just feel that it was flat out wrong,” said McGarry, who has used a wheelchair since age 20 after being paralyzed during surgery. “It’s a wrong that needs to be righted. I simply can’t let it go. It’s more than just how it affects me. I was just sticking up for the rights of the entire disabled community.”

McGarry had just finished his workout at the facility on Feb. 25 and was pulling out of his parking spot when he saw the car — without a handicap sticker — pull into the handicap spot next to him.

According to McGarry, he told the 20-something man he wasn’t allowed to park there but the man brushed off the concern, saying he’d only be there a couple minutes.

After a bit more “discussion” and after hearing a few four-letter words, McGarry decided to take matters into his own hands.

He backed his car out of his spot and parked it behind the man’s car, trapping the vehicle in the handicapped spot. Then, McGarry got in his wheelchair, left his vehicle and called security.

Both McGarry and the other driver argued they were in the right to security and McGarry said he ended up leaving in frustration.

He later was notified his membership to Hurley Health and Fitness had been revoked because of the dispute.

Hurley Medical Center spokeswoman Ilene Cantor released a statement on the incident, which said McGarry’s actions were not justified.

“The handicapped parking space was blocked by Mr. McGarry, preventing the vehicle from being able to exit, as well as prolonging the time the public was prevented from using the handicapped parking spot — which made a bad situation worse,” the statement said. “We value all of our HHFC members, and this unfortunate incident could have been avoided.”

Cantor said there were at least five other handicapped spots open. She also said that Hurley does not condone people parking in handicapped spots, even temporarily.

Flint Police Capt. Darryl Patterson said if someone witnesses a person illegally parking in a handicapped spot should take down the car’s license plate number and contact security or police. Pulling your car behind the other car is not the best idea, he said.

“You don’t want to get into a confrontation,” he said.

Mark Cody, attorney for the Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service that takes complaints from disabled persons, said he understands McGarry’s frustration.

“For any of our clients, it’s a great frustration when they need to go somewhere and the parking spots designated for them aren’t available to them,” he said.

Cody to said the best way to resolve the situation would be to call proper authorities.

McGarry has no intention of changing his ways.

On Tuesday, he yet again confronted a driver parking illegally in a handicapped spot at his new gym — Planet Fitness in Burton.

Again, he pulled his car in behind the illegally parked car and alerted employees. The police were called and the owner of the vehicle was issued a ticket, Burton police confirmed.

“The disparity between the two situations were like night and day,” McGarry said.