Controversy struck following a social media post showing a homemade police car flying a Confederate flag during an event at the Kandiyohi County Fair in Willmar, Minnesota.
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The fair hosted a demolition derby at the county's fair last week when the small vehicle bearing the word "Sheriff" and other law enforcement badges circled the racetrack. The vehicle prompted complaints to the county commissioners and the county administrator.
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Kandiyohi County Sheriff Eric Holien posted on Facebook, separating the sheriff's office from the incident.
"We wanted to take the time to ensure everyone we took no part in and denounce this type of display at the Kandiyohi County Fair," the post read.
The little car was built from a riding lawn mower as a tribute to Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane, the cop from the 1980s show "The Dukes of Hazzard."
The markings on the car show "Hazzard County" spelled out above the badge and "Roscoe P. Coltrane" in script next to the driver's seat.
Michael Reynolds created the car and posted several photos of himself with the car on his Facebook page, where he also has defended himself from those criticizing the vehicle.
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Reynolds' also posted photos of him with another lawn tractor that was made to look like the "General Lee," the orange race car driven by the Duke brothers in the show.
"I'm not racist nor will I ever be and if everyone knows that flag it has history behind the flag," he wrote. "I love the show Dukes of Hazzard.
"I recently had problems at the Willmar fair. All I wanted to do was show off the Roscoe P. Coltrane and everyone in Willmar blew everything out of proportion, call me a racist and get out of the country and more.
"But u know what, let them keep talking cause I have lots of people behind me on support."
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In an interview, the Star Tribune wrote that Holien stated the sheriff's office's opinion on the incident and that the car does not represent the department.
"I'm not denouncing the fact that you have your First Amendment right to fly the flag," he said. "We get that. But we are not associating ourselves with anything having to do with this."