One altercation with a cop I had was kind of similar.
I went to a private event, there was very little parking and a sign informing visitors that there is a parking lot several blocks away.
Directly in front of the event was an open parking spot, with my older mother in law in the car, and my three children... I took the spot.
I got out and started to move my family toward the event.
The officer approached me and yelled, "You cant park there."
I asked him why not....
He said, "Because I will have your car towed if you do."
I asked him under what authority because it was a legal parking lot.
He said, "Because I told you not to park there, that is my authority."
I asked for his supervisor. While we waited others began to arrive, and he kept telling them they could not park, I informed these people otherwise. Some obeyed the cop, some did not.
The officer was yelling at me.
Finally the supervisor arrived, he acknowledged they could not tow my car, and defended the cop for lying to me. He said lying was a "police tactic because it usually resulted in people doing what they want them to do."
I went to the event, the cop stopped lying to people and my car was never towed.... Imagine what would have happened if I were black, or not dressed in a suit?