Car Sale Dispute Resolution

My former friend was selling me his used Chevy Cruze for $* plus the cost of repairs up to $*. When the estimate came back at $* to get the car running, I backed out of the deal. He agreed to repay me the down payment, but since he had spent it to purchase a new car for himself, he needed to do it in installments. Later, we had an argument, and he cut all communication with me, leaving his debt unpaid. I found out last week he decided he wasn't going to pay me back, and that he had signed the title of the Cruze over to the dealership we took it to for repairs. Is that not theft or fraud? It has to be illegal, because I have neither the Cruze, my money, or my friend. Can I have him arrested?

I already filed a small claims suit against him in King County District Court. The judge failed to reach a decision and was not able to award a judgement, even though I submitted a document that contained the defendant's admission against interest that he had agreed to repay me the money and that he still would if the court forced him to. The statement was from his petition for a protective order, which he filed in order to stop my legitimate and lawful attempts to collect his outstanding debt to me. He won the protective order because I misunderstood when the judge asked if I objected to the order being imposed and answered, "No, your Honor." And the judge in the small claims case was immediately prejudiced against me by the presence of a protective order. Now, I can't contact the defendant for any reason, I can't get my money from him, and he already signed the car I paid for over to another party. It's a pretty brilliant strategy for evading one's debt, no?

The window of opportunity for appealing the small claims case has already closed. And on the protective order, I exhausted my motion for reconsideration and my one allowed motion to terminate or modify a protective order as the respondent in the case. I have been isolated in my apartment, too afraid to go out because he lives in the same building just one floor above me next to the front entrance, and I fear he will use any chance encounter to call the police and have me arrested for violating the *-foot clause in his protective order. He's tried twice already. So I have spent every day of the last 9 months alone in my apartment, only leaving for court dates and doctor's appointments. The damage he has done to my mental health, emotional health, reputation, and my ability to find gainful employment or better housing has been catastrophic. I'm suffering from the long-term effects of isolation and experiencing cognitive decline. I'm only 51 years old! He must be punished.

Yes, please.

yes, please.