Show Notes:

In this episode of Process Server Daily, host Mighty Mike Reid interviews veteran Mississippi process server and former private investigator Davy Keith, owner of Quantum Process. Davy shares how a childhood dream of law enforcement led to private investigations, then organically evolved into a thriving process serving company. He talks about building a business while raising a family, why he eventually left PI work completely, and how faith shapes his work and safety mindset. Davy’s worst field experience—being arrested by a deputy while legally serving a subpoena—turned into a two-year legal battle, a lawsuit, a settlement, and a life-changing lesson about backing off dangerous or overly confrontational serves. He also explains the rewards of helping people during their hardest moments, practical defense and safety tips, skip-tracing tricks, marketing advice, and the importance of family time, low debt, and intentional outreach to attorneys.

TIMESTAMPED OUTLINE

00:00 Process Server Daily intro
00:28 Mighty Mike welcomes Davy Keith to the show

01:00 Personal life overview — age, family, and Quantum Process
01:35 Balancing ownership with managing a team of experienced servers
02:15 Davy’s family: three kids, 16+ years of marriage, why family motivates his work

03:05 Early path: desire for law enforcement, criminal justice degree, small police department
03:45 Motorcycle accident, recovery, and starting his own PI business
04:30 First exposure to process serving and how it grew out of investigations
05:10 Realizing process serving fit better than PI work; business shifting to full-time serving
05:55 How a PI case introduced him to his future wife

07:00 Setting the scene: domestic case subpoena for a teacher / counselor
07:40 Initial contact with the husband — former law enforcement, hostile phone call
08:25 Early red flags and why he should have backed off
08:55 Knock strategy: long, persistent knocking and notifying the sheriff’s office
09:40 Leaving and circling back; catching the subject coming out as the deputy arrives
10:20 Introducing himself to the deputy; immediate tension and ordered to stay by the car
11:00 Attempting to serve: laying subpoena on the ground and stepping back
11:25 Deputy charges at him, taser drawn — “If you move, I’m tasing you”
11:55 Thrown onto the hood, handcuffed, and ordered to sit on the car
12:35 Quietly using his Bluetooth to get word to the attorney
13:05 Deputy confiscates headset, searches for phones, and locks Davy in the patrol car
13:45 Ride to jail, insults from the deputy, strip search, orange jumpsuit, shackles
14:40 Waiting in the drunk tank, hours passing, wife at home worrying
15:25 Fear of what he might be charged with, especially as a concealed-carry holder
16:05 Finally bonding out after ~8 hours; discovering five misdemeanor charges
16:40 Charges listed: trespass, family disturbance, failure to obey, impersonating an officer, etc.
17:20 Mississippi statute on interference with process and counters against the subject
17:55 Deal struck: her charges dropped if he doesn’t pursue interference case against her

18:30 Court day: deputy’s version vs. Davy’s; judge sides with officer, finds Davy guilty
19:15 Missing audio/video evidence and “lightning hit the jail” explanation
19:45 Decision to sue the deputy personally for false arrest
20:10 Hiring (and replacing) multiple attorneys until finding the right one
20:40 Depositions reveal contradictions between the deputy’s story and the subject’s
21:15 County moves toward settlement; Davy’s goal is accountability, not money
21:45 Final outcome: $13,000 settlement, about $10,000 in costs, charge dropped, deputy fired
22:25 Key lesson: never assume being an “arm of the law” protects you from trouble
23:00 New policy: backing off severe confrontation, using different servers or the sheriff’s office

23:40 Ad break — Mighty Process Servers community
24:15 Southern hospitality: being invited to dinner and into people’s homes
24:45 Icebreakers at the door: talking about the weather or snow instead of “I’m looking for…”
25:30 Reframing service: helping people know what’s happening so they aren’t blindsided in court
26:10 Most rewarding moments: praying with people, offering encouragement during lawsuits
26:55 How a kind word and simple reassurance can prevent someone from giving up entirely

27:40 Being human and professional — connecting with people beyond the papers
28:15 Mike shares his own “porch compliments” and rapport-building style
28:55 Why Davy avoids deceptive gimmicks and prefers straightforward service
29:30 Role of faith: trusting God when serving in dark, rural, or risky situations
30:05 Brief story: adoption service on three ex-cons; pepper spray stops a potential attack
30:45 Importance of intermediate force tools like OC spray, and reading timing and sobriety
31:30 Strategy for serving alcoholics: early-morning attempts instead of evening confrontations

32:10 Practical advice: talk to attorneys at the courthouse; promote yourself constantly
32:40 Join process serving directories and go the extra mile (second addresses, skip traces)
33:15 Be clear and detailed when replying to NAPs or email requests; use a professional signature line
33:55 Don’t over-leverage: avoid big loans, start lean, and let the business grow organically
34:25 Simple tools (spreadsheets) are fine when starting; software can come later

35:00 Personal project: building out a military Humvee and the reminder to prioritize family time
35:40 Little moments with kids matter more than projects; five minutes can change their day
36:20 Words and “promptings” — how a single kind word can shift someone’s life path

36:55 Favorite skip-trace tip: plug phone numbers into Facebook to find profiles
37:25 Emphasis that a real skip trace is more than a report — it requires human verification

37:55 Favorite defense tool: concealed firearm plus faith; reasons for always carrying
38:30 Book recommendation: The Survivalist series (post-apocalyptic, realistic scenarios)

39:00 Greatest advice received: grandfather’s lesson — “Get out of debt and stay out of debt.”
39:30 Hypothetical restart: $100, a car, smartphone — heavy email outreach to attorneys, free first service offers, and aggressive relationship-building

40:00 Best way to connect with Davy: email, phone, website, and Facebook
40:20 Episode wrap-up and Process Server Daily outro