Axle staff is rude, hostile, RACIST, and engages in illegal practices. They used the N-word against a young man and made several threats to him and me, saying they'd be looking for our vehicles to tow again. Axle Towing and Impound engages in predatory and illegal practices and should be held accountable for their actions.
I had to call Apache Junction police 3 times, they came to the scene twice- once to make Axle Towing and Impound release a vehicle as they were holding it illegally, and again after they used racist language and made threats against us.
Tow and impound businesses can't hold a vehicle for money, can't keep a vehicle from its owner for towing and storage fees, they must return a vehicle to its owner when provided proof of ownership by owner or owner's agent. Depending on the city, they may have to make vehicles available at all hours, they may have to release a vehicle before making it to impound, and they may have to stop the towing process before removing a vehicle in the first place. Check the city's codes for the correct information.
A middle-aged couple arrived close to 8 am, apparently staff, to open their trailer business. I approached them outside asking about a car police already confirmed Axle towed the night before. The male staff member motioned for me to wait as they both went inside. I returned to my car and a few moments later he opened the door and motioned for me to come inside. They acted as if they didn't know why I was there or what car I had asked about. The female staff member had an especially unpleasant tone and mannerisms from the start. When I explained the vehicle had been illegally towed, she talked over me. She said the car had been backed in and the lot didn't allow that. I informed her that I had seen the signs after the fact, and they appeared to be for covered parking only and not the uncovered parking the car was in. No signs were located near where it was parked and none were legible from there. She continued demanding $300 and asking for a card. She would not engage in any civil conversation, would not answer questions, she only demanded $300 in a very rude manner. I left the trailer, said it wasn't necessary to behave that way, and returned to my vehicle to call police again. Another staff member (are they all related?) arrived with her two babies, to work in this sick and hostile environment.
When the officer arrived, he talked with me and then went inside to inform staff they must release the vehicle and can't demand payment to do so. He told to staff to let me access the car to obtain the registration, so I could take possession of my vehicle. When I first found the car, it had new scratches all over it, a big dent in the right rear bumper, the tow punch was out, and it wouldn't unlock with the key fob. I took several pictures and found my registration. I pulled up to the gate and brought the registration to the staff members in the trailer. They said the registration was not valid and made a big deal of it. I went back to the car looking for another registration, then realized the registration I had was indeed valid and brought it back to show the officer and the staff. They required I sign a paper with charges for towing and storage. I signed only that I had received the paper, and did not agree to pay.
The officer left, as we both believed I should have no problem removing my vehicle at that point. Two other apparent staff members, another middle-aged couple, arrived and entered the trailer while I was inside. My companion and I drove the car out of the impound. I stopped to take pictures before getting into my other vehicle to leave. As I was taking pictures of the property and the vehicles staff arrived in in order to identify the individuals involved in the illegal holding of vehicles for money and other bad practices, the first couple and the younger woman who had arrived with her babies all came outside yelling at me to delete the pictures. This was especially ridiculous, as their business was recording everything as well, and they don't get to decide who can take pictures of their property or what can be done with those pictures.
I flipped them off and returned to my vehicle. They continued yelling, saying they would find the car they'd illegally towed the night before and tow it again. The male staff member said to my companion, "N*gg#r, I'm coming for you at ______", stating the location they had originally towed the vehicle from. Yes, he actually said the N-word, the whole word, with a hard "R", and he is a very white man. All three continued yelling and threatening to tow our cars again as we gave them the finger and drove away.
I called AJPD again. The same cop called me, saying he had seen the video from the business but there was no audio. The business did not want me to return. He said he'd been in my shoes and hoped I was able to get justice. We must stop these predatory businesses from committing further illegal acts! read more