Posted on 11/12/2023 5:47:53 PM PST by algore
Stephen Perkins, 39, was gunned down by cops from Decatur Police Department outside his home on September 29 in Decatur, Alabama.
Police have said that a tow truck driver had attempted to repossess Perkins pickup when it is alleged Perkins pulled a gun on him, causing the driver to call 911.
Surveillance cameras captured the moment Perkins was gunned down by responding officers, who fired eighteen shots at him. Appallingly, a driver from Allstar Recovery drives off with the dying man's truck as he takes his final breaths just feet away, with his final words said to have been 'help.'
That newly-released footage - first shared by Decatur Daily - has triggered outrage in the Alabama city, with both the repossession firm and police department blamed for what activists say was Perkins' needless death.
Officers can be seen standing over the body of Perkins in his front lawn after gunning him down, with the tow driver nonchalantly making off with Perkins' white GMC Sierra.
Officers can be seen standing over the body of Perkins in his front lawn after gunning him down.
They claimed Perkins had been told to drop a gun he'd been holding but that he'd refused to do so.
Chief Todd Pinion later said Perkins had been ordered to 'get on the ground' by officers who'd identified themselves as police.
The change of story has led locals to question whether the police department has also gotten other crucial details wrong.
After the shooting, the officers appear to pat Perkins down, with one officer moving from Perkins' right side over to Perkins' legs.
Out of sight, an unidentified repossession officer has hooked the GMC to their truck and begins to tow it away.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Not according to the law. Even with a legally justified repossession, if the customer says: "Don't repo my car!" the agent HAS to stop. He can come back another time, but that repo then is over.
Just telling you what the law is.
Of course. I don’t know why you insist you know what happened when you don’t know anything about this anymore than I do. I guess we may, or may not, find the truth at a later date.
I did not miss the silly biased wording of this article. Typical MSM inflammatory bait. Maybe they can cause a riot or something.
For that reason, I won’t pass any judgment.
What Can Repo Companies in Alabama Do?
Car repossession laws allow repo companies to take your car off the street or right out of your driveway. But repo agents can’t breach the peace when they take a vehicle. That means they can’t use violence, threats of violence, or force.
If you’re present during the repossession, you can ask the agent to stop and leave your property. If the agent continues anyway, the court “could” later consider this a breach of the peace. You should never block the agent or use physical force against the agent, even if you believe a car repossession is wrongful. Doing so could result in violence and/or criminal charges against you.
Alabama state doesn’t require repossession companies to have any special licensing.
With all due respect to Road House, did you tell him, “For that line of work, I thought you would be...greasier”?
LOL!
Yep! I worked for a repo company many years ago...80s, and they said it is ALWAYS BETTER to repossess when the deadbeat payer is NOT present! If you have ANY altercation; walk away.
They could lose the vehicle in a wrongful action court case, because the deadbeat said you attacked him, you “tricked” his family, you threatened his family, etc...and the judge decides in their favor and gives them the vehicle so that “unscrupulous repo men” do not scare, trick, threaten this poor, innocent family again, just because they refuse to pay their bills!
I hate those nightmares. Those are the kind of situations I tell my wife... “I’m gonna start documenting this”. I write down the calls, dates, times, who I spoke to, what we spoke about. Just a nuisance, but you never know when you might need to “remember” specifics if you go see the judge.
This was a real nightmare for this guy.
If the police were there and gunned him down, he was their responsibility to deal with, not the tow truck operator’s.
If he had tried to do anything, I’m guessing the cops would have stopped him or arrested him, or something.
I have a hard time believing the police would have allowed the tow truck driver to leave without their permission. He was the reason they were engaged & the man shot. Anyone who was a known witness would have to be cleared to leave.
I guess we will have to wait and see. I am always reluctant to believe an article written with the wording used here.
There is hard data out there that could clear everything up, I would like to see it.
Was he behind on his payments?
Was the Repo Man at the right house?
Was he actually armed?
I have seen people do some really awful things because of mistakes, the James King and Silvester Hayes cases spring immediately to mind.
People are not perfect which is why we are suppose to double check things. But we get busy and think we know when we don't.
Was that what happened here?
Don't know.
Which is why I ask questions. Neither side has provided any hard data. Just statements.
I think the system worked properly.
Heh I fully admit to not knowing much of anything about repossession of cars before that, so I assumed the bank or dealer or whatever would simply contract a towing company to go to an address and get a car.
My only knowledge came from people who had their cars repossessed, and they never talked about the detail, only that their car was gone.
And that was back in the Seventies!
He chose poorly. FAFO.
The law 8n most states is clear that the police may not assist in the repo. It would depend upon a lot of facts and circumstances.
Based upon the police fabrications per the article, it looks like they will be sued.
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