This is totally nuts. I can understand if the cars been sitting there for awhile, but if it was just parked there for a minute or two is something else. I guess not everyone cares about the saftey of children. I hope they throw the book at this guy.
DALLAS -- Police in Dallas said a tow truck driver hauled away a car Monday night with a 7-year-old asleep inside before returning the vehicle a short time later.
Sergio Zuniga said Dallas-based United Tows towed his car, which was parked in the fire lane of his apartment complex in Oak Cliff, Texas, while his son was sleeping in the back seat, reported KXAS-TV in Dallas.
Zuniga said his wife was unlocking the apartment door for him while their son was still in the car. She was standing outside of the apartment and constantly looked back to where the vehicle was parked, Zuniga said.
"I'm talking to her, and all of a sudden, I'm in there, and I hear 'screech' -- the noise like somebody shot off," he said.
Towing is strictly enforced at the apartment complex, but Zuniga said it happened so fast, his wife didn't see who had taken the car. The couple then called the police.
"It's hard. I thought I lost him," Zuniga said.
About 20 minutes later, the tow truck returned.
"All of a sudden, he just drops my car -- boom, drops my car -- in the middle of nowhere out there with my son it, and he just shoots out," Zuniga said.
Police chased down and arrested 23-year-old Fidel Retana Jr. a few minutes later on charges of endangering a child.
A possible kidnapping investigation at their apartment complex had already begun. But police said Tuesday it doesn't appear he intended to take the child, and they expect to drop the charges.
According to police, many tow-truck drivers tow cars without ever getting out of the wrecker. Police said drivers may go blocks or even miles before they pull over to secure the vehicle, which may have been when Retana noticed Zuniga's son in the back seat.
United Tows apologized for the incident but said Retana was just trying to doing his job. The towing company said it is talking with its drivers to ensure the incident doesn't happen again.
Retana posted bond on Tuesday night.
Zuniga said the incident could have been avoided if Retana had spoken to him and his wife before towing their vehicle.
"If he would have asked us, 'Please move your car before I tow it,' I would have been courteous," he said. "I would have said, 'Hey, go ahead, go ahead and go.' That would have ended this whole problem."
http://www.clickondetroit.com/automotive/15898495/detail.html
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Comments: 28
I heard that in some places if you anonymously put coins in a meter and a meter maid(person) catches you, you can get in trouble for it...of course, the city will be out the fine... money money money....
I also have to agree that the laws on putting coins into someones meter is crazy. If you want to do a good deed, then you should be able too. Without being punished for it. Some places punish good people that do good deeds, more then they do drug dealers. Sick, but true.
I understand why the parents left the sleeping child in the car while they unlocked the door. I know I have done that when I am taking in groceries or have my hands full of stuff. But I usally never have another parent with me while this happens. But than again my van sets less than two feet right outside my front door as well. So, I have that option. From what I understand these parents didn't have that option. For that in its self was stupid. Why couldn't one of the parents stayed with the child while the other unlocked the door?
Secondly, I truely think a harsh punishment needs to come down on these tow truck drivers. If he would of gotten out and looked. Than this incidient would of never happened. Things like this will keep happening to stiffer punishments get served.
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