| VOLUSIA EXPOSED.COM |
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Local Tow Yard Alleges Man Pulled Gun In Dispute Over Towing Bill Additional Concerns Surface Regarding A 2014 Shooting Death At This Same Tow Yard |
June 24, 2019 |
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On May 29th, 2019 at approximately 5 PM - the Volusia County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from a staff member at Fryer's Towing - 722 Segrave Ave. in Daytona Beach.
( ) The female staff member clearly reports to the 911 operator - that a tow customer (later identified as Michael Morrison) had "pulled a gun" while on their property over a towing dispute. The female staff member requested an immediate - without delay response from the police. (Listen To 911 Call Audio From Above Link) The 911 operator immediately dispatched the Daytona Beach Police Department to the 911 caller's location. Within the 911 audio - the dispatched units can be heard traveling with their sirens on. Upon arrival - at least one arriving police officer approached Mr. Morrison with his rifle at the ready - pointed directly at Morrison. (see attached police body cam video -->) As ordered by the police - Morrison raised his hands - while denying to the responding officers that he has a gun in his possession. Morrison was quickly detained - being placed in handcuffs by the responding police officers. Morrison quickly explained to the officers that his truck had caught fire in South Daytona, and that South Daytona PD had allowed, over his objections, Fryer's Towing to tow his truck to their Daytona Beach compound. Morrison has voiced his belief - that Fryer's Towing has a reputation of stealing articles from towed vehicles. (more on this later) It quickly becomes apparent to the police officers that Morrison had no gun in his possession - either on his person, or in his vehicle (see the attached DBPD police report). Almost immediately, tow yard staff started walking back their initial report that Morrison had "pulled a gun" - to a more believable account that he pulled a "gun bag". However, an additional problem develops for the tow yard employees - there was also no gun bag found. In response to no gun bag being found, the supervisor of the tow yard alleges that Morrison gave the gun / bag to a red truck that pulled up and left just prior to the arrival of the police (see minutes 5-6 of police body cam video). However, there is a problem with that account too. During minute 15 of the body cam video - a tow yard employee can be heard telling the police that Morrison still had the "gun bag" in his possession after the red truck departed.(see attached police body cam video) So where is the "gun" - absent that - where is the "gun bag"? In our (VolusiaExposed.Com) OPINION - there was never a gun nor a gun bag - it was all a made up story, in order to gain a quickier response by the police - and to facilitate an armed police approach of Mr. Morrison. |
Daytona Beach PD Police Body Cam Video Content Warning Violent Content - Strong Language. Video From Within The Tow Shop Has Been Redacted By DBPD - Audio During The Redaction Period Is Available. May 29, 2019 Daytona Beach Police Detain Michael Morrison Under The Suspicion The He "Pulled A Gun" On Fryer's Towing Staff ============ May 29, 2019 ============ Daytona Beach PD Report CLICK BELOW TO REVIEW REPORT  |
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In our OPINION - an armed police approach of Mr. Morrison would have almost certainly lead to Mr. Morrison's arrest - thereby giving Fryer's staff a better standing with the police regarding their on going business disagreement with Mr. Morrison. Hey, in the end - we leave it to your our readers to form your own OPINION of whether Fryer's staff acted appropriately by alleging that Morrison had "pulled a gun" on them. For us here at VolusiaExposed.Com - our OPINION supports the belief that Fryer's staff was attempting to manipulate the police response level, with the goal of having Mr. Morrison arrested - for a crime that he did not commit. We base our OPINION on the belief that Fryer's staff reasonably expected Morrison to be armed - due to his past experience with Holly Hill and Daytona Beach PD (2012). Expert Calls Police Shooting Of Holly Hill Man "Egregious" Prosecutors Abandon Their Criminal Prosecution of Michael Morrison Morrison's past history with Holly Hill PD was known and vocalized by Fryer's staff - both in the 911 call, as well as within the police body cam video. In the VERY EARLY morning hours of October 22, 2012, Mr. Morrison was arrested at his Holly Hill home under the charge of pointing a fire arm at two police officers as they were attempting to enter his home. During this incident, Morrison was shot in his kitchen by a Holly Hill police officer, as the officer was attempting to force his way into Mr. Morrison's home. After nearly four years of criminal prosecution, and Morrison's refusal to take a plea bargain, followed by the recusal of the trial judge, the State Attorney abandoned their prosecution shortly prior to the police officers' having to provide sworn testimony to the Court. October 12, 2016 Charges Dropped Against Man Shot By Holly Hill Police |
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According to a WFTV-Channel 9 media article, on September 20, 2014 - Volusia County Sheriff Deputy Joel Hernandez shot and killed Edward Prescott Miller, 52, after Miller was observed "brandishing a firearm" on Fryer's Towing property.
Mr. Miller, and his son, Edward Daniel Miller were engaged in recovering a family vehicle that had been impounded by Port Orange Police, and then towed to the Fryer's Towing compound. According to the attached 90 page FDLE investigation (see right of page), Deputy Hernandez and another deputy were at the tow yard investigating an unrelated matter. Both deputies were in civilian clothing. The FDLE investigation memorializes somewhat different accounts of how Deputy Hernandez became aware of the verbal disagreement between the elder Miller and Fryer's staff. The FDLE report also explores whether Deputy Hernandez knew of the incident that had transpired the day before - between the Millers and Fryer's staff? The FDLE report documents that on September 19, 2014, the day prior to Deputy Hernandez's shooting and killing of the elder Miller, that Fryer's staff had called Daytona Beach Police - due to a payment disagreement regarding Miller's impounded vehicle. During this September 19, 2014 incident - at least one of the Millers had a concealed firearm on their person. |
FDLE Report O The Police Shooting Death Of Edward P. Edwards CLICK BELOW TO REVIEW REPORT  |
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According to the report, DBPD appropriately de-escalated the September 19, 2014 "payment disagreement" situation, with both parties agreeing to take care of the matter the next day. The FDLE investigation supports that DBPD was aware, and took proper precautions, regarding one of the Millers having a concealed firearm.
This publication can't help but wonder if that knowledge (Millers carry concealed firearm(s)), much like in Fryer's staff's knowledge of Morrison's alleged "gun" history, assisted (a) certain part(ies) in ramping up a law enforcement response against the Millers - that lead to the death of Edward P. Miller? We leave it to you, our reader, to come to your own conclusion and OPINION. |
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This publication has "ZERO" knowledge of the car towing business - with that said - it would appear to be logical to conclude, that this type of business does receive more than it's fair share of theft allegations.
It's not hard to imagine that towing companies can easily, and unfairly be labeled as thieves. Why - because people become upset when their car is towed - so some strike back by making false allegations against the tow company. Further, many times the tow truck driver arrives on scene after the vehicle has been rifled through by public safety officers - therefore, any missing property maybe associated with the officers, instead of the towing company. |
CHER Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves |
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It is of interest, that Morrison didn't want his truck towed to Fryer's because he believed them to be thieves. And on page 27 of the above attached FDLE report, Miller's son advises the investigator that he noticed that an "APPLE I-POD" was missing from his towed vehicle.
Morrison has advised this publication that tools were missing from his vehicle upon it's release from the tow yard. Could both Morrison and Miller be making false allegations of theft? Maybe - but in our OPINION not likely. In fact, Miller didn't bring up the missing I-POD to his father because he didn't want to escalate the disagreement between his father and Fryer's staff. Here, in our OPINION, is what separates Fryer's Towing from some other towing service providers - according to a February 11, 2015 charging report - Holly Hill Police and the State Attorney's Office filed criminal charges of grand theft auto against Glenn Landau, the owner and operator of Fryer's Towing. The charging report speaks for itself regarding the allegations lodged against Mr. Landau. While both the Holly Hill Police and the State Attorney Office supported that probable cause existed that Landau stole a vehicle from a local automobile dealership - according to a local August 21, 2017 media article Landau was acquitted during a bench trial (trial without a jury). On May 29, 2019 Michael Morrison did not wish his truck to be towed to Fryer's tow yard. Morrison lost that battle, and he ended up paying Fryer's $187.50 for the tow. But we invite you to watch (listen) the last few minutes of the police body cam video - as Morrison wins the Tow Yard War. Because the tow yard requested that Mr. Morrison be placed on a trespass notice - the DBPD police supervisor advised Fryer's staff that they have a responsibility to insure that they never tow another vehicle owned by Morrison. Which is exactly what Morrison was demanding in the first place. |
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It's our OPINION - that Fryer's Towing should be avoided. If however, you find yourself losing the battle - and your vehicle has been towed to Fryer's - be sure to keep your hands in plain sight at all times. Pay your bill and then quickly depart the property. Report any missing property to law enforcement officials after your departure from the tow yard. To our readers that are law enforcement officers, that may have to respond to future 911 calls at Fryer's Towing - we offer to you the same advice that Sgt. Phillip Esterhaus, from the 1980's T.V. series "Hill Street Blues" gave his troops - "Let's Be Careful Out There ! This publication wishes to give both the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, and the Daytona Beach Beach Department a "special thank you" for their assistance in securing the public records incorporated within this article. ...and there you have it... hopefully nothing else comes of this..... |
Hill Street Blues (1981-1987) 
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