Attorney General Josh Stein Sues Charlotte Tow Truck Driver For Racial Discrimination

(CHARLOTTE) — Attorney General Josh Stein announced that he has sued Charlotte-based A1 Towing Solutions, Inc. and its owner David Jewel Satterfield for allegedly racially targeting consumers and illegally booting and towing their vehicles.

Attorney General Stein is adding these allegations to his ongoing lawsuit against the defendants for violating North Carolina’s price gouging laws during COVID-19. Satterfield and A1 Towing towed and booted trucks delivering needed goods during the pandemic and then forced drivers to pay exorbitant amounts to get the boots taken off and the vehicles released.

“This defendant hasn’t just been breaking the law and harming North Carolinians – he’s done so by purposefully targeting Black people,” said Attorney General Stein. “It’s both wrong and illegal, and I’m asking the court to stop him from engaging in this predatory and discriminatory conduct and give full financial relief to his victims.” 

Back in July, Shavonn Warren, a Charlotte mother, told WCCB News she was involved in a road rage incident with Satterfield on Old Concord Road.  A trial in that case is set for March. 

CHARLOTTE — A Charlotte woman says she called police after being involved in a road rage incident with a local tow truck driver.

Shavonn Warren says 55-year-old David Satterfield put his hands around her neck, as the two got into a scuffle back in July as they were driving along North Tryon Street off Old Concord Road. The incident happened she says after Satterfield refused to allow her to merge onto the roadway.  Warren says the suspect followed her along Old Concord Road.  When she stopped, she says Satterfield threw a bolt lock and hit her car.  They got out of their vehicles.

“He had put his hands around my neck, and we’re scuffling.  I got a scratch here, and a gash in my finger,” says Warren.   She says Satterfield doused her with pepper spray, and then stole several items from her car, including money, jewelry and her ID.  Warren called 911, and Satterfield was arrested the next day for breaking and entering a motor vehicle.

According to jail records, Satterfield, who operates Automobile Recovery and Parking Enforcement, a towing company, was also arrested the week before for allegedly stealing a firearm, breaking and entering a motor vehicle, and possession of a firearm by a felon.  Police say he was accused of stealing items from someone’s vehicle after towing it.

WCCB News reached out to Satterfield about the current charges.  He told us they are false.

Back in 2020, WCCB News reported North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein filed a lawsuit against Satterfield and his tow truck company, A1 Solutions, for allegedly price gouging and predatory towing.  That case is still pending in court.