Original subtitles

This is the city.

Los Angeles, California.

In the 1890s, freight and passenger travel from the San Fernando Valley

to the Los Angeles plain came by wagon over the Cahuenga Pass.

Thirty years later, hundreds of automobiles

turned out for the opening of the Mulholland

Highway, bumper to bumper, a hint of the future.

By 1928, there was one horseless carriage for every two and a quarter people.

Today, there are over 4 million cars in the county

and seven freeways have replaced the dirt roads of yesteryear.

With hundreds of thousands traveling these freeways daily,

there are bound to be some problems.

Most are accidents.

Occasionally they get more involved.

That's when I go to work.

I carry a badge.

The story you're about to see is true.

The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

It was Monday, August 12th.

We were working the day watch out of Los Angeles Police Commission,

Investigation Division.

The boss is Captain George Milemore.

My partner is Bill Gannon.

My name is Friday.

We had a meeting with Captain Milemore.

The commission had decided to crack down on dishonest tow truck operators.

In the trade they are known as wildcatters.

Bill, Joe, what do you know about wildcatters?

Freelance tow truck drivers cruise the streets

and the freeways looking for a tow job.

A driver's license from DMV and a rig to drive and they're in business.

Behind the wheel they are subject to the same laws we all are,

but some of them are writing their own business rules.

Yes, sir, but there are plenty of good tow

operators, honest men who do an honest job.

Charge fair prices, help keep traffic moving, sometimes save lives.

Correct and the city needs every one of

them, but it's a highly competitive business,

even cutthroat.

That means the bad as well as the good.

Fortunately, the good outnumber the bad by far.

- But the bad spoil it for everybody. - That's it.

Whatever happened to the idea of a tow truck association, Captain?

It's still an idea.

Maybe someday tow truck owners will get together to establish business standards,

police their own. We hope so.

In the meantime it's up to us.

And that's why the official police garages fit in the picture.

Right. Chief Rodin has authorized a new regulatory program.

From now on, OPG drivers will wear grey uniforms and this shoulder patch.

They'll also wear a replica of this patch on their uniform caps.

This way any motorist who asks a police officer to call a tow truck

will know he is getting help from one of our licensed 16 garages.

With established towing charges and standard rules of operation.

That's right. And we'll inspect those 16 garages often.

If any fail to measure up, we'll find others to take their place.

- There's only one problem. - What's that, sir?

Sixteen OPGs aren't enough. There are far too many wildcatters operating.

The public is being swindled every day.

Complaints from motorists.

Everything from misrepresentations to gross overcharging.

- Hard to prove. - You know it.

Usually just within the law. But we got a little leverage.

Yes, sir.

Tow trucks operate out of repair shops. That's where the big money is.

- Drivers work on a percentage of what they haul in. - Yes, sir.

The Police Commission issues permits to all the auto repair shops in Los Angeles.

All right, sir. We'll get to work on these right away.

- Good. They're urgent. And Joe. - Yes, sir?

Don't forget what I said about that leverage. Use it.

Six of the complaints given us by Captain Milemore

had been made against the same tow truck operator, a man named John K. Anzo.

All six had been made in the past month.

10:30 a.m.

We began with the first complainant.

Her name was Phoebe Kensington.

She lived in an old apartment house in the 200 Block on West Catalina Avenue.

- Yes. - You're Mrs. Kensington, are you?

I'm Ms. Kensington.

We're police officers. I wonder if we might talk to you.

What about?

You wrote a letter about a man who towed your car.

Oh, yes.

Wouldn't you like to sit down and talk about it, ma'am, inside?

Well, my babies are asleep.

In your letter you said that you were towed from the Harbor Freeway, is that right?

Well, I had to turn sharply. One of those hippies cut right in front of me.

I struck the fence.

Mr. Anzo said it would cost $12 for towing my car and $30 to fix it.

I wrote you that in the letter.

Yes, ma'am, you did, but you didn't say whether you signed a contract.

- Contract? - Yes, ma'am, for Anzo's services.

Oh, yes. Well, I suppose I did, but that

didn't give him the right to do what he did.

Well, what did he do, Ms. Kensington?

- He fixed the wrong door. - How is that, ma'am?

I struck the fence on the right side.

He repaired the door on that side but claimed

the door on the left side needed fixing too

so he did. It cost me $30 more.

Do you know how much $72 is to a woman in my position, young man?

Yes, ma'am. I believe I do. Did you pay him?

Well, he wouldn't let me have my car until I did.

You'll get me my money back, won't you?

- I'm afraid we can't do that. - I don't understand.

When you signed the contract, you paid him.

All you can do now is file a civil suit.

- You mean go to court? - Yes, ma'am.

This is ridiculous.

I complained to the police.

I expect you to do something.

Yes, ma'am.

Instead you do nothing except wake up my babies.

11:15 p.m.

The tow truck driver John K. Anzo had obviously cheated Ms. Kensington,

but he had not committed a crime that we could prosecute.

We headed for the Hollywood address of the second complainant, Mrs. Perry Chance.

Yeah, what do you want?

- We're looking for Mrs. Chance. - Who wants her?

Police officers.

Yeah. Well, she ain't here.

What is it, Fats?

These guys say they're cops.

- You fellas here about the letter? - Yes, ma'am. That's right.

Come on in.

I'm Margaret Chance.

This is my husband.

- Everybody calls him Fats. - What letter?

- I filed a complaint with the law. - About what?

About 250 bucks for hauling that heap of yours! That's about what.

There's no complain. Forget it!

- Go shave and put on a shirt, would you, Fats? - There is no complaint!

The car was mine! I was driving and nobody got hurt!

You were as potted as a geranium and you know it.

The first solid week's worth you get in three months and what happens?

You tank up and rapped your car on a telephone pole.

Along comes Anzo and you fork over 250 bucks to haul you and your car in,

250 bucks cash!

- Is that how it happened, sir? - You better believe it's how it happened.

This Anzo character is no dummy. I figure he knows a live one when he sees it.

Hooks up and hauls away before the police show.

That way my husband beats a drunk driving rap, doesn't he?

- Mr. Chance? - Anzo, I never heard of him.

- Did you pay him in cash? - I just said I never heard of nobody named Anzo!

Where is your car now?

- I sold it. - I sold it, what was left of it.

Fats does extra work at the studios when he can get it.

Things are pretty slow these days. We have to eat.

- There's only one thing I can't figure out. - Yes, ma'am.

Anzo, how did he get to the wreck so fast?

There are plenty of tow truck drivers who

cruise the city looking for somebody in trouble.

They are called wildcatters. That's what Anzo is.

Most of them have shortwave radio receivers in their trucks

so they can monitor ambulance calls, even tune in on police bands.

Argh!

Argh!

- Officer? - Yes, ma'am.

Anzo, you'll get him?

We'd have more chance if your husband would testify.

He won't but I will.

Your evidence is just hearsay. Anyway it was a cash deal.

Anzo would most likely deny it.

He's got all the angles figured, hasn't he?

- No, ma'am, not all of them. - What do you mean?

Six people sent in complaints.

You're only the second one we've seen.

The next victim had written his letter in Spanish.

We called in and asked Danny Galindo to meet

us at the complainant's place of business.

1:20 p.m.

We arrived where Maria Arruba worked.

She was a cook in a tamale house near 61st in Santa Fe.

Along with Danny Galindo we interrogated her.

Tell her we got her letter and we'd like to help her.

Okay.

Muchas gracias.

- She says she understands. - All right, good.

Now, according to her letter, she says a man

driving a yellow truck offered to help her and

he asked her to sign something.

Maria Arruba told us Anzo insisted she sign a piece

of paper before he tow her car from the scene of a minor accident.

Although she couldn't understand what he was

saying, she knew what he wanted her to do.

Later she learned she had signed a blank contract

and had to pay him $75 before he'd release her car.

She also said Anzo had not repaired it.

He had simply pulled a bent fender away from a wheel.

She was then able to drive her car without difficulty.

If we could prove Anzo had persuaded Maria Arruba to sign a blank contract,

we might have a case.

The charge would be business conduct contrary

to the general welfare of the public.

We decided to talk to Anzo.

2:30 p.m.

We arrived at Anzo's garage.

1 Atom 78 Roger frequency 19 clear.

1 atom 26 1 atom 26 see the woman is probably already there now.

- John Anzo? - He's not here.

- You expecting him? - Could be.

- Police officers. - What's the beef?

What makes you think there's a beef?

- Well you said you're fuzz, ain't you? - We'd like to talk to Anzo.

- Like I said, he ain't here. - When do you expect him?

- You're going to lean on him? - That depends.

- Ah, that figures. - How is that?

A guy like Jake tries to help people when they need help and what does it get him?

Suppose you tell us, mister.

The name is Jones, Eddie Jones. I fix cars.

Jake pulls them in and I fix them.

We're in business, private enterprise, JKA Towing and Auto Repair.

- You Anzo's partner? - I just fix cars.

He's moving up fast, Jake. Opens up a new place in a couple of months.

- Two more trucks, maybe three. - Is that so?

You cops are all alike. Jake started from nothing. He was broke flat.

He built this from sweat and blood, long hours, sometimes 18, 20 a day.

I saw it happen, all of it.

Now, you want to bust him for the way he looks after people in trouble?

You said it, mister. We didn't.

Eddie? Can I help you, gentlemen?

- You John Anzo? - Right.

Police Commission Investigation. We'd like a word with you.

And why not? Let's go into the office.

Eddie, busted radiator and some body work. Order's on the seat.

Come on.

3818 Tujunga Apt. 4 in the rear.

You always monitor the police calls, do you?

- There's no law against it, is there? - There is if you do it for gain.

No, sir, not me.

Did you tow and repair a car for a woman by the name of Maria Arruba?

- I don't know. - I'd have to check my records.

- Would you do it now? - Sure. Arruba you say?

That's right.

- It might help if I knew when. - Within the last 30 days.

Business had been pretty good. I'm fixing a move. This place has had it.

- Arruba you said? - First name Maria.

Oh, sure. I remember her.

Couldn't speak much English. We had a go-around about the price.

Guess she must have filed a complaint or something.

- Yes, sir. She did. - Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

Here, see you for yourself.

That's her signature authorizing the tow and repairs.

How much repair work did you do?

One fender was smashed down against the wheel,

the radiator needed some help, and a headlight was busted.

- And you took care of it. - No.

A day or two after I towed her in, she shows

up here with a nephew I think she said he was.

Smart kid. Claimed I made her sign a blank contract.

He said they'd take the car right then without repairs.

I pulled out the fender and gave them the car.

- For $75? - Pretty expensive tow, wasn't it?

It's all there.

Flares at the scene of the accident, check motor at scene of accident,

hook up and tow, two days storage.

Well now, it still figures high, doesn't it?

Look, the kid tried to get tough. I had a contract.

If he'd been decent about it we might have come to terms.

I'd had a little talk with the nephew. They decided to pay.

Do you keep all your records here? Yes, I do. Why?

Would you mind showing them to us?

Federal and state tax, business license, county license, Board of Equalizations?

Help yourself. I've got nothing to hide.

Now, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I've got to make a living.

Well, don't you want to stay here while we go through these things?

Why? I trust you.

The records of JKA Towing and Auto

Repair indicated that John Anzo had opened for

business 14 months ago with an initial capitalization of $2000.

Anzo was listed as the sole owner.

Several other names were listed as salaried employees

with normal deductions for tax purposes.

Among these was the mechanic we had talked to, Edward L. Jones, shop manager.

Anzo maintained a checking account at a

nearby branch of the Mercantile National Bank.

His record showed a balance of several thousand dollars in that account.

5:10 p.m.

I went to report our progress to Captain Milemore.

Bill stopped off at R&I to request a possible make on John Anzo.

It was a long shot but we needed more than we had and we knew it.

All right, how are you doing on the Arruba compliant?

Well, we haven't got much so far.

Just Anzo's claim that Maria Arruba spoke a little English,

when she can't spoke a word of it.

You're on Anzo's original request for a permit with the commission?

Yes, sir, we did. There's nothing out of order.

He lists himself as sole owner, you know, the usual.

- He's batting a thousand. - Yes, sir, he is so far.

A woman signs a contract knowing full well what she's doing

and then stands still for a $30 overcharge.

Another woman signs something without knowing what it is but pays anyway.

A drunk pays off because he is afraid of the truth.

They all make Anzo as legal as traveler's aid,

and there's no way of knowing how many others

have been victimized without even writing a complaint.

Misrepresentation not, comporting with the public welfare aren't easy to prove.

- That's the trouble. - Yes, sir. I know.

We need evidence strong enough to stand up before a hearing examiner.

- It's your job to get it. - Yes, sir.

- Captain. - Bill?

R&I ran the name John K. Anzo, Joe. He's clean.

- Only on paper. - All right.

- Yes, sir? - Prove it.

Thursday, August 15th, 9:20 a.m.

We interviewed everyone who had filed a complaint against John Anzo.

We failed to find anything that could be used as evidence against him.

The local newspapers had taken an interest on the wildcatters too.

They sent one of their feature writers to get the details.

Then anyone involved in the crackup can ask a police officer

to radio for a tow from an official police garage.

No, they don't have to be in an accident, Vince.

Maybe they've stalled, can't get their engine started, out of gas, flat tire,

anytime they need assistance away from home.

So that gives the OPGs an edge over the competition, doesn't it?

Well, the OPGs are all owned and run by private businessmen.

There's no financial tie-in with the department.

If there's any edge at all, it's because they're willing to play it straight,

- meet department standards and not overcharge. - I see.

Every official police garage is inspected, checked out at regular intervals.

A garage that doesn't cut it just isn't an OPG anymore. Another one takes its place.

- You said there are 16. - One for every geographical police division.

Now, when the number of divisions are increased,

- so will the number of OPGs. - Yup.

Finding other garages that come up to OPG

standards won't be hard because most of them do.

What's this dodge I hear some tow driver use?

Telling the motorists he'll get a ticket if he stalled on a freeway.

Scare psychology to sell a fast tow. It's rough being stuck on a freeway.

Some wildcatters milk it for all its worth.

- Like how much? - Well, $5 to change a tire, 10 for a short can of gas.

What's that? A short can?

All right, now suppose you run out of gas on a freeway.

I leg it to the nearest station.

Not if you're a woman, you don't. Along comes a wildcatter.

He always has a five-gallon can of gasoline.

He sells you the gas for $10 but he only pours two gallons in your tank.

- Suppose I don't want an OPG tow? - That's your privilege.

Okay. I'm dealing with a wildcatter. Are there any rules I should follow?

Don't agree to a tow without getting a filled-in contract that lists all charges.

Don't allow your car to be hauled away until

you know exactly where it's being taken.

There shouldn't be any trouble about that.

Tow trucks are required to have their address

and phone numbers painted on both sides, aren't they?

Yeah, that's right.

But some freelance drivers have working

arrangements with more than one repair garage.

By the time you locate your car, chances

are you've run up extra charges for storage.

- Another thing. - Yeah?

Don't let a wildcatter look under your hood.

- Why not? - That look will cost you 10 bucks.

- Excuse me. Talk to you a minute, Joe. - Gannon?

- Vince. - Thanks, Joe. I think I got all I need.

Right, Vince. I'll see you.

Crime report from Ted Condell, AID.

They picked up something on JKA Towing.

- The complainant is an OPG driver. - Is that right?

He was summoned to an accident this morning at 7:30 by a patrolman out of Wilshire

Division. Seems he reached the scene the same time as the JKA driver.

There was an argument over whose tow it was.

The JKA guy threw a punch, attacked the OPG driver. Charged him with 242.

- JKA driver make the tow, did he? - He sure did.

He's named here in the report, Edward L. Jones.

- One more thing. - What's that?

They found a JKA business card in one of the accident victims.

Tow drivers usually leave their card with the motorists, don't they?

It's considered proof the motorist agreed to a tow. That's not unusual, is it?

- This time it might be. - Well how do you figure?

The victim, he's in the morgue.

We put in a call to the county coroner's office

and requested a full report on the accident victim.

If we could prove the JKA business card had

been placed on the body after death, we'd have

all the evidence we needed for the commission to move against JKA

and to add a charge of grand theft auto.

We talked to Eddie Jones.

- You just missed him. - We want to talk to you.

- I'm busy. - Monday you told us you fixed cars.

Anzo pulls them in and you repair them, is that right?

- Your memory is okay. - You never drive the truck.

I got a license. Do you want to see?

Does that mean you drive the truck sometimes?

Jake drives days. Sometimes I work nights until the morning. I don't sleep so good.

- So it's against the law? - Ever heard of assault and battery?

The crumb was moving in on my tow.

- You ever been in trouble before? - What kind of trouble is that?

Sure I belted him.

A guy has got to stand up for his rights, don't he?

Nobody ever handed me nothing.

- You said it was your tow. - Can you prove it?

- I gave him my card. - You gave him your card.

Sure. The guy who belongs to this.

How did you make it to the accident?

Radio. I was cruising. I heard the call.

The driver of this car, what did he say to you when you gave him your card?

Nothing. He was in a bad way.

I told him I'd take care of his car.

He looked at me and nodded. That's all.

Just saw it and nodded his head.

- And that's your story, is it? - It's the truth.

How much do you have invested in this business, Eddie?

- How much? - 14 months.

- 14 months, that's all? - I don't get you.

Monday you told us Anzo was broke when he opened up here.

His records show he started out with $2000.

Now, where did he get it? - I don't know. Ask him.

- We will but we thought you'd know. - Yeah? Why?

Your interest in the business, Eddie, it shows.

11:30 a.m.

We wanted to talk to Anzo but first, we had to check out a couple of things.

While Bill contacted the county coroner for the report on the accident victim,

I called R&I to request a run on Eddie Jones for a possible criminal record.

All right, Jones, Edward Lawrence.

3657 Danker.

Yeah, that's right.

Male Cauc, Grey-black, Hazel,

5'10, 165, 7-10-25.

Right. Thank you.

About 7:45.

Uh-huh.

No chance at all.

Thanks.

Coroner's office says the victim died on the

way to central receiving approximately 7:45.

And the AID report shows Jones slug the OPG

driver at 7:30 so the victim could have been

alive when Jones gave him his business card.

Yeah. But didn't Jones claim the victim looked at him and nodded his head?

That's what he said.

Coroner's office says the victim was

rendered unconscious at the moment of impact.

Can the coroner prove that the victim never regained consciousness?

He will swear an affidavit to it.

Tow truck drivers follow a pattern.

They usually work the same general area.

It took us 20 minutes to locate John Anzo.

12:50 p.m.

While Bill stayed with the car for a possible call from Communications

on the Eddie Jones R&I we had requested.

I talked to John Anzo for the second time in four days.

We appreciate your cooperation, Anzo.

I'll give you the help I can, Sergeant.

Maybe you can clear up a couple of things.

Fire away.

What do you know about Eddie Jones?

I know I couldn't get along without him.

- Well he said I ought to ask you something. - Like what?

Like where you got the $2000 to start in business.

Oh, I don't have to tell you that.

No, sir. You don't have to tell me anything.

But if you're clean, you should be as anxious as I am to prove it.

Now, we've had six complaints about you, seven with the one this morning.

That many complaints deserve investigation, don't they?

What about this morning?

Eddie Jones assaulted another tow truck driver.

Eddie's got a temper, but he must have had a reason.

He said he did. Now Anzo, did you get the money from him?

- The $2000? - Yes, sir?

From Eddie? What if I did?

That'd make him your partner, wouldn't it?

I suppose it would.

- Is he? - Is he what?

- Your partner. - I don't think that's any of your business.

Your application for permit with the Police

Commission lists you as the sole owner of JKA.

Now if you have a partner, a silent partner like Eddie,

and you fail to show it on your application, your permit can be revoked.

- You know that, don't you? - On what grounds?

- Fraudulent application. - That's a technicality, Sergeant.

Besides I haven't said Eddie was my partner.

Maria Arruba doesn't speak any English, not one word.

Now, how did you explain that contract to her?

She seemed to understand what it was all about.

That drunk you took for everything he had on him,

what technicality made that job worth 250 bucks?

I don't know what you're talking about.

I'm talking about the way you and your partner do business.

You know what. Suddenly I can't understand a word you say.

I'll let my attorney do my listening for me.

You do that, Anzo.

A call just came in on Tech 2. The R&I on Eddie Jones.

Six priors. Felony assault and kidnapping. Both out of state dismissed.

Four subsequent arrests in Los Angeles dating back five years.

All 242 and 415. All convictions.

It sounds like Greek to me.

Well, we'll do more for you than you did for the Arruba woman.

- What's that? - We'll see that you get an interpreter.

The story you have just seen is true.

The names were changed to protect the innocent.

On September 9th, the hearing was held before the Police Commission Examiner,

City of Los Angeles.

In a moment, the results of that hearing.

Evidence presented at the Police Commission hearing

firmly established the fact that Edward L. Jones

was a partner in JKA Towing and Auto Repair.

The hearing examiner's recommendation to the Police Commission led to final

revocation of Anzo's permit on the grounds that he conducted business

in a manner not comporting with the public welfare.

Charges of grand theft auto and assault are pending against Edward L. Jones.

The governor of the State of California

signed into law Assembly Bill 1650 which now

gives the authority to all local police departments in the state

to regulate all tow car service operation,

including the licensing thereof.