Repo Man Allegedly Assaults Owner
Tow Truck Driver Arrested and Charged with Attempted Murder After Beating Vehicle Owner
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A Memphis tow truck driver faces attempted murder charges after allegedly beating a man with a heavy metal pipe during a vehicle repossession. Taylor Douget, 29, was arrested on May 14, 2024, one day after the attack left the victim with two neck fractures and a gash above his ear requiring 12 stitches, according to WREG Memphis.
The assault happened around 9:30 AM at the intersection of Millbranch Road and Raines Road in Memphis's Whitehaven neighborhood. Douget was booked into the Shelby County Jail and formally charged with attempted second-degree murder on May 15. His bond was set at $100,000, Action News 5 reported.
Victim Followed Tow Truck to Ask One Question
The victim told investigators he only wanted to know where his car was being taken, according to FOX13 Memphis. He followed Douget's tow truck in a separate vehicle after spotting the repossession in progress. The pursuit ended when Douget stopped at a red light at Millbranch and Raines roads.
Douget allegedly got out of the truck carrying a metal pipe roughly two to three feet long — the kind used to tighten chains on tow trucks. He walked to the victim's vehicle and struck him multiple times. The victim was rushed to Regional One Health in critical condition.
Tennessee Law Says Repos Must Stay Peaceful
Under Tennessee Code § 47-9-609, repossession agents can take a vehicle without a court order — but only if they do it "without breach of the peace." That means no threats, no violence, and no continuing the repo after the owner physically objects. Douget allegedly crossed that line the moment he picked up the pipe.
Industry standards back this up. The American Recovery Association advises agents to drive to the nearest police station if an owner follows or confronts them — not engage roadside. A Memphis Police Department spokesperson said after the arrest that "property is never worth a human life."
Attempted Murder Charge Carries Up to 30 Years
The Shelby County District Attorney's Office escalated the charge to attempted second-degree murder, citing the use of a deadly weapon and the severity of the victim's injuries. In Tennessee, that is a Class B felony. A conviction carries a sentence of 8 to 30 years in prison, KLTV reported.
Judge Ronald Lucchesi presided over early proceedings on Douget's bond status, according to KWCH. Douget's employer was not publicly named in police affidavits. His employment status at the time of his arrest remained unclear.
Victim's Family Could Also Sue the Towing Company
Beyond criminal court, the victim has strong grounds for a civil lawsuit. Under a legal rule called respondeat superior, an employer can be held responsible for harmful acts its workers commit on the job. If Douget was acting within the scope of his employment when the assault happened, his towing company could share liability, WDAM noted.
The case has sparked calls in Shelby County for stricter licensing and mental health screening for repossession agents. Memphis saw a rise in aggravated assaults in 2023 and 2024, but attempted murder charges involving repo agents remain rare, according to WMBF News.
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