I'm going to hazard a guess that there was some sort of mechanics lien involved here. The shop ran the tab way beyond what had been estimated, words were exchanged, the guy refused to pay, and the shop then went out and got a lien.
The guy then decided he'd suck it up and pay the bill rather than lose his car, and went to the shop to get it, and that is when things got out of control.
I've never heard of any shop that would run up a tab that high without getting paid portions of it while the work was being done. In fact, most shops seem to work off of deposits, and when the deposit runs low or out, they stop work until they get more money deposited. So this one ran up an 12K tab on a car without being paid? WTH?
I don't know much about mechanics liens, but when one is obtained, I assume you can chose to pay it off and retrieve your car? Or does the shop then gain title to the car and can do what they want with it, and you are SOL?
Whatever the case, heated situations such as this are something law enforcement gets paid pretty well to deal with in a professional manner. When they were called, I expect it is all a civil matter, and all they can do when brought in is separate the 2 parties and try to cool them down. Be sympathetic but make it clear to the guy that he has to work through a lawyer and the courts, and they can't do anything to get his car back then and there.
And having it escalate into a situation where someone ends up with his neck broken and in the hospital most likely means the police really screwed the pooch with their handling of the situation.
I am from the area, and Will County is the south and southwest suburban area of Chicago. From what I have seen from watching the news around here for many decades is that I wouldn't make any judgment on this case based on the fact prosecutors declined to press charges against the PD. Sad fact is that in Chicago and the Chicago suburbs, the police are pretty much given a free pass unless a situation occurs that gets a lot of media attention and the media puts the heat on heavy publicizing a case of police misconduct.
It's a tough job, and no picnic having to deal with the worst of society, but that still doesn't make it right when someone gets hurt or killed by a LEO unless the guy is threatening them with deadly force.
Chicago and the suburban PD's do end up paying out millions and millions each year to settle lawsuits in police misconduct cases, but I don't see any evidence they take any steps to try to get the situation under control, just write it off and pass the bill on to the taxpayers.
Part of the reason my property tax bill went up 20% this year and our state income taxes went up 66% at the beginning of the year maybe?
At any rate, I wish I knew the name of the restoration shop involved so we can get the word out to the locals to steer clear of them!
