By Kevin Deutsch
A gun-toting man threatened to fatally shoot a Margate tow truck company employee and punched two tow yard workers during a dispute at the facility, court records show.
The violence broke out March 19 after Hilton Wilkins, 37, of Pompano Beach, arrived with his girlfriend at Emergency Towing, 1815 N. State Rd. 7, to retrieve her towed 2018 Chevy Malibu, according to a Margate Police Department arrest affidavit.
During a dispute with an employee, Wilkins punched the man in the face, pointed his Remington RP9 at him, and threatened to shoot and kill him, the affidavit alleges. As Wilkins’ girlfriends’ vehicle was released, he allegedly sucker-punched a second tow yard employee, records show.
One of Wilkins’ victims was armed with a handgun but “knew he would not be able to unholster his gun in time without possibly being shot” by Wilkins, the affidavit states.
Margate Police arrived and arrested Wilkins, who was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and battery.
One of Wilkins’ victims suffered minor injuries and was treated by paramedics at the scene, police said.
Records show Wilkins was released from the Broward Main Jail on a $6,000 bond.
The assaults marked the latest violence perpetrated against tow truck company workers in Margate.
In January, a Coral Springs man angered over his car being towed allegedly gave chase to a Margate tow truck driver during a vehicular pursuit, pointed a gun at the man, threw objects at his truck, and told the man he would “follow you and kick your ass,” court records show.
Abraham Taylor, 34, of Coral Springs, was charged with one count of assault with a deadly weapon for the January 7 meltdown, which began after a driver from Emergency Towing in Margate removed Taylor’s vehicle from the parking lot of his apartment complex, according to an arrest affidavit.
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Author Profile
- Kevin Deutsch is an award-winning crime journalist and author. A graduate of Florida International University, Kevin has worked on staff at The Miami Herald, New York Daily News, and The Palm Beach Post.
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