Trash companies feud over expansion

By Uriah A. Kiser

Published: May 5, 2008

STAFFORD — An escalating feud between two rival garbage disposal companies — Stafford-based Shifflett’s Trash Service and Davis Disposal of Spotsylvania — has resulted in one man being arrested, and another left hoping someone does not get killed in an escalating dispute.

The altercation

On April 16, Danny Shifflett and employees from Shifflett’s Trash Service distributed fliers advertising the company’s garbage removal services in the Ashleigh Park subdivision of Spotsylvania County.

Eugene “Bubba” Shifflett, owner of Shifflett’s Trash Service, said he wants to expand his trash collection services into the county. Like many other waste removal services, Shifflett provides a toter cart and collects curbside trash from customer’s homes at least once per week.
Though Shifflett said his marketing efforts in Spotsylvania have been limited to only door hangers, his employees have recently seen those fliers being removed from the doors just minutes after hanging them, and not by homeowners. After hanging several fliers on April 16, Danny Shifflett, son of Eugene, returned to the Ashleigh Park neighborhood less than an hour later to see if his fliers were still there. They weren’t.

Danny Shifflett told authorities he found Davis Disposal employees removing the fliers and putting them in the trash, according to a report filed with Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office.

“This has been going on for a while now. We’re trying to expand our business into Spotsylvania County and they don’t want us there,” said Eugene Shifflett. “I think Spotsylvania should have a choice as to who picks up their trash.”

Danny Shifflett confronted William Woodrow Davis of Davis Disposal, who was allegedly removing the fliers, according to Sgt. Liz Scott, Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman.

According to the report, Davis and his crew began to attack Shifflett, causing damage to his truck and damaging the driver’s side mirror. Shifflett told authorities that when he tried to escape and call police, members of the Davis crew used their vehicles to corner his truck, blocking his escape, according to Scott.
When sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene, all of the members of the Davis crew had fled, leaving just Danny Shifflett.

Later that evening, Shifflett requested a warrant be issued for William Woodrow Davis’ arrest, however the county magistrate denied his request, according to Scott.

Representatives from Davis Disposal refused requests to comment on this story.

Garbage trucks
vandalized

On April 4, 10 garbage trucks belonging to Shifflett’s Trash Service were vandalized. The crime happened in the company-owned lot, at 66 Le Way Drive in South Stafford.

Though the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation into who was behind the vandalism, Eugene Shifflett said the response he received from the law enforcement agency was slow. Shifflett said he waited three days to hear from a county detective.

“I don’t think there is a law enforcement agency anywhere in this region that has the resources they need to conduct the business they need to do,” said Stafford County Sheriff Charles Jett.

Jett said that once the call came in April 4, his detectives were at the crime scene processing evidence the day the crime occurred.

In addition to broken windshields, which alone rendered the trucks undrivable according to Department of Transportation standards, deputies found the windshield of a Shifflett employee’s car had been shot out with a rifle.

After the incident, Eugene Shifflett said new security cameras and lighting were installed at his fleet yard. Shifflett also began armed stakeouts at the property; noting that he suspected the vandals would come either late at night or during the early morning hours.

“If I see anyone go into that lot after it’s locked up, I’m going to shoot the tires to their car out,” said Shifflett. “This thing has escalated so much that I’m afraid someone is going to die here.”

The investigation into the vandalism has since been turned over to the Virginia State Police. The state police “are investigating a suspect that may be involved in another incident in another locality who also may be involved in the Shifflett incident,” according to Bill Kennedy, Stafford County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson.

The state police confirmed that they are now handling the case, but would not comment further on the investigation.

Davis arrested

On April 26, Spotsylvania authorities arrested William Woodrow Davis on a class one misdemeanor charge, according to court documents.