Benicia City - City Attorney in Benicia, CA

Dana M. Scruggs wrote something

Dear City of Benicia/CA Attorney,

My name is Dana Michelle Scruggs. I am a Male to Female (MtF) Transsexual who resides at 129 Avian Drive, #A Vallejo, CA 94591.

I am a daily patron of The Starbucks at 2120 Columbus Parkway.

Last week, I had a blowout that completely shredded my steel belt tire. I was driving on Columbus Parkway when the blowout occurred. I managed to hobble my vehicle into The Starbucks Parking Lot. I had to wait until December 3, 2015 to do anything about my vehicle because my SSI check (I am completely disabled . . . PTSD/General Anxiety Disorder/Major Depressive Disorder) arrives in the mail on the third of each month (I survive on just $889.00/Month). I have a small psychiatric service dog with me at all times. His only job is to keep me calm in potentially threatening situations.

I spent all day of December 3rd, 2015 trying to find the right size tire for my 20 year old Honda Del Sol SI. I finally found a tire store (on Benicia Road) that had the right sized tire for my vehicle. I scheduled an appointment for 3 pm on Friday, December 4th, 2015.

On December 4th, 2015, I had a friend drop me off at Starbucks and I had called a tow truck at 12:45 P.M. I entered The Starbucks and let the Manager know that I had called for a tow Truck. The Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) was one hour. I sat and waited patiently for my tow truck to arrive. At 2:15 P.M. I saw the Tow Truck pulling in to The Starbucks parking lot, ported so I went outside to flag it down. I approached the Tow Truck Driver and handed him the business card for The Tire Store my vehicle was to be taken to. The driver said, “I am not taking your car to that address!” A minute later, and my Tow Truck showed up to take my car to the tire store. Unfortunately, the Tow Truck Driver who got there first refused to let my car down! He said, “Pay me a $100.00 “drop fee” and I will let your car down. I responded, “Please let my car down so that my Tow Truck Driver can load my car.” Again, he said, “You gotta give me a hundred dollars if you want me to drop your car!” I said, “WHAT!? I do not owe you even $1.00!!!! And I do not have $100.00 to give you, even if I wanted to!”

This is when he called his buddies (fellow Tow Truck Drivers). They pulled into The Starbucks parking lot, and blocked my Tow Truck from access to my vehicle. Finally, my Tow Truck Driver left the parking lot because the other Tow Truck Driver would not let my car down.

I had some expensive packages in my trunk and I wanted to at least get them out of the trunk (they are time sensitive and need to be mailed immediately). This is when the Tow Truck Driver hit me! He hit my left breast with his right hand (he hit me extremely hard causing me to drop my laptop in my left hand. His left and hit my right shoulder (and this caused me to release the leash of my psychiatric support dog! My dog ran off! In a defensive measure, I threw my cold coffee in his face.

When The Benicia Police Officer arrived I said, “Officer?” The Police Officer (30 to 40 year old Caucasian) ordered me to stand in a spot that he pointed to. Again, I said, Officer?” The Police Officer was angry and yelled at me, “Not one word out of you!”. I waited for nearly 10 minutes and then again I said, “Officer? That man assaulted me! He hit me really hard! The Police Officer responded and I quote, “Well yo threw coffee on him!” I replied, “Yes, but only after he physically assaulted me!” The Police said, "You were probably in his way!"

As it turns out, The Tow Truck Driver who hit me appeared to have a preexisting relationship with The Police Officer. They appeared to be friends. I realized that The Police Officer had no intention of listening to my side of the story; so I walked back into The Starbucks . . . sat down . . . and cried for a solid hour!

I want to prosecute The Tow Truck Driver who hit me (assault and battery); damaging my laptop (vandalism) to the fullest extent of the law! Your Officer appeared to have zero “cultural sensitivity” training as it relates to the Transgender Community. In fact, the Officer appeared to have extreme prejudice towards me!

I do not have an idea where my car is at this time!

You may reach me at 707-655-2998 or e-mail me at scruggsdana49@yahoo.com.


Sincerely,



Dana M. Scruggs