East Chattanooga Man Says Racist Gas Workers Had His Car Towed And Insulted His Community

CHATTANOOGA, TN, (WDEF)-Leon Hixson says he had parked his Isuzu SUV on the same spot outside his house since December of last year and was told when Chattanooga gas workers came to his neighborhood it would be not an issue.

"I ask them what happened, well it’s a rough neighborhood, maybe somebody stole it, you should call 911, hahahaha"

The SUV was towed to a yard of Rossville Blvd and Hixson says he hasn’t the money to get his car back and has got no response from Chattanooga Gas.

"My car has been impounded for several weeks, who knows how much the fees are going to be to get it back, no one is answering my calls at the gas company so"

Hixson says that he was then subjected to racial slurs  including the use of the n-word and being told he was an African American sympathizer for living in a so called "black neighborhood" as a white man.

Other residents say they have had no problem whatsoever with the gas company workers but say they have experienced racism and been called the N-word in this community in recent years.

William L’Vaughan, Veteran and Local Resident, "I’m not surprised that the word hasn’t died out yet, because i have had it said to me, I’ve been here since 08, close neighbor of mine used the same word on me, but i didn’t retaliate or nothing"

L’Vaughan says as a former gas line worker the team were probably on deadline.

William L’Vaughan, Veteran and Local Resident, "If they have to move the cars, they just come out and move their cars and they continue going doing their work"

Other residents say they have had gates broken and gardens damaged by the Gas workers.

Hixson says he has kept the contact information of the workers who he claims insulted his mixed race family and community.

One of the welding inspectors told News 12 over the phone that the car needed to be moved and Chattanooga police made the final call.

Just an hour before the report aired Hixson called to say his car had been returned to his house out of the blue and Chattanooga Gas then told News 12 they are looking into the incident and will contact Hixson directly with their findings.