Call from Watson’s Towing to Gainesville Police Department at 4:32:33 a.m. Tuesday

Call from Watson’s Towing to Gainesville Police Department at 4:37:05 a.m. Tuesday

GAINESVILLE — In the second of two phone calls made from Watson’s Towing to Gainesville Police Department dispatchers early Tuesday morning, a tow company employee said he blocked in University of Florida safety Tony Joiner as Joiner tried to remove his girlfriend’s car without permission from an impound lot. In the same call, Joiner, a team captain who was arrested on a burglary charge, can be heard yelling while the employee asks police to respond faster.

According to the calls, obtained Wednesday by The Tampa Tribune, a man identifying himself as Watson’s employee Travis Watkins made the first call to GPD at 4:32 a.m.

A partial transcript of the call follows:

Watkins: “I need GPD down here now.”

Dispatcher: “At Watson’s?”

Watkins: “Yes ma’am.”

Dispatcher: “What’s going on there?”

Watkins: “Well, I had somebody trying to break into the yard trying to steal their car.”

Less than five minutes later, Watkins called again. A partial transcript follows:

Watkins: “Could I have GPD step it up please?”

Dispatcher: “OK. What’s going on now?”

Watkins: “They’re getting a little hasty with us.”

Dispatcher: “OK. What are they doing?”

Watkins: “They’re getting up in our face and [expletive]. They’ve already broken into the yard and tried to take the car, and I blocked them in.”

Dispatcher: “OK. Do they have any weapons?”

Watkins: “No. Not that I know of.”

Dispatcher: “I’m showing [an officer] on the scene right now. Do you see him yet?”

Watkins: “Yep. He’s there.”

Dispatcher: “All right. Go ahead and speak with him.”

Stan Forron, the owner of the impound lot, said Tuesday that the incident was “a miscommunication” and that Joiner should not have been arrested. Forron told several media outlets, including The Tampa Tribune, that he wasn’t present for the incident. He told the Miami Herald, however, that he was on premises unbeknownst to his employees.

An employee who answered the phone at Watson’s on Wednesday said Forron would not return to work until Monday and declined to provide an alternate phone number. Forron did not respond immediately to a voice mail left on his office line.

Gators coach Urban Meyer said late Wednesday morning that he has yet to decide whether Joiner will play Saturday against top-ranked LSU. Joiner is the Gators’ most experienced defensive back.