Wheelersburg, OH – July 13, 2012 – One man is dead while another man was arrested over an altercation that occurred over the attempted repossession of a lawnmower last Thursday night. Upon arrival at the scene, deputies found the victim, 33-year-old Steve Holsinger, of Wheelersburg lying in the yard of his residence.
According to the sheriff’s department release, Tyler Staker, 22, of Portsmouth, and his father had gone to Holsinger’s residence to repossess a lawnmower that Holsinger bought from their store, Staker’s Sales and Service.
Police report that the father and son were at the residence for about an hour, knocking on doors in an effort to get Holsinger to return the lawnmower.
At approximately 10:20 p.m., Holsinger came out of his house with a gun in his hand and was acting very upset, according to the statement.
Witnesses told police that Holsinger had put the gun in his pocket for a time, then pulled the gun out and told Staker and his father they had three seconds to get off of his property until finally Holsinger raised the gun and pointed it at Staker’s face.
It was then that Staker reportedly drew his own gun and shot Holsinger several times.
There are conflicting reports on whether or not Staker was arrested, but authorities are still investigating and an autopsy is scheduled.
Holsinger was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
It is horrible that someone lost their life, but why hasnt anyone said anything about why the lawnmower wasnt returned already. If you dont pay your bill, and there is many valid reasons that a bill cant be paid, but arrangements should have been made by the debtor instead of confrontations. I see many wrongs from both sides but I feel our society needs to focus on the root problems. I have been behind on bills before, in most cases a phone call will have the loaner working with the debtor.
Thank you so much for your sympathies. I hate to inform you that there is still no justice being given to the holsinger family and while doing some research on repo laws for OH, debt collection, etc. i haven’t been able to find much. If any of you would be so kind to send me any layman term laws or links it would be greatly appreciated. Justice needs to be served for the many laws that were broken even before the shooting. My email is Senters.jeremy@gmail.com #justiceforsteve
I am deeply saddened to hear that someone lost their life over the attempted repossession of a lawn mower. This is exactly why it´s imperative that we band together to overturn this law and its imminent passing here in California.
There are several reasons why this tragedy occurred:
So-called “reality” television
Untrained individuals (I will not call them repossessors)
Weapons being carried
Clear violations of the FDCPA
(Just to name a few)
These type of situations will continue as long as there are unlicensed, untrained, unregulated and unprofessional individuals doing a job they are CLEARLY unqualified to do.
I urge you all to please respond like my colleague asked earlier and write to the Governor of California. It is of the utmost importance and not just for Californians. As most of you know, laws that start in California often spread to the rest of the country. It´s especially important to all California repossessors, credit unions and lenders alike to voice their opposition to the Governor.
No other lives should be lost to unlicensed and unregulated repossessions.
Thank you all for your support in fighting this law and my deepest condolences to the Holsinger family.
Sincerely,
Jeff Ramirez
President, California Association of LICENSED Repossessors
I respect anyone in these crazy times after 26 years I refuse to knock another door as long as I live. I have said it before but after being out for 19 months I think I’m good. This is a terrible tragedy for everyone involved. I have trained repo guys for two decades and I always say its better to come home in one piece than to make a few hundred dollars being stupid!! Work smart not hard you may live to retirement !!!!!!
And just last month, John Deere was able to pass legislation in California that they are exempt from using licensed professional repossessors. Their dealers can now be contracted to handle the repossession. Apparently the legislators in California do not understand the importance of having well trained people at the customer’s door. This is an unfortunate example of why lenders, Big or Small, should not try to personally secure their interest. The repossession process itself carries a potential for risk to the consumer and the repossessor. Opening the doors to untrained employees of dealers and bypassing qualified well-trained repossession agencies presents inherent risk posing a potential danger to public safety.
I know this is moving onto another discussion, but I urge you to contact Governor Jerry Brown and ask him to repeal (AB 1877). If it is easier for you, your letters can be sent to the California Association of Licensed Repossessors and they can forward your letters for you.
C.A.L.R.
7217 Geyser Avenue
Reseda, CA 91335
818-945-CALR (2257)
fax 818-705-5980
Even if you are not a citizen of California, your voice is still important in this matter. Public safety is vital to our industry.
OK,why was the businessman carrying a weapon?? IN California as a licensed repossessor you CANNOT carry any type of weapon.This is codified.Other states should adopt this codification.Not having a weapon would have mitigated the circumstances and most likely caused the businessman to leave when initially asked to.Kenneth
i agree with Marshalls, but let’s get one thing strieght, they were not repomen, and I’m going out on a limb here, the conversations had between the ‘lawnmower-man’ and the ‘business owner/representative’ would have given a hint as to what was going to happen. Really people? A lawnmower! My sympathy goes out to both the families, life as they know it is now changed forever.
Good example why a Lender Big or small should not try and secure there interest on what they loaned. Got personal and now look what happened.
I wonder how much that lawn mower was worth? I bet it doesn’t add up to the cost of a funeral and the heartache of the family now left without a husband/father/son. My sympathy goes out to the family of the man who lost his life over a lawn mower. A lawn mower can be replaced, a life cannot. People do not think clearly in a confrontational situation. While Mr. Holsinger should not have come out brandishing a firearm, the repo agents shouldn’t have been banging on his door for an hour either if that was the case. Both sides had options…who knows what may have happened if different actions had been taken by either party. It is sad all the way around.
No one should have to die over a lawnmower, now an entire familys life is devistated because the owner Mr. Staker could not take this matter to court, even his (stakers) son had to see him shoot someones father, a husband, son ,or brother and disrupt the entire familys way of life, just over a lawnmower.
There was no reason, for staker to go to Holsinger’s home banging on the door for an hour, carring a weapon, it’s apparent that he went there looking for trouble, and brought his son, either as back up or to impress him.
My prayer go out for both the familys.
This is another example of the horrific results that can occur when confrontations are escalated-for a lawn mower! Avoid the confrontations. Be safe…
I feel sorry for this victims family. It was a lawn mower people. What is this world coming too. Repo people, please be careful