Welcome Home Indiana National Guard, Your Car Was Just Towed

Guardsmen find parking problem after ceremony

Updated: Jan 31, 2009 09:25 PM EST

Richard Essex /Eyewitness News

Indianapolis - Several Indiana National Guardsmen got a surprise when they left a ceremony welcoming them home Saturday.

According to Specialist Ronnie Capps, about 25 guardsmen had their cars towed from a White Castle parking lot during the ceremony at Lucas Oil Stadium. Capps said they had permission to park in the lot of the White Castle restaurant on South Street, but when they returned, their cars were gone.

"We came home and we get to told to park there, they said it was fine, the manager said it was fine at White Castle down the road and next thing you know, we come out from our ceremony, our welcome home, and it was like a welcome home present, the car was gone," said Spec. Capps.

With the tow came a $165 charge for the soldiers and airmen.

As if having their car towed wasn't bad enough, the soldiers had to walk three blocks in the snow, some of them with small children in tow.

"The women are out here getting cold and we're getting cold and their kids, they're sitting at White Castle until they get their cars back. It's just unnecessary," Capps said.

The tow left a bad taste in the soldiers' mouth.

"I used to come up to Indy at least once a week just to go to White Castle. No more," said one soldier.

The manager on duty at the White Castle told Eyewitness News she was unable to comment about the situation, instead referring questions to Jamie Richardson with the White Castle corporation. Richardson said the company is working to make amends with the troops.

"What we didn't realize, what we are feverishly working to make right, we didn't know necessarily this was related to our troops coming home, which we have the utmost respect and support," Richardson said. (click link for more or watch video)