Tow Truck Driver Paul Dakan Killed (CO) "UPDATED 09.21.21"

[TowNews]

 

UPDATED 12.19.19

Paul Dakan was working at the impound lot Sunday for Elite Towing near 48th Avenue and Washington Street when police say Victor Arenas-Foote shot and killed him.

 

RESOURCE LINK

 

Friends Want Justice After Shooting Of Tow Truck Driver Paul Dakan

 

DENVER, Colo., (CBS4) – Friends and family members are mourning the loss of a tow truck driver killed while doing his job over the weekend. According to the Office of the Medical Examiner, Paul Dakan, 36, died at the hospital after being shot at Elite Towing near 48th and Washington Street.

 

Victor Arenas-Foote, 25, has been arrested in connection with the shooting and is being held for investigation of first degree murder, felony murder, and aggravated robbery.

 

This is the Killer, the image supplied to the media by Denver Police..

 

This is the subjects photo from Victor Arenas-Foote Facebook Page "Access Here"

 

On Monday, while Arenas-Foote appeared before a judge for the first time, dozens of Dakan’s friends and family members watched.

 

Among them was Austin Carpenter, who met Dakan through work 6 and a half years ago, and considers himself a close friend. The two shared interests in cars, fish, and attending concerts.

 

“Him and me were a little bit more on the rock and metal side of things,” said Carpenter. “It was such a spiritual experience for him.”

 

On Sunday, Carpenter lost his friend and support system when someone shot and killed Dakan at work.

 

According to the statement of probable cause, a witness said the shooter’s car had been impounded. Video from the scene showed a heavyset male walking with a 60-year-old woman in the tow yard.

 

Police say Victor Arenas-Foote shot the victim, and he left with the woman in the impounded car — a red Toyota Corolla with the license plate ODL908 — without paying the $300 tow fee.

 

Adams County deputies spotted the car near Northglenn Drive and Grant Street less than 20 minutes later. During a search, deputies found a .38 caliber semi-automatic handgun in Foote’s pocket. Video from the scene was also obtained.

 

“If I hadn’t seen what I’ve seen, I don’t think I’d believe this was real yet,” said Carpenter.

 

For Carpenter, and those close to Dakan, the goal moving forward is justice. That’s why they showed up to the courthouse on Monday, and why they plan to continue their support for Dakan throughout the judicial process.

 

“We wanted to come out hard,” he said. “We want everybody involved in this to know that this isn’t OK and this guy uprooted and ended a lot more lives than just one when he did that.”

 

The woman who was with Arenas-Foote was questioned by police. According to the statement of probable cause, she told officers she told Foote several times to let her out of the car but he refused, saying he was scared and didn’t know what to do. She has not been charged.

 

Carpenter and other friends who spoke with CBS4 over the phone said they want police to reexamine her involvement.

 

RESOURCE LINK

 

Related News Story

 

Updated: 11:39 AM, Dec 30, 2019

 

 

DENVER — A procession for a tow truck driver who was killed early in the morning on Dec. 15 winded its way from a park and ride to a church in Golden Monday morning.

 

A representative with Western Towing said tow truck drivers organized a procession for Monday's funeral for Paul Dakan, 36, who was fatally shot on Dec. 15.

 

Tow truck drivers started to gather at the Wooly Mammoth Park and Ride off I-70 and US 40 Monday morning. They left the parking lot at 9 a.m. and drove to St. Joseph Catholic Church in Golden for the funeral, which is open to the public.

 

Early in the morning on Dec. 15 — around 3:20 a.m. — officers with the Denver Police Department responded to a shooting at 48th Avenue and Washington Street at a tow yard. The person who called 911 said they saw a heavyset Hispanic man shoot another person in the yard, according to court documents. The caller said the shooter's car had been impounded and the Hispanic man and an elderly female had left the area after the shooting in a red Toyota Corolla.

 

When police arrived at the tow yard, they found the injured man, who was identified as Dakan. He was transported to the Denver Health, where he died of a gunshot wound a few hours later.

 

At 3:40 a.m., about 20 minutes after the shooting, police located the Toyota Corolla and took two people into custody, according to court documents. One of them was identified as Victor Arenas-Foote, 26. A deputy with Adams County found a 38 caliber semi-automatic handgun in Arenas-Foote's pocket, according to court documents.

 

After authorities talked with Arenas-Foote — details of the content of those conversations are redacted from a probable cause statement — he agreed to a voluntary blood draw at Denver Health.

 

Authorities also talked with the elderly woman, who said Arenas-Foote told her he had a gun on him as they drove to the tow yard. She said Arenas-Foote has a drug problem and she is able to tell when he is high, but did not think he was on drugs as they drove to the yard, according to court documents.

 

On Dec. 18, Arenas-Foote was charged with first-degree murder, felony murder and aggravated robbery. According to the Denver District Attorney's Office, Arenas-Foote allegedly shot Dakan in the back of the head.

 

RESOURCE LINK with video

[mooresbp]

Our thoughts and prayers

[rreschran]

How horrible for this to happen to a young man just doing his job? Christine and I send our prayers to Mr. Dakan's family and the company he worked for.  R.

[GRUMPS The Towman]

Another senseless murder...You never know who is gonna come get that impounded car or how mad they are gonna be. Rest easy Operator, your shift is over.

[TowZone]

CBS 4 Denver has pulled their news video on this incident and there is not explanation. You will still be able to locate it on the resource link.

[Cerra Dakan]

This was my brother and I plan on doing a different service all would be helpful. And if anyone has questions here's my email cdakan12@gmail.com 

Edited December 19, 2019 by Cerra Dakan

[yoBdaBenO]

How Sad, Thoughts and Prayers is all I can do. Cause I cannot relate to what this family is going through and I hope I never do.

[TowZone]

Updated: 11:39 AM, Dec 30, 2019  - SEE ORIGINAL POST ABOVE

[TowNews]

 

Man convicted of killing tow truck driver over $300 fee

 

Paul Dakan, 36, died after he was shot in the head at a Denver impound lot in 2019.

 

DENVER — A Denver jury on Friday convicted a man of first-degree murder for killing a man to avoid paying a $300 fee after his car was impounded, the Denver District Attorney's office announced.

 

The verdict came down late Friday after about eight hours of deliberations and also included a guilty verdict on an additional charge of second-degree murder against Victor Arenas-Foote.

 

Paul Dakan, 36, was killed in the morning hours of Dec. 15, 2019, while working in the impound lot of Elite Towing and Recovery near East 48th Avenue and Washington Street.

 

Arenas-Foote was accused of shooting Dakan in the head and leaving with his car that had been impounded. Dakan was taken to the hospital but ultimately died from his injuries that same day.

 

About 20 minutes after the shooting, deputies in Adams County located Arenas-Foote's vehicle near Northglenn Drive and Grant Street. They also recovered a .38 caliber semi-automatic handgun.

 

Arenas-Foote is set to be sentenced on Nov. 12.

 

RESOURCE LINK