By Uriah A. Kiser

Published: May 7, 2008

STAFFORD — An escalating feud between two rival garbage disposal companies — Stafford-based Shifflett’s Trash Service and Davis Disposal of
Spotsylvania — has frustrated local officials, prompting them to drop all charges in the arrest of a trash company employee.

Spotsylvania Commonwealth’s Attorney William F. Neely said the assaults and arrest warrants the two companies have obtained for one other should be settled in civil court, and not in his already crowded criminal courts system.

Neely said he has also launched a full investigation into fliers that were distributed, which informed neighbors that Charles William Davis, owner of Davis Disposal, is a convicted child molester. Though true, Neely said it is illegal to use that kind of information to harass a convicted offender.

In an April 29 letter to both companies, Neely asserts Shifflett distributed the fliers.

“They can sue each other until the cows come home, but we already have 300 to 400 criminal cases, and we cannot let our already full docket get swamped with this private feud. We have to nip this in the bud,” said Neely.

Eugene “Bubba” Shifflett said that he is keeping his 12-gauge double barrel shot gun handy while keeping a close watch on his property.

“I’m frustrated,” said Shifflett. “We’re the ones that have had the crime committed on here and they’re making us feel like a suspect.”

In the letter, Neely stated: “This ongoing business feud between your two trash hauling companies has resulted in a number of shouting matches and shoving matches between your relatives and co-workers - which resulted in a number of police complaints, as well as a trip to the magistrate’s office… I trust this will cease.”

Representatives from Davis Disposal declined requests to comment on this story.

The feud began April 4, when 10 garbage trucks belonging to Shifflett’s Trash Service and an employee’s car, were vandalized; their windows were shot out. The crime happened in the company-owned lot, at 66 Le Way Drive in south Stafford.

Neely’s April 29 letter asserts that Davis Disposal is responsible for the vandalism, citing an April 25 vandalism and assault summons for William Davis, former owner of Davis Disposal, which has since been dropped.

During the ongoing feud, members of both parties have obtained arrest warrants for one other, after several altercations between trash-hauling employees and family members of the two family-owned companies.

Neely said any future warrants would be intercepted and thrown out.