'We're Not Racist': Inside An Embattled Parsippany Towing Company

Content warning: This article includes profanity and racist language.

PARSIPPANY, NJ — It's been two weeks since a video on social media showed an employee at the Ajaco Towing building using a racial slur in reference to a Black customer. Since then, the company has faced suspended and dropped contracts, death threats and high tensions, according to employees.

After the video spread on social media, the Township of Parsippany terminated its contract with Ajaco Towing and condemned the behavior.

"Parsippany is a community rich with diverse cultural identities and heritages," said an Aug. 18 statement from the township. "We are guided by our American openness and diversity. We do not condone hateful behavior, nor will we allow any business to be done by the township of Parsippany with any business that condones this type of behavior."

Read more: Parsippany Township, PD Split From Ajaco Towing After Incident

New Jersey State Police and the town of Caldwell have also suspended ties with Ajaco and are investigating, a company spokesperson told Patch last week. Those who work in the Edwards Road building say they've received death threats since the incident.

Company spokesperson Paul Gerard-Argen says Ajaco doesn't condone the behavior on the video. But he claims the Township of Parsippany followed improper protocol when cutting ties with them.

He also says the person on video — Vincent Cleffi — does not work for Ajaco Towing but it part of the real estate holding company that owns the property. His brother, Jason Cleffi, owns Ajaco Towing.

"The only one who has the authority to do anything is the chief of police," Gerard-Argen said. "And the chief of police should have sent a certified letter to us and given us 30 days to respond. But what they (the township) do — they played judge, jury and executioner."

Parsippany Public Information Officer Peter Koerella told Patch the following: "The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills and Parsippany Police Department do not condone the language heard in the video. We have no further comment at this time."

On the video, Vincent Cleffi stood in front of the building entrance while the customer films from the parking lot. A police officer and two others stood in front of Vincent Cleffi as he says "I'll drop that motherf----r" and "go ahead, play the racial card."

As Cleffi makes his way inside, the customer filming says, "Woah, he called me a n----r."

Cleffi acknowledged to Patch that he used the racial slur but says media outlets have misrepresented his actions.

"You want accountability? I did not call the man a n----r, as the media says," he said. "He came into my building, and it wasn’t to his face. It was into the office. Accountable? 100 percent. Yes, I did say it. But he has more rights than I do at this point. I’ll be accountable for everything I say."

Employees claim that the fuller context of Aug. 16's events tells a different story.

After the customer's vehicle had been towed, he went to the building that morning — about six hours before the recorded incident. Security footage shows the man at the counter. The footage doesn't have sound, but Jason Cleffi claims the customer said he had no money.

Vincent Cleffi said the man gave him the keys and told him to straighten out his problems with payment before returning.

Later that day, the customer returns. Footage from the parking lot shows an argument taking place outside. Employees claim the customer made threats against them.

While showing Patch the footage, the company received a call.

"You’re about to go broke," the person on the phone said. "Guess what? Your little racist a-- towing company is going under."

Ajaco Towing employees claimed they've received calls like that every day since the recorded incident.

"We are not racist. ... We don’t condone hateful behavior," Gerard-Argen said. "We have a diverse workforce. We deal with diverse customers. When your car breaks down, it’s not typically someone who has a brand-new Lexus. We’re dealing with all types of people."

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