Bell Road Toyota Phoenix Arizona
The Following letter was sent to Senator John McCain on November 5th conerning the needless antaganism, and provcation due to apparent greed motivated sales people at Bell Road Toyota.
Senator John McCain4450 South Rural Road Suite B-130Tempe, AZ 85282
RE: Chief Warrant Officer II L. Brian Callan
Dear Senator McCain:
I am extremely saddened to inform you of the passing of my brother, CWO II L. Brian Callan on 1 September. I know my brother wrote to you on many occasions, and he told me you and your staff were helpful and sincere. It is both as a courtesy and my duty to explain our frustrations at the factors that led to our horrible and tragic loss.
I, too, am a 100% Service Connected disabled veteran. I served in the USN Seabees from 1980-1986. I reside in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I medically retired from the Albuquerque Public Schools system as an educator. I advise and support my young adult children in Albuquerque where they attend community college. I am writing to you on behalf of Brian's entire family.
As you may be aware, Brian was a highly decorated Marine Corps Officer with multiple combat experiences over the seventeen and a half years of his enlistment. He was an officer and a gentleman, respected, admired, loved and appreciated. His opportunity to continue his career as a Marine ended shortly after injuring his neck diving into a foxhole, during gunfire, under darkness and smoke in Somalia. He suffered greatly from two neck surgeries, and a severe (and well-documented) case of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome) from participation in five combat missions, with minimal medical support from the VA medical center.
The following is a synopsis of Brian's demise:
Brian was negotiating with Bell Road Toyota on the prospect of purchasing or leasing a new truck. Before, during, and after, his negotiations he had conferred via cell phone to another of our brothers (Bob) about his decision-making process and his understanding of terms offered by the salespeople at Bell Road Toyota. Brian told Bob that a salesman had told him in no uncertain terms that, whatever decision he might make, he would have THREE DAYS to change his mind about the deal—lease or sale.
On Saturday, August 31, Brian signed a lease agreement for the truck. That evening he already knew he wanted to exercise the incentive of three days to change his agreement to purchase. Sunday morning he called Bell Road Toyota and spoke with Bob Stoup, sales manger, who was rude, unwilling to renegotiate, or even continue to help resolve the issue (Brian had written down notes during his conversation). Brian drove the new leased truck to the dealership, still expecting Bell Road Toyota to honor their three-day option incentive. When he arrived, he attempted to renegotiate the option for the outright sale or buying of the truck and terminate the lease option. Again, this dealership's negative and disgraceful business practices negated further discussion.
In an apparent attempt to gain their attention and demand common courtesy and respect (remember, he was suffering from PTSD, and keenly sensitive to his surroundings), Brian grabbed a shotgun from his vehicle. He soon fired a round into the gravel. Then he went inside and demanded someone with the appropriate authority to fulfill the option incentive and change from a lease to a sale. He went outside where two police officers with weapons drawn, ordered him to disarm. Next he apparently pointed the weapon under his chin saying, This place f*ed me. Without intervention from the police, Brian then cleared his spent round, (repeated, This place F*ed me) cocked and blew out his chest. He died within seconds.
I believe my brother was overmedicated, under his VA doctor's orders (a list can be furnished on request). He also received minimal medical treatment and follow-through. Then, with the deliberate misleading, ill-advised, manipulative business practices employed by Bell Road Toyota all this added up to the loss of CWO II L. Brian Callan, my brother, a father, grandfather, son, uncle, leader, neighbor, friend, and war veteran.
We are concerned about other veterans being overmedicated and untreated, with or without medical care. We are concerned that preying' capitalist pushers, like those at Bell Road Toyota will create more violence and disharmony in our communities. Brian was on a limited income and I believe Bell Road Toyota knew his only source of income was from the VA, as 100% permanent and total disability.
We have also been contacted by individuals who have shared their stories of misdealings with Bell Road Toyota. We have contacted the Better Business Bureau, but received no support and weren't allowed to make a complaint. We have contacted the Arizona Attorney General, and were told they could not intervene. We have contacted Bell Road Toyota and requested them to maintain any and all evidence, they referred us to their attorney. We requested the Phoenix Police Department to maintain all evidence related to this case, they referred us to another department. We requested an autopsy report and exam, including a toxicology report on what drugs were in Brian's system at the time of his death and we continue to wait for that report.
I am concerned about the lack of training and professionalism of salesmen like those at Bell Road Toyota. I also am concerned about the lack of response from the Phoenix VA Regional Office as to burial claim filed and that his death is recognized as service-connected. My brother has two young adult children and two grandchildren who depend on continued educational benefits. Where is the VA?
My brother was, and continues to be a very inspirational man to many people. He was the quintessential Marine who gave all of himself to the Corps and country. I would have preferred he was writing to you on something he was exploring at the time of his deatha possible collaboration between the VA Medical Center and Naturopathic Medicine, in treatment of veterans and veteran-related health issues, specifically HIS.
.
Good Luck with leading our country. Continue to work hard for this country. We appreciate all you have endured and accomplished.
Sincerely,
Sean Callan and Family of L. Brian Callan
The Phoenix NewTimes recent cover story (November 20) about my brother did not stress the negative and deceptive bussiness practices of Bell Road Toyota.in fact, they allowed the sales manager to lie again publicy in that article. Did you notice the arrogance of the salesmen? The sales manager claims he was willing to change his lease to a sale, to what he said was a $27,000 truck. Too bad the lease contract lists the sale price at $24,000, less his trade in, which brought the truck down to $19,000. Too bad this human being didn't have the backbone or honesty to work with Brian, when brian was making every possible effort to handle things appropriately.
Brian would be alive today had BRT acted in reasonable, honorable above the board and without false or misleading incentives. BRT is one man short of having an honable man on the sales lot. My brother sacrificed, in the name of democracy, only for the opportunity to be taken advantage by capitalism, unsrupulous business practices, and individuals at BRT.
My brother did not go there to die that day, nor did he go to hurt anyone. Everyone knows that car dealers have qoutas at the end of the month, and there is more money that can be sucked out of the buyer who doesn't have buying power (cash)! A family friend went to BRT and without identifying himself, had a salesmen tell him they would have changed the deal when the boss got off the toilet.
When my other brothers, and son, and nephew, went to pick up Brians Trade in, they were met with hostility and provacational and insulting remarks. Some staff were observed to have been making faces and mocking gestures at my brothers who were dealing with ignorant or uniformed staff, apparently incapable of handling sensitve, serious issues.
Brian was a very active, gifted and motivated student. He won and earned many an acolade during his high school years from participation in sports, clubs, student government and others. To Honor the memory, spirit, pride and excellence we have established the, L. Brian Callan WRHS Memorial Fund. The money will be maintained by Wells Fargo Banks. All contributions are considered Tax deductable. Our shared vision is to create the Window Rock High School annual Spirit Award as well as help establish an ROTC program and the general student fund with WRHS Principal Pauletta White.
SeanAlbuquerque, New Mexico
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