Wilmington couple, 3 dealership employees face assault charges after altercation
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY-TV) — Three employees of a Wilmington car dealership have been arrested in connection with an alleged altercation involving a couple at the business.
The Wilmington Police Department says Grant Parkins, Tegan Canady and Carson Miller were arrested on simple assault charges following the Sept. 8 incident at CarWise Auto Sales on Carolina Beach Road.
Police have also issued a warrant for dealership employee Steven Oster, but the warrant had not been served as of the time of the report.
Keiona and Johnny Green say they went to the dealership to retrieve belongings from a vehicle that had been repossessed. According to the couple, Canady, one of the business owners, told them to leave the property.
“I heard her yelling, so I got out of the car and asked her what’s wrong,” Keiona Green said. “I just heard her saying she’s calling the police and to get off their property.”
The couple posted video of the altercation on Facebook. The footage shows a confrontation between the couple and several people at the dealership that escalated into a physical fight.
“That’s when it just escalated,” Keiona Green said. “They are yelling and surrounding us.”
The Greens dispute the repossession of the vehicle, saying they had made payments through Cash App. They also say several personal belongings, including a car seat and equipment for Keiona Green’s beauty business, were inside the vehicle when it was repossessed. The couple alleges those belongings were damaged or discarded.
The dealership said in a statement posted to Facebook that the clips circulating online do not show the entire incident.
“The limited clips being shared do not show the incident in its entirety or provide the full context of what occurred,” the statement said. “The complete footage has been preserved and provided to the appropriate authorities.”
CarWise also said operating a buy-here, pay-here dealership can involve difficult and emotionally charged situations. The business said it works with customers experiencing financial hardship but must enforce its contracts and follow legal procedures when accounts remain unresolved.
The Greens have also been charged in connection with the altercation.
“I am appalled because I didn’t injure anything,” Keiona Green said. “You hit me, you assaulted me. I was just defending myself, and all of this is just really shocking to me.”
The case remains under investigation by the Wilmington Police Department.
