Let me begin by saying thanks in advance for any help with this matter those in this forum may have to offer.
I am currently living in a condominium complex in Central Florida that requires its residents to post a parking decal in the front window of your vehicle. On Nov 1st my lease with my land lord expired as well as my parking decal. The land lord is my friends mother so theres always been some leniency on late payments, etc. Anyways, the tow company towed my car this afternoon due to my expired tags. So when I went down to retrieve my truck the tow truck company's owner refused to return my truck after offering the $100 posted required payment because he didn't like my attitude. Maybe I could of been a bit more polite towards him I agree but I didn't threaten him and had no interest in fighting him at all. I was just a little angry that this guy is preying on residents of this neighborhood under direct allowance by the HOA. So we called the police after he continued to refuse based on my bad attitude. The police arrived and we explained everything. They told me they could not force him to return the truck but they would try to persuade him to and that it was a civil matter. I have read the 2007 Florida Statutes under Section 715.07 2.a.9 it reads they are required to return the vehicle within 1 hour of towing it. I don't understand how he can refuse to return my car based on me beind angry and calling him a "scum bag, low life" among other things.
I'm not saying they didn't have the right to tow my truck but where do I legally stand in this? Does he have the right to refuse to give me my truck back? I was told by both officers they do not have the authority to force him to return my truck and that I muc take him to court in order to retrieve it. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

