Tow Truck Driver Arrested For Trying To Repossess Cop's Car

GOOD EVENING. CHRISTINE SLOAN. AND I'M MAURICE DUBOIS. THE NYPD HAS HAD A BOOT ON THIS TOW TRUCK FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS PREVENTING JOSE RODRIGUEZ PICTURED HERE FROM DOING HIS JOB. IRONICALLY HIS BOSS SAYS HE GOT THE BOOT BECAUSE HE WAS DOING HIS JOB. MAY30th THE COMPANY FINEST TOWING WAS AWARDED THAT A BANK WANTED THIS CAR ON RICHMOND TERRACE FOR REPOSSESSION. RODRIGUEZ HOOKED IT UP FOR A TOW THEN FOUND OUT THAT THE DRIVER IS A DETECTIVE AT THE PRECINCT ACROSS THE STREET. CAROLINE DESTEFO HAD ALREADY APPROVED THE TOW. HE CALLED ME AND SAID I DIDN'T SEE A PLAQUERED ON THE WINDOW. HE WAS ARRESTED FOR HAVING A STOLEN CAR WHEN WE HAD A REPOSSESSION ORDER. Reporter: THE DETECTIVE ALLEGEDLY ASKED RODRIGUEZ TO PAY FOR THE THREE MISSED PAYMENTS BUT ONLY A BANK CAN ALLOW A CAR TO BE RELEASED. BUT APPARENTLY THE POLICE REMOVEED THE CAR OFF THE TOW TRUCK THEMSELVES AND PLACED RODRIGUEZ UNDER ARREST. HE USED THE AUTHORITY TO REMOVE THE TOW HIMSELF. Reporter: RODRIGUEZ SAYS WHEN HE WAS FIRST ARRESTED HE WAS CHARGE WITH A FELONY FOR POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY BUT THEN WHEN HE APPEARED IN COURT HIS CHARGES WERE CHANGED TO MISDEMEANORS. THE STATEN ISLAND DISTRICT ATTORNEY CHARGES RODRIGUEZ'S TRUCK DID NOT DISPLAY ITS LICENSE PLATE PROPERLY AND HE DID NOT HAVE A NEW YORK CITY TOWING LICENSE. THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS SAYS DRIVERS WHO PICK UP TOWS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS LICENSE BUT FINEST TOWING AND OTHERS WE TALKED TO SAY IT DEPENDS ON THE TOW. THOSE ARE CONSIDERED PRIVATE UNLIKE FOR HIRE TOWS SUCH AS WHEN A CAR IS DISABLED OR IN AN ACCIDENT. MONDAY ON NEW YORK ONE THE MAYOR WAS ASKED ABOUT THE INCIDENT. I HAVEN'T SEEN THE DETAILS BUT IF IT IS THAT KIND OF THING THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE AND THERE WOULD BE HUGE CONSEQUENCES FOR THOSE COPS. Reporter: RODRIGUEZ AND HIS

Channel: CBS New York

Views: 8,460,588

Keywords: CBS2 News At 5, Lisa Rozner, Local TV, New York

Id: Mj0eUvvO7q4

Length: 2min 34sec (154 seconds)

Published: Tue Jun 11 2019

Reddit Comments

[u/[deleted]]

Offering a bribe to the tow truck driver, illegal.

Taking repo car off hook, illegal.

Dismantling dash cam... tampering with evidence, illegal.

[u/BasroilII]

Case has already been dropped against the tow truck driver: https://www.silive.com/news/2019/08/charge-dropped-against-tow-truck-driver-arrested-while-repossessing-cops-car.html

[u/patientbearr]

At last two of Reddit's biggest paragons of evil, police and tow truck drivers, finally meet on the field of battle.

[u/davidreiss666]

Update here. In the end all charges were dropped against the tow-truck guy. That said, he should never have been arrested in the first place. I can't find out if there has been any update about this since September, 2019 though. That leads me to think that they probably dropped all the charges because the tow driver and the small company didn't have enough money to get a lawyer to chase after the cops. As such, nothing probably happened to any of the corrupt police.

[u/SGTStash]

Pretty sad the guy was 3 payments behind on a Nissan

[u/[deleted]]

[removed]

[u/Coiledviper]

I had my car illegally towed due to botched bank issues I refinanced my car my new bank note on my car had my title had everything mind you this was 7 months after the fact. I get off work my car is gone I figured wife needed car I call her she goes nope. I then call my mother as she also had a set of my keys nope again. I then call police I have my vin and license plate stored on my phone just in case something like this happens. Give them all the info they inform me my car was repossessed. I call bank where new note is ask if I was late they said no you 3 months ahead. I then tell them what police said they do 3 way call with police to find out towing company. Find out was former bank declared my loan in default even though they cashed the bank check and sent them the title.

I was without a car 2 weeks while they sorted it out. Needless to say I was missing sunglasses fishing poles firearm that I always carry unless I'm inside my job. I called police immediately to report gun stolen and who took it. Tow truck driver was caught with my firearm 3 days prior and arrested for not having permit. Police refused to give me my firearm back saying I didn't report it stolen. Needless to say tow truck driver and the company was sued by my bank aswell as me we settled out of court for basically the cost of my bank note and a couple thousands above that.

[u/Iama_traitor]

How the fuck do you miss 3 car payments on a used nissan altima as a professional law enforcement in nyc. Brain dead with money.

[u/[deleted]]

Fun fact about being towed.

In CA if you parked illegally, say in a handicap spot or in a firelane, and you're getting towed, the tow truck company has to give your car back if they haven't yet left the parking lot with your vehicle. They can still charge you up to half of the towing fee and they can't charge you for any of the storage fees.

Also if you park on private property, and your car is considered un safe to drive (missing a tire that you just so happened to put in your trunk?) you can't be towed until 24 hours AFTER the owner of the property notifies the police.

24+ hours of free parking.