TowNews

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SYDNEY, N.S. — Just days before the Cape Breton Regional Municipality sits down to discuss amendments to a proposed tow-truck licensing bylaw, many of the region’s towing companies are wondering why the municipality never reached out to them for input. “They never, ever contacted anyone in the towing industry to ask what was going on,” said Ronnie Smith, co-owner of Smith’s Towing in Sydney. “How I found out they’re passing this bylaw was from someone at Baddeck Towing who posted it online. “Everybody that’s been in this industry right now has been around for 40-plus years. And we were initially contacted about a year-and-a-half ago. But after that we couldn’t get any answers, so we don’t know if it’s going to go by a contract, or if they’re protecting the ones that have (a contract) now, is it going to go weekly or monthly? Nobody has any answers for us.” What worries Smith, along with Stephen Jamael of Jamael’s Towing in Sydney and Louis Syms of J L Syms Towing & Recovery in New Waterford, is what added rules and costs could be put in place that might wind up putting major financial dents into an already pared-down group of companies just wanting to survive. “I called up my insurance company to find out how much four flatbed tow trucks and a service truck would cost to be insured and I was told $27,000,” said Syms. “I’m paying three or four insurance policies on my vehicles – around $2,000 a month.” “Now the municipality wants to make up their own laws and pricing for the towing. They can’t do that; that’s information that has to come down from the Department of Transportation in Halifax.” Jamael and his wife, Carolyn, learned of some of the bylaw changes being proposed but feels too many restrictions could put their towing firm at serious risk. For instance, “you want a tow-truck driver with five years’ experience; that’ll be hard to come by,” Jamael said. “You want to penalize us if we don’t have a fire extinguisher in our truck, if we don’t have chains in our truck, if our dolly wheels are flat. I have one truck that I’ve done about 30,000 calls, it has a wheel life and a winch, and I’ve been told this truck doesn’t qualify. It’s really discouraging to hear that.” The Cape Breton Post reached out to the municipality for input on the bylaw and why towing companies weren’t included in the decision-making on the bylaw and its amendments. CBRM Chief Administrative Officer Marie Walsh referred the request to the acting police chief. Last June, Cape Breton Regional Police Staff Sgt. Joe Farrell first brought up the idea of a municipal towing licence bylaw in a council meeting under former mayor Cecil Clarke’s leadership. At that time, Farrell recommended the CBRM needed to get out of the towing tender and administration business. He explained that the force had administered the towing tender, invoices and storage fees for collisions spanning several years, “and that (process) consumes a great deal of time for the traffic safety unit sergeant and clerical staff – which, in turn, translates into administrative costs,” he said. Heather Llewellyn, director of the Roadside Responders Association of Nova Scotia, a provincial group representing the tow truck and impound industry, said she too is concerned that any tow truck licensing bylaw could impose unreasonable hiring guidelines and fees. She also feels that bylaw changes may reinforce problems between police and the towing industry. "There’s two sides to every story," she said. "I understand the concerns of the insurance industry. There were meetings held … we (the RRA) met with them originally, then they met with the police department and the municipal council. Which is fine, they can do that. But you need to look at all sides of the situation. “I don’t think council has properly done their research, and they have not listened to the other side of the story." RESOURCE LINK

Two metro Atlanta men found themselves looking down the barrel of a gun early Tuesday when authorities said a man armed with a pistol halted their attempt to repossess a car in Athens. The showdown occurred about 1:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Howard Johnson motel on Atlanta Highway, where a 36-year-old Duluth man found a 2016 Volkswagen Jetta that was on his repo list, according to an Athens-Clarke police report. The man called a co-worker to bring a tow truck to the location, and as they loaded the car, the men told police that Kevonte Bugg, 26, of Cellar Court, Athens, came out of a motel room and angrily confronted them. Bugg began “cussing him out” and threatened to kill the Duluth man, according to the report. Both men reported that Bugg pointed a gun at them and when Bugg drove off in the Jetta, they followed and called 911. Responding officers caught up to the Jetta on Lone Star Road in a neighborhood off Cleveland Road, where Bugg was pulled over and arrested. When police searched the Jetta, officers reported recovering a Glock 45 9mm handgun, 63 rounds of ammunition, a baggie of a substance that tested positive for cocaine and methamphetamine, a tube with a substance that tested positive for heroin, digital scales and four cell phones. Bugg was charged with possession of a firearm during a felony, two counts of possessing controlled drugs and two counts of aggravated assault. RESOURCE LINK

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The woman accused in a crash that killed a tow truck driver last week filed a hit-and-run report with the Nevada Highway Patrol a day later. Colette Despain, 51, later told troopers she didn’t know a man had died — she said the tow truck pulled into her lane as she was passing it and then sped away, according to an arrest report. She was reporting that the truck knocked off her side mirror. Despain, 51, faces multiple charges in the March 9 crash that killed Ryan Matthew Billotte, 48. “As I went to pass him he suddenly pulled out and right into my front right fender,” Despain wrote in a report filed at 2 p.m. the next day at NHP’s Southern Command headquarters. “I recovered and pulled off of next exit to exchange info and saw in my rearview he pulled off into traffic and got into far left lane and sped off. I was not able to get name of tow company as it all happened so fast and was dark,” Despain wrote. When troopers learned of the report, they called Despain and asked her about details of the crash. After they spoke, she emailed photos of the damage to her 2015 Ford Transit van. She said the tow truck was on the right side of the road with flashing lights, and even correctly identified the color of the car that was being towed as silver. When NHP troopers went to Despain’s house, they found heavy damage to the front right of the vehicle, and matched yellow paint on the vehicle to the bright yellow safety vest and pants worn by Billote. Despain was due in court Tuesday, but did not appear because of a medical issue. She is due back at that end of the month. Charges against Despain include failure to stop at the scene of a crash involving death, a felony. She also faces a felony charge of violation of probation, and two misdemeanors for failing to maintain a lane and failure to move to the left while passing an authorized emergency vehicle. The crash occurred around 7:47 p.m. on Tuesday. NHP Trooper Travis Smacka said the suspect vehicle was traveling westbound on I-215 approaching Jones. The vehicle drifted into the right shoulder, striking both the tow truck driver and his vehicle. RESOURCE LINK

A woman who pulled her vehicle onto the shoulder of the roadway of the new Tappan Zee Bridge and began climbing the safety fence to jump from the span was saved by a Good Samaritan. The incident began around 12:50 p.m., Sunday, March 14, in the Tarrytown area of the bridge, said Trooper Tara McCormick. According to McCormick the Good Samaritan, along with a tow truck driver, were able to talk with the woman and grab her before she could jump. The woman was turned over to New York State Police who transported her to an area hospital for treatment. RESOURCE LINK

RESOURCE LINK with video

1 arrested after crashing into Racine Co. Sheriff’s squad car RACINE COUNTY (CBS 58) – A 21-year-old Illinois woman was arrested on Monday, Mar. 15 for operating a motor vehicle under the influence. Authorities say around 7:45 p.m. the driver crashed into a Racine County Sheriff’s Office squad car while it was assisting in a separate one-car crash. The crash happened on Interstate 94 near County Highway G in the Village of Raymond. According to the sheriff’s office, a tow truck was on the scene removing the car when the crash happened. The deputy, who was sitting in the squad car, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The 21-year-old driver was not hurt. "I could not be more relieved that my deputy and the citizen he had in his squad (were) not seriously inured," Sheriff Schmaling said. Resource link

RACINE COUNTY, Wis. - The Racine County Sheriff’s Office on Monday, March 15 responded to four accidents on I-94 that were weather-related. One of the crashes involved a Racine County Sheriff's Office squad and a tow truck. According to officials, around 8 a.m. a Racine County Sheriff’s deputy along with a tow truck responded to a single-vehicle accident on I-94 northbound near CTH G in the Village of Raymond. While on the scene of that crash, another motorist lost control of her vehicle, crashing into the squad car and the tow truck. The tow truck operators were out of their truck when the crash occurred. They jumped over the median wall and were not injured. article RACINE COUNTY, Wis. - The Racine County Sheriff’s Office on Monday, March 15 responded to four accidents on I-94 that were weather-related. One of the crashes involved a Racine County Sheriff's Office squad and a tow truck. According to officials, around 8 a.m. a Racine County Sheriff’s deputy along with a tow truck responded to a single-vehicle accident on I-94 northbound near CTH G in the Village of Raymond. While on the scene of that crash, another motorist lost control of her vehicle, crashing into the squad car and the tow truck. The tow truck operators were out of their truck when the crash occurred. They jumped over the median wall and were not injured. The deputy and the driver of the initial crashed vehicle were seated in the squad car. The passenger in the squad car was not injured. The deputy who was seated in his driver’s seat was treated and released from the hospital for minor injuries. RESOURCE LINK

INDIANAPOLIS — It was just before dawn on Monday, March 9, 1994, when a wrecker driver noticed he hadn’t been able to reach dispatcher John Garner at Hix Towing on Bluff Road. When the driver went to investigate, he found Garner dead behind his desk with a bullet wound to the head. “I think he got assassinated,” said IMPD Cold Case Detective Greg West. “Whoever killed him, there’s no doubt in my mind that he knew the person who killed him. The way he was shot and how he was shot, it’s from the crime scene we can tell that person who shot John, he knew them.” Misty Villaverde describes her uncle as a “big teddy bear” with a heart of gold. It was that big heart that likely led Garner to be involved in something he shouldn’t have been because he needed cash to support Misty and her family. “My father got sick, and my uncle promised my mom and my grandparents that he would take care of me and my sister and my mom and dad as far as like paying the bills, getting us Christmas and just being there for us,” she said. “It was over money. It was over something that he was doing because he had so much on his plate just from taking care of us, taking care of his family, that he was doing something that he shouldn’t have been doing.” Detectives think knowledge of Garner’s murder has been a closely held secret for 27 years, limited to those on a need-to-know basis. “The original detective spent a lot of time on the investigation,” said West, “and he looked at some people inside the business, also people outside, looking at different angles on it. He developed a person of interest. That person today is still a person of interest. We haven’t cleared him out whatsoever. “We’ve added some more pieces to the puzzle on this investigation.” Villaverde hopes that before more memories fade, a secondary witness will come forward, no longer intimidated by Garner’s killer, with information to solve the mystery. “I think they’ve moved on. I think they think we’ve forgotten about this and let it go. Some of them are probably ill,” she said. “We want you to come forward. There’s no reason to be scared. There’s no reason to be afraid to come forward.” West recalls Garner’s murder nearly three decades ago was “a high profile case,” but one that can still be solved today. “27 years since it occurred, people are gonna keep talking,” he said. “They don’t forget.” If you have information about the murder of John Garner in March of 1994, call Crimestoppers at (317) 262-TIPS. Even though it’s been nearly 27 years, there’s still a $1,000 reward available to the person who provides the information that solves this case.

Tow Truck Driver Urges Hit-And-Run Driver To Surrender: 'Do The Right Thing'

Tow truck driver stabbed while trying to repossess vehicle, police say VENICE, Fla. - Crime scene tape and flashing lights lined Triple Diamond Boulevard in Venice. "It's just a crazy way to start the day," said Troy Medeiros. A man who was only doing his job now fights for his life. "The helicopter landed right in the middle of the road the security and everything started going," said Medeiros. Venice police say a 39-year-old tow truck driver was met by Pablo Bautista when he tried to repossess Bautista's Buick, outside his work at PGT. "What we had there was a person likely in the process of a repossession, and an argument over that repossession. Which carried over to the street. And a stabbing occurred there," said Captain Charlie Thorpe of the Venice Police Department. Venice Police said 49-year-old Bautista, of Ft. Myers, stabbed the tow truck driver multiple times. "I saw the blood all over the ground," said Joyce Rotert. Joyce Rotert had just pulled into work when she opened her car door. "I realized something had happened over here that they were not aware of," said Rotert. The crime scene stretched over three areas and ended with the tow truck driver escaping to call for help. The tow truck driver, who was suffered life-threatening injuries was flown to the hospital. Now, two lives have been turned upside down. "A car is not worth it. No matter what. What if he is married and his children and his family will have to deal with this and the other guy’s family will have to deal with him being in jail. It’s just never worth it. It’s never worth it," said Rotert. Bautista is being charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He remains in the Sarasota County jail with no bond. The tow truck driver is in intensive care following surgery. PGT Innovations released this statement following the stabbing: Earlier this morning, a PGT team member was involved in an off-site altercation near our Venice, Florida secondary campus on Triple Diamond Boulevard. The altercation resulted in an injury to an individual who is not a PGT employee. The suspect is in police custody. The PGT Venice campus went into lockdown until authorities apprehended the suspect. We believe this was an isolated incident that had nothing to do with PGT’s business or operations. We are working closely with local law enforcement authorities as their investigation of this situation continues. Our No. 1 priority is the safety of our team members, and we are committed to ensuring they have a safe work environment. Because this is an ongoing criminal investigation, we are not in a position to make any other comments or answer any questions at this time. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Venice Police Department and other first responders for their leadership and support and their prompt response to this situation. RESOURCE LINK with video Man stabbed in dispute over vehicle repossession in Venice, police say Update: Man accused of stabbing truck driver who was attempting to repossess his car in Venice A man was arrested after he stabbed a tow truck driver who was trying to repossess his car in Venice on Friday morning, according to a police report. According to the city of Venice, a 49-year-old Fort Myers man attacked a 39-year-old tow truck operator at about 7:45 a.m. in the parking lot of PGT Innovations at 104 Triple Diamond Blvd. The attack carried over to the parking area at 105 Triple Diamond. The victim escaped and called authorities from his truck at Morse Court and Triple Diamond. The victim, who was stabbed multiple times, was taken by helicopter to Sarasota Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries. He is out of surgery and in intensive care. Police are not releasing additional information on the victim, citing Marsy's Law. The 49-year-old is an employee of PGT: In a news release the company said one of the two men involved in the case was an employee and the victim was not. He is accused of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. “We believe this was an isolated incident that had nothing to do with PGT’s business or operations,” PGT said in the release. PGT went on lockdown until the suspect was taken into custody. The company said it is working closely with law enforcement and would not be able to make additional comments because of the active investigation. Triple Diamond Boulevard was closed for hours while the case was investigated. RESOURCE LINK

NHP: Tow truck driver killed in hit-and-run crash at 215, Decatur in south valley (NV) Ryan Bilotte with Quality Towing, Las Vegas Nevada lost his life in the line of duty! LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -- Nevada Highway Patrol said a pedestrian was killed in a crash on the southern 215 Beltway at Decatur Boulevard on Tuesday night. NHP said a tow truck driver for Quality Towing was hit while he was working in the westbound shoulder of the highway about 7:47 p.m. on March 9. The tow truck driver was taken to University Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The vehicle that hit him sped off, NHP said. It was described as a white Ford box van with right front damage, according to witnesses. Anyone with information was asked to contact NHP. The man's identity will be released after next of kin has been notified. RESOURCE LINK ADDITIONAL RESOURCE LINK with video Tow truck driver killed in hit-and-run identified NHP: 1 arrested in connection to hit-and-run crash that killed tow truck driver EXCLUSIVE: Suspect arrested, damaged van in deadly hit and run located in southwest Las Vegas LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Nevada Highway Patrol says one person has been arrested in connection to a deadly hit-and-run crash on the 215 Southern Beltway Tuesday night. NHP says a tow truck driver, later identified by the Clark County coroner as 48-year-old Ryan Matthew Billotte from Las Vegas, was working on the shoulder of the 215 near Jones Boulevard when he was hit by a vehicle. The vehicle did not stay at the scene. Billotte died from injuries sustained in the crash, authorities say. After the crash, other tow truck drivers from around the valley lined up in his honor. RESOURCE LINK Son of woman accused in hit-and-run death of tow truck driver speaks out LV Move Over Tow Truck Escort 3/8/2021

The tow operator was in the process of towing a car when a man came out with a BB gun. WESTBOROUGH, MA — Westborough police were called to a reported disturbance on Sunday after a tow truck driver said he was having issues trying to repossess a vehicle. A vehicle on Chestnut Street was being repossessed and the tow truck operator told police that a man came outside while he was trying to tow the car and threatened him. The tow truck operator said the man looked like he had a weapon in his hands. When police got to the scene they found the man in the yard and safely ordered him to the ground and handcuffed him. The weapon he had was a BB gun, according to police. The man was charged with assault by means of a dangerous weapon and disturbing the peace. RESOURCE LINK

A tow-truck procession is being held Wednesday in a tribute for a man who died March 3 while on the job. Jeff Jug was 42. “He was a ‘life-of-the-party kind of guy,” said Jug’s wife, Jessica. “He was a bit of a prankster who really enjoyed being around people. He was a fun guy to be around. “He loved cars especially his 1970 Chevelle and enjoyed going to car shows.” A former longtime employee of Brantford’s Ken’s Towing, Jug was employed by Norfolk Disposal Services but was at Crumb Rubber Manufacturers in Brantford when he died. Although she doesn’t know all of the details, Jessica said her husband was crushed by a bin. The Ministry of Labour is investigating, a spokesperson said. Jessica said a lot of people in Brantford and the surrounding area knew her husband because of his years working at Ken’s Towing. “He was the guy you’d want to show up if you were involved in a collision,” she said. “He had a lot of empathy and he had a way of making people feel comfortable during a really difficult time.” Her husband even made an appearance on Heavy Rescue 401, a reality TV show that follows the operations of towing companies, Many people took to social media to express their condolences, including Mark Baxter, a Brantford police officer and president of Brantford Police Association. “I worked with Jeff at countless MVCs (motor vehicle collisions) during my time in traffic when he was employed at Ken’s Towing,” Baxter wrote on Twitter. “Jeff was always professional and a fun guy to be around. “My condolences to his family.” Jessica said she is grateful for the support of family and friends. “It was such a shock and it has been overwhelming,” she said. “I’m thankful for all of the love and support of so many people.” The Jug family recently moved to Waterford from Brantford. He began working at Norfolk Disposal because the job allowed him to spend more time with his family, which includes three children – Jayden, Jayce and Rosie. Plans for Wednesday call for the tow truck operators and others wishing to participate in the procession to gather at McBay Road and Highway 2 at 10 a.m. The procession will begin at 11 a.m. and head to Waterford. A celebration of life with family and friends will be held at a later date. RESOURCE LINK

LEE COUNTY, Miss. (WTVA) - One person is dead after a fatal accident in Lee County on Saturday. It happened on I-22 East around 2:00 pm near the Belden exit. Staff Sgt. Bryan McGee with the Mississippi Highway Patrol said two cars collided and hit a tow truck that had another car attached to the back of it. McGee said they are still confirming injuries, but said 69-year-old Johnny Elvis Baughman died as a result of his injuries. An investigation into the collision is still pending. RESOURCE LINK

https://www.hudsonvalley360.com/news/greenecounty/truck-catches-fire-after-hitting-former-toll-plaza/article_ae37a210-0404-56a4-9da6-cfb7a35ae5af.html

A San Francisco tow truck driver trying to repossess a 2017 Mercedes Benz heard “a loud noise” and spotted a man holding a handgun beside the car, police say. Then the tow truck driver noticed a bullet hole in the door of the Mercedes, a police press release issued Wednesday says. The gunman collected some possessions and left. Undeterred, the tow truck driver continued trying to repossess the Mercedes on Feb. 21 when he saw the man pointing a rifle through a fence, police wrote. The driver unhooked the car and fled. Detectives investigating the incident arrested Cameron Ybarra, 31, on a variety of charges Feb. 23 after uncovering an arsenal of firearms, bomb-making equipment and a suspicious device detonated by the bomb squad, police say in the release. Officers arrested Ybarra after a scuffle when he left his residence as they prepared to search it, police say. Ybarra faces charges including carrying a concealed weapon, carrying a loaded firearm in public, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, discharge of a firearm in a grossly negligent manner, possession of a silencer, three counts of felon in possession of a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon/assault weapon, possession of an explosive device, and resisting, delaying or obstructing a peace officer, the release says. Detectives say they found an assault rifle, privately made firearms known as “ghost guns,”, ammunition, magazines, body armor, a silencer, a 3D printer, other gun manufacturing items, fraudulent identification materials and suspected bomb-making materials in Ybarra’s home. RESOURCE LINK Police asked that anyone with information on the incident call the SFPD Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD.

OLYMPIA — After getting stuck with $15,000 in costs last year for answering a call from law enforcement to remove a truck that had landed in a creek, Randy Houston, owner of Randy’s Auto Parts and Towing, suggested a change in the law was in order. His idea turned into Senate Bill 5406, a bipartisan bill introduced by 12th District Sen. Brad Hawkins, which passed the Senate Tuesday in a 47-1 vote and is now headed to the House. If approved, registered tow-truck operators dispatched by state or local agencies could bring civil action against owners or insurance companies to cover unpaid costs on calls stemming from negligence or illegal operation of a vehicle on a public highway. The covered costs would apply to vehicle recovery, impound and storage fees, as well as costs associated with incident response and traffic control. Houston, who has offices in Wenatchee, Okanogan and Ephrata, spoke with Hawkins about the ongoing problem and testified in favor of the proposed bill. He shared, as an example, the call in February 2020 to recover a truck that had landed in a creek near Coulee Dam after losing its brakes, hitting a building and crashing through a guardrail. “We got called to get the truck out of the creek to stop the pollution,” Houston said. “I called 20 people out to get there as fast as we could with the equipment we needed. As soon as I get a call, the checkbook opens and I start writing checks. I have to hire people, outside equipment, trailers.” The insurance company later denied payment for the towing operation, saying the crashed truck owner’s collision coverage had lapsed and towing services are not covered by the liability insurance that would cover damage to the building and the guardrail. Houston then tried to collect from the truck owner, but the company, by then, had disbanded. His only other opportunity to cover costs was in the sale of the abandoned vehicle at auction, but it had no takers, which wasn’t surprising, given it had flipped several times on its way down the bank, leaving nothing much to bid on. Responding to that particular call left Randy’s Towing about $15,000 in the hole, Houston said, one of hundreds of unpaid calls for service incurred by registered towing companies statewide responding to call outs from law enforcement agencies. His company, which handles about $1 million worth of towing a year, writes off $50,000 to $100,000 in unpaid fees, he said. Houston said he believes allowing tow companies to seek damages through civil action would help recover most of those losses. “These tow-truck operators are helping to provide a great service throughout our state,” Hawkins said. “These are often local, small businesses whose owners are trying to put food on their tables just like the rest of our families. They shouldn’t be stuck with the bill. That’s not right. If this keeps up, they might just say no if it looks like a situation where they won’t recover their costs. That would be a bad outcome for everyone.” RESOURCE LINK

Felony charges were filed Friday against a tow truck driver who allegedly shot a man and a 13-year-old girl in Santa Ana in January and fled to Mexico, where he was arrested this week. Jesus Angel Lopez, 27, of Santa Ana, is charged with four counts each of attempted murder and assault with a semiautomatic firearm and single counts of possession of a firearm by a felon and being an active participant in a gang carrying a loaded firearm in public. He also faces sentence-enhancing allegations of gang activity, discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury or death, personal use of a firearm and attempted premeditated murder. Lopez, who was arrested Wednesday in Tijuana and is being held in lieu of $1 million bail, made his initial appearance in the jail courtroom in Santa Ana but did not enter a plea. His arraignment was rescheduled to March 24. Lopez, a documented gang member, is accused of shooting the two victims from his tow truck just after 1 a.m. Jan. 16 in the 900 block of West Bishop Street, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said. The victims, who sustained bullet wounds to their legs, were taken to area hospitals for treatment. It was not clear whether Lopez knew them, Bertagna said. Lopez abandoned the tow truck, which was recovered by police, he said. An arrest warrant was issued for Lopez on Jan. 19, but he had fled the country, police said. RESOURCE LINK