NY Tow Truck Owner Shot to Death

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of 49-year old John Marcinak, owner of Garrison Garage in Garrison, NY. He was shot on New Year's Eve outside of his shop. Here's today's story from the Lower Hudson News Journal:

GARRISON - As mourners paid their respects yesterday to a tow-truck operator who was shot outside of his Route 9 garage on the afternoon of New Year's Eve, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office pressed forward in its investigation.

John Marcinak of Garrison, a 49-year-old father of three, was found fatally wounded on the side of the road in front of Garrison Garage around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. Responders initially thought he was the victim of a hit-and-run driver and rushed him to Hudson Valley Hospital Center in Cortlandt, where he died. Doctors determined that he had been shot several times.

New York State Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to a conviction of the person or people responsible for the shooting. Callers to Crime Stoppers, at 866-313-8477, are guaranteed anonymity.

"What a terrible case," said Bob Keller of the nonprofit group, based in northern Westchester County. "We're really trying to keep this in front of people. I am convinced that someone knows something about this terrible crime and the reward offering will encourage them to call our hotline number and tell us what they know."

Putnam deputies set up a road block Friday on Route 9 near the crime scene and stopped motorists to ask if they had been in the area Wednesday or if they knew anything. Police have also urged people to call the Sheriff's Office at 845-225-4300.

"We have had numerous calls from people, inside and outside the community, and we are checking every lead that comes in to us," Chief Investigator A. Gerald Schramek said yesterday. "We are looking into every aspect of the investigation."

The death shocked the Garrison community, where Marcinak was well known - not only through his towing business but also as a man who was always willing to help others.

A funeral service is planned for 11 a.m. today at Clinton Funeral Home, 21 Parrott St., Cold Spring. Hundreds of mourners paid their respects during calling hours last night and Sunday.

Friends have described Marcinak as a dedicated father to his children, Julie, John and Joey. He also leaves wife, Janet, and two brothers, Andrew Marcinak of Fort Montgomery, N.Y., and Stephen Frohnhoefer of Wappingers Falls.

The Garrison Volunteer Fire Department, where Marcinak was a life member, is collecting donations for the Marcinak Children's Fund at the Fire Department, P.O. Box 252, Garrison, NY 10524.

Reach Terence Corcoran at 845-228-2275 or tcorcora@lohud.com.

Here's an earlier story about John Marcinak from the same publication:

COLD SPRING - John Marcinak spent his life in his hometown of Garrison where, like his tow truck-driving father, he dedicated his life to pulling friends out of trouble.

"He'd give you anything he had and never expected anything in return," said Bob Maurice, one of Marcinak's childhood friends. "His father was like that."

Maurice was among scores of mourners yesterday to pay their respects to Marcinak, who was found with gunshot wounds in front of his towing business last week.

Marcinak, the 49-year-old owner and operator of Garrison Garage, was discovered mortally wounded on the side of Route 9 Wednesday afternoon. He leaves a wife, Janet, their daughter and two young sons.

The Putnam County Sheriff's Department is investigating.

The line of mourners yesterday stretched down the block and around the corner from the Clinton Funeral Home in Cold Spring, where longtime buddies remembered Marcinak as a loving father and a good friend whose passion for cars led him to rebuild a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air as a young man and to cheer for NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Sr.

But his dedication to towing was what his oldest friends remembered yesterday. Maurice, a truck mechanic from Beacon, said Marcinak was constantly at his father's side growing up, even going out on calls with his dad. Marcinak inherited the tow-truck business from his father, John C. Marcinak, who died in 2000.

"That tow truck never left without him," he said.

Hugh Moss, a landscaper from Cold Spring, said just two weeks ago, Marcinak offered to drive up to New Paltz to help Moss' 20-year-old daughter after she got into an accident.

"He was always on call," Moss said. "Everyone knows his phone number by heart. He really knew his business."

Bob Anthony, a construction-truck driver who lives in Toms River, N.J., remembered drinking Pepsi with Marcinak in his parents' home after church on Sundays. He, like others at yesterday's wake, never knew Marcinak to have a single enemy and were baffled that anyone would want him dead.

"He was a Good Samaritan struck down," he said.

John McDonald, another childhood friend who is a New York Police Department detective, said he was confident Putnam County investigators would find Marcinak's killer but that an arrest couldn't make up for the loss to his family or community.

"There's going to be a big hole in Garrison," he said.

Calling hours will continue from 5 to 8 p.m. today and a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow at the Clinton Funeral Home, 21 Parrott St., Cold Spring. The Garrison Volunteer Fire Department is collecting donations for a fund dedicated to Marcinak's children.

Reach Rebecca Baker at rebaker@lohud.com or 914-694-5064.

Family Seeks Closure In Slaying of TX Tow Truck Driver

Here's the story from the Houston Chronicle:

Working as a tow truck driver was supposed to be only a temporary fix for Mario Jove.

At first, the good money seemed to be a fair trade for the stress and long hours required to do the job. But as time wore on, Jove decided towing the cars of disgruntled people in a high-crime area was not worth the pay, his family members said.

Jove, 34, never got the chance to quit his job. On Sept. 28, he was gunned down in a southwest Houston apartment complex while preparing to tow an illegally parked car.

Three months later, his slaying is unsolved, the Houston Police Department said.

"It's not one of those cases where it's a bad guy shooting a bad guy," Detective Ray Leon said. Jove "was just a hardworking guy trying to take care of his family."

Leon, who used to work patrol in the area where Jove was killed, recognized the shooting victim at Ben Taub General Hospital. Leon said he'd warned Jove to be careful in the past.

Jove, a driver for Spring Branch Towing, was working at the Crown Garden Apartments at 7001 Hillcroft around 5:05 p.m. Sept. 28 when he spotted a gray Ford Mustang that was illegally backed into a parking space, Leon said. Witnesses told investigators they had noticed two men had been drinking in the car.

As was standard procedure, Jove took a digital photograph to document the illegally parked car.

When he turned around to walk back to his tow truck, Leon said, one of the men got out of the car and shot Jove in the back multiple times.

The shooter then got back in the Mustang — described as having paper dealer tags with an expiring month of October, a spoiler, chrome rims and tinted windows — before the pair left the scene, Leon said.

The one piece of evidence police hoped they'd have was the picture Jove took with his camera. Either the memory stick was full or the camera malfunctioned as Jove fell to the ground, Leon said.

Jove was rushed to the hospital but died shortly after the shooting.

His wife of six years, Noemi Marquez, 26, said her husband had worked as a wrecker driver for only about six months and was awaiting some paperwork so he could go back to contract building.

More than 6 feet tall with a large build, Jove's physical presence stood in contrast to the good-natured jokester who often played pranks on family and friends.

Jove, or "Papa Bear" as he was affectionately known, had two children from a previous marriage. Marquez also had two. The couple then had two daughters together. Marquez said they called their family their "own Brady bunch."

Marquez said her husband lived for his children, always present in every aspect of their lives. Marquez said Jove's death has been hard on the family.

She hopes that solving his slaying will be the first step to closure for the family.

"You just feel like you're never going to stop crying," she said, tears in her eyes. "But I look at my kids and I know that I have to."

Police ask anyone with information about this case to call the HPD homicide division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

anita.hassan@chron.com

Police May Have CA Tow Truck Driver's Killer

Here's the story from the Merced Sun-Star:

Merced police say they have arrested the man believed responsible for killing a 41-year-old tow truck driver in November.

Anthony Avilez Trammell, 20, was arrested Wednesday at the Merced County Jail, where he'd been held on a narcotics warrant since Nov. 26, said Cmdr. Floyd Higdon.

Higdon didn't give specifics on Wednesday about how investigators linked Trammell to the killing. He did say, however, that investigators have recovered a handgun they believe is the murder weapon.

"He became a person of interest very early in the case," Higdon said. "We believe we have enough evidence to prove his guilt in court."

Police say the victim, Randall Armendariz Sr., was killed on Nov. 24 after Armendariz confronted a suspect about stealing a vehicle from Performance Towing, the company the victim worked for.

The day Armendariz was killed, one of the company's service vehicles, a white 1989 GMC 1500 pickup, was reported stolen at 7:43 p.m.

Police believe that Armendariz spotted the stolen vehicle and confronted the thief. Higdon said witnesses reported what appeared to be an argument between the victim and the suspect on Ruby Court near Carmel Road before shots rang out.

After arriving at the scene, police found Armendariz lying in the road on Ruby Court. He had been shot at least once in the head, and was pronounced dead at the scene, Higdon said.

The stolen pickup was also found by police at the scene, the driver's side door open and the engine running.

Trammell was arrested Nov. 26 at a duplex at 1556 E. 21st St. The suspect arrived at the house and police attempted to contact him. Trammell, who was inside the house, brandished a handgun at the officers. Police fired, striking him in the leg and lower abdomen, Higdon said.

After the Nov. 26 confrontation, police reported that Trammell fired at officers, although investigators later determined that the suspect didn't open fire.

Trammell was booked Wednesday on suspicion of murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a crime causing great bodily injury, participation in a criminal street gang, possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of stolen property.

He is being held without bail.

Reporter Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or vpatton@mercedsun-star.com

Happy New Year!

Best wishes for a prosperous year in 2009 from all of us at Towing & Recovery Footnotes!

Shots Fired At TX Repo Truck Driver

Here's the WOAI.com news story:

SOUTH BEXAR COUNTY -- Tuesday night, a man in south Bexar County is under arrest. He's accused of firing shots at a tow truck being used to repossess his girlfriend's pick up.

Bexar County Sheriff's deputies say the tow truck driver had orders from the bank to seize the woman's pickup. He pulled into a driveway at a home on South Jett road, near Hwy 16 in south Bexar County.

Several people came out of the house and confronted the tow truck driver. During the argument, deputies say a man in his 30s pulled out a handgun and fired several shots at the tow truck’s tires.

No one was hurt and the ford pickup was eventually hauled off. The man accused of shooting at the tow truck is charged with deadly conduct with a firearm.

Bexar County Sheriff's deputies say this isn't the first case of its kind here.

Zip's 2008 Heavy Duty Truck of the Year Winner

Here's the Zip's press release:

NEW HAMPTON, Iowa, December 30, 2008-Cardinal Towing Service, Inc., of Brooklyn Park, Minn. has been crowned the winner of the Zip’s Owners Club 2008 Heavy Duty Truck of the Year Award. The winning truck is a 2008 Peterbilt 367 Century 1075S Rotator SDU/4 built for Cardinal Towing Service and owner Denny Cardinal.

Cardinal’s Century 1075S 75 ton, three-stage Rotator has an aluminum modular body, dual 60,000 lb. planetary two-speed winches, dual 35,000 lb. belly drag winches and dual 20,000 lb. turret drag winches. It is one of the first rotators built with this six-winch configuration. In addition, it is equipped with hydraulic front and rear outriggers, radio proportional controls, handheld lanyard, 48” tunnel toolbox, galvanized double panel doors, SDU/4 heavy duty three-stage underlift with 17,000 lb. lift capacity at 143.5” extended, low profile crossbar, low profile fork holders, eight pairs of cast steel forks, custom tool and attachment placement, and more.

“This is of the toughest trucks around,” said Denny Cardinal. “We know it can handle just about anything we can throw at it.”

“Everyone knows that Zip’s is the place to go for the best new and used towing equipment,” he added. “It’s the fit and finish and the service after the sale that sets them apart from other distributors.”

Votes were cast online at Zips.com for three months to select three Heavy Duty Truck of the Year finalists. In addition to Cardinal Towing Service, other finalists were Topel’s Truck Center of Lake Mills, Wis. ; and Beaupre’s Inc. of Kankakee, Ill. The Missouri Tow Truck Association (MTTA) selected the winner.

Cardinal Towing Service, Inc. was presented with the coveted Zip’s Owners Club Truck of the Year Award. In recognition of the assistance from the MTTA, Zip’s has made a $500 donation in the association’s name to the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum’s Survivor’s Fund.

“Every heavy duty truck Zip’s builds, bold or basic, is always quality,” says Paul Rottinghaus, president of Zip’s. “During the contest, it’s nice to see which trucks are most popular and stand out from the rest.”

Votes are currently being taken at Zips.com for the Zip’s Owner’s Club 2008 Medium Duty Truck of the Year. You can vote by visiting the site and clicking on the Cast Your Vote link.

Earlier this year, Prairieland Service Center of Sun Prairie, Wis. received the 2008 Zip’s Car Carrier of the Year Award for its 21-foot Century Aluminum Car Carriers, and Don’s Towing Service of Decorah, Iowa, received the 2008 Zip’s Light Duty Truck of the Year Award for its Chevy K30 4x4 Vulcan 882.

Based in New Hampton, Iowa, Zip’s makes you the towing leader with superior service and the best and largest selection of tow trucks, car carriers, parts and accessories.

Also in MA, 'Move Over' Bill Signed Into Law

Here's the press release from MA's Statewide Towing Association:

On December 22, 2008, Governor Patrick signed Senate No. 2103, An Act Relative to Operating a Motor Vehicle When Approaching Stationary Emergency Vehicles, into law. The passage of the “Move Over Law” will protect roadside service workers and public safety officials on our highways. The law will go into effect in 90 days.

The legislation requires motorists to move over one traffic lane when approaching a stationary emergency roadside vehicle if it is safe to do so. If the volume of vehicles on the roadway does not allow for a safe lane shift, then the motorist is required to reduce their speed to a reasonable and safe level for road conditions. Violators will be faced with a ticket up to $100.00.

Statewide Towing Association, Inc., advocated for the passage of this law. With many incidents over the past years involving tow truck operators passage of this bill was a priority for the 2007-2008 legislative session. In 2004 STA began working with the legislature on this issue. In the coming year, we will work to inform the motoring public of this new law and the necessary protection it provides those who work to keep the roadways clear and travel as safe as possible.

The Statewide Towing Association provides training and education, driver certification and safety awareness for the industry and employees. As the second oldest such organization in the country, the Statewide Towing Association is considered one of the leaders in the United States.

For more information about our association, visit www.statewidetowing.org.

Here's the story from wickedlocal.com:

Dover - State Sen. Jim Timilty, D-Walpole, has announced that Governor Deval Patrick recently signed Senate No. 2103, An Act Relative to Operating a Motor Vehicle When Approaching Stationary Emergency Vehicles, into law. The passage of the so-called “Move Over” Bill brings the commonwealth in line with 43 other states by protecting roadside service workers and public safety officials on our highways.

The legislation, sponsored by Timilty, requires motorists to move over one traffic lane when approaching a stationary emergency roadside vehicle if it is safe to do so. If the volume of vehicles on the roadway does not allow for a safe lane shift, then the motorist is required to reduce their speed to a reasonable and safe level for road conditions.

“I am very proud to have been a part of the passage of this lifesaving legislation. State Police officers and roadside assistance workers are out there at every hour of every day, often with less than 3 feet of room between their back and oncoming traffic.” said Timilty. “While many may consider this a matter of common courtesy, it has become far too uncommon and quite simply, people’s lives are at risk because of it.”

AAA Southern New England and the State Police Association of Massachusetts were instrumental partners in advocating for the passage of this law. With recent accidents involving state troopers and AAA tow truck drivers, both organizations had the passage of this bill on the top of their priority list for the 2007-2008 legislative session. In the coming year, they will work in collaboration to inform citizens of this new law and the vital protection it provides those who work to make highway travel as safe as possible.

“The commonwealth has taken an important step toward ensuring the public’s safety with this new law,” said Rick Brown, president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts. “Troopers across the commonwealth are grateful for the added protection that has the potential to save the lives of those on the side of the roadways responding to an emergency.”

“This bill is a tribute to our first responders; police, emergency medical services, tow truck drivers and firefighters. These people put their lives literally on the line 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to help all motorists. AAA Southern New England thanks Senator Timilty for his leadership on this issue,” said Art Kinsman, director of Government Affairs for AAA Southern New England.

The bill moved through the final stages of the legislative process during informal sessions of the Senate and House, and was approved by Governor Patrick 15 days before the close of the 2007-2008 session on Jan. 6, 2009.

Vintage Tow Trucks from OkTOWberfest in MA

Click here to check out the pics at CarDomain blog.

Towing In Top 10 Recession-Proof Industries?

According to this article posted at www.resumebear.com, "Motor Vehicle Towing" is number nine on the list of 50 recession-proof industries according to U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, right up there with residential trade contractors (#1), medicinal & biological products (#3), and school bus transportation (#6).

Here's the info:

9) Motor vehicle towing

It’s not alltogether clear why motor vehicle towing grew 6%, 2%, and 4% during 1990, 2001, and 2007, but there are several plausible hypotheses. One is that people spend less money on vehicle maintenance when cash is tight, leading to more breakdowns and thus the need for towing. Another is that high anxiety and stress levels of the masses lead to more accidents, thereby necessitating more towing services. Whatever the case, this industry has grown robustly during the 3 recent recessions.

FL Towing Company Manager Charged

Here's the news-press.com story:

A Cape Coral towing company manager has been charged with 16 counts of grand theft auto.

Scott Stephen Friga, 34, manager of R/S Towing and Recovery Inc., is accused of illegally towing cars and then charging the owners to get their vehicles back.

Friga was arrested following an investigation prompted by a column written by Melanie Payne, a staff writer for The News-Press, said Connie Barron, police spokeswoman.

People who had their vehicles towed called Payne to complain about the company.

Friga was arrested Saturday on warrants charging him with the grand theft auto counts.

He was later released after paying $24,000 bail.

On The Road With A MI Tow Truck Driver

There's good reason why a lot of towers call snow "white gold" - tons of business AND great PR opportunities! Here's a story from the Lansing State Journal:

While all the snow Mother Nature dumped on the Lansing area over the past week had many people slowing down, Wayne Winton has had to pick up the pace.

Winton is a dispatcher and wrecker driver for Lansing's Northside Service, and over the past week he's been working 12- to 14-hour days pulling dozens of cars out of ditches, giving jump-starts and just generally unsticking stuck vehicles.

Despite the busy shifts and long hours, he said there's "an awesome feeling in being able to help somebody."

"Especially like if it's an older person and they can't really do a lot for themselves," said Winton, who turns 30 on Christmas Day. "I got people who call me who I've jump-started - I gave them my personal cell phone number and they call me whenever they're in trouble."

And Winton could have plenty of more chances soon to help out drivers in a bind.

The National Weather Service is forecasting that the rain Lansing is currently receiving will turn into snow sometime later this afternoon or evening.

Walt Felver, a meteorologist with the Weather Service in Grand Rapids said that a cold front will move across lower Michigan later today, refreezing much of the slush currently on the roads.

One to 2 inches of new snow could accumulate today, he said.

Tow Truck Santa in FL

Here's the wmbb.com story:

Callaway, Fla:

Children in Callaway get a very special wake up call Saturday morning, as Santa makes the rounds right by their front doors.

For the last five years, Gulf County Wrecker Service has driven Santa Claus around the town to throw goodies to the kids and wish everyone “Merry Christmas”.

Kids could wave to Santa right from their own front lawn. It’s an event neighborhood children look forward to during the holidays.

This was the first “Pop White Memorial Santa Run”, named in honor of a member of the community.

Santa says there’s one reason they do this every year.

“The smile on the kids’ faces, that’s what it’s all about. There’s nothing like the smile on a child’s face when he sees Santa Claus. It beams, and there’s no light in the universe that can outshine that beam,” says Santa.

The wrecker service says they hope to carry on the tradition for many years to come.

FL Tow Truck Driver Beaten

Here's the 12/16 BradentonHerald.com story:

A tow truck driver told authorities one of his customers hit him over the head with a flashlight after paying for his tow, according to a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office report.

The victim said on Thursday, he towed the vehicle of Jose Rivera-Garcia, 29, to the 5800 block of 15th Street East after he called for help.

After the tow, the driver asked for $80, which he said Rivera-Garcia paid. When the two truck driver turned around, he said Rivera-Garcia hit him over the head with a flashlight and went for the money.

The men fought and the truck driver escaped to call 911. Deputies captured Garcia-River nearby and arrested him on an aggravated battery charge. He was being held in the Manatee County jail without bond.

WA's 2008 Tow Person of the Year

Congrats to Daryl Wilson, General Manager of Airport Towing! Here's the post on Airport Towing's site:

Our General Manager earned Washington State’s Tow Person of the Year Award, presented by the Towing and Recovery Association of Washington. Airport Towing GM Daryl Wilson has been an integral part of the company for nearly 9 years, dedicating himself and his time to the family business. He began his career in towing as an entry level driver with no prior experience in the industry and is now key to the success of our day to day operations. We applaud Daryl for his achievement and thank all TRAW members for recognizing him as an exemplary person within the towing industry.

Luciano is Southwest Tow Operators' New Trainer

Here's the press release:
World renowned towing expert, Tom Luciano, has joined the Southwest Tow Operator team as Training Consultant. Tom has been in towing-related businesses for over 30 years. He has personally trained thousands of tow operators and his classes are in great demand everywhere he goes. Tom travels internationally to conduct training seminars and consult with towing concerns all over the world.

In addition to his full time job with Miller Industries, Tom is a member of many professional organizations, including the Towing and Recovery Association of America, Society of Automotive Engineers Towability Committee, E.S.T.R.A., New York Governors Council of Towers, and the IITR Board of Directors. He has been awarded the TRAA Distinguished Service Award, The American Towmen Recovery Master Award, and is a member of the Friends of Towing Hall of Fame, and was inducted into the Towing Hall of Fame.

“We are very excited to have Tom Luciano as our Training Consultant. It is an honor and a privilege to work with someone of Tom’s caliber in developing our towing education program. His knowledge is invaluable and any time you can tap into expertise like his and share it, you have something very special. With Tom on board, we now have the staff to assure our members and towers across the nation the best training programs available.” Dan Messina, President, STO.

Big Lift U Coming in June in NC

Here's the press release:

CENTRAL CAROLINA COMMUNITY C0LLEGE

with generous support from

PARATECH, INC.

offers

“BIG LIFT U”

(Heavy Lifting University)

Saturday & Sunday, June 13 & 14, 2009

CCCC Emergency Services Training Center

3000 Airport Rd.

Sanford, NC 27330

Travel if you dare, Hell’s Highway as you face very challenging yet realistic scenarios including, concrete mixer vs., smaller vehicle in ditch, fully loaded TT trailer overturn onto an auto, full size RR tanker underride, 20,000+ pound mixer drum balanced on an auto, inverted patient removal using air cushions, and multiple overturn/underride situations! The focus will be the effective use of air bag rescue systems (high, medium, & low pressure) and strut/cribbing support. During this training you learn how to safely move several thousand pound vehicles/objects and how to stabilize them. Are you ready for serious extrication training?

The featured presenters are among some of the best available, including:

*Kevin Cieciorka, Wreckmaster 6/7A Grad & Hvy. Recovery Operator

*Billy Leach, Jr., Developer of BIG RIG RESCUE™, Wreckmaster 6/7

Grad, Crosby Rigging Trainer

*Nigel Letherby, Paratech, Inc. National Product Specialist

*Capt. Robert Morris, FDNY Rescue Co. #1, Special Ops Command

*Dwayne Smith, Wreckmaster 6/7A Grad & Hvy. Recovery Operator

This program will feature two intensive days combining classroom and HANDS-ON learning. An extensive reference handout will be provided to each attendee.

The hands-on training offers challenges to small teams in a time compressed format, similar to everyday responses. It will be both mentally and physically challenging! Each team is expected to develop a plan of action and execute that plan within a specified time period. Should the initial plan prove unsuccessful, the team is expected to develop an alternate and continue the mission. Careful planning, critical thinking, utilization of classroom learning, and prompt plan execution will be paramount for success. This is beyond entry level training, and attendees should possess previous knowledge and experience in vehicle extrication.
DON’T DELAY! This course will fill quickly!

For registration information, please contact:

Landis Phillips, Emergency Services Training Director

Central Carolina Community College

Emergency Services Training Center

3000 Airport Rd.

Sanford, NC 27330

Telephone: 919.776.5601

Email: ljphillips@cccc.edu

Fax: 919.776.3403

Aircraft Recovery Training Scheduled

Aircraft Recovery Solutions will be holding its second U.S. training class in Boise, ID from March 12 to March 15. The course is designed for towing operators who are interested in the multi-million dollar market of aircraft recovery and transportation. Students are taught how to get the job, how to do the job and how to get paid for the job.

Enrollment is limited to the first 17 students. Call 1-800-376-7114 or visit www.airplanerecovery.com for more information.

Mom Charged In Child/Towing Case in VA

Here's The Free Lance-Star story:

The mother of a 2-year-old girl who was towed away from a Stafford residence Sunday afternoon has been charged with felony child endangerment.

Savannah Mayhew, 22, of Spotsylvania was arrested last night, according to Stafford Sheriff’s spokesman Bill Kennedy.

Meanwhile, one of the two Patriot Towing employees also charged with felony child endangerment in the case has been charged with another crime.

Jason Michael Bryant, 25, of Spotsylvania was charged by state police this week with failing to register as a sex offender.

Bryant, who was driving the tow truck Sunday, is accused of not properly registering earlier this year. Sources said he failed to list his correct address.

Bryant was taken to the Rappahannock Regional Jail for the second time this week. He posted a $2,500 bond and was released.

Bryant is listed on the state police sex offender registry. According to the court records, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor sexual battery charge in 2003 in Loudoun County.

He had been charged with aggravated sexual battery, but the charge was reduced.

Bryant got a suspended sentence on the misdemeanor, but later served a 12-month jail sentence after violating his probation, court records show.

Jason Kelly, the owner of Patriot Towing, said he knew nothing about Bryant being a sex offender.

But Kelly said that had nothing to do with Sunday’s arrests, which he maintains are unjust.

According to the Stafford Sheriff's Office, a Mazda Protégé was double-parked Sunday afternoon about 12:45 p.m. when it was spotted by the towing company employees in the 1200 block of Thomas Jefferson Place in southern Stafford.

Mayhew told police that she had went into her mother’s home for about five minutes, but the car was gone when she came back outside.

The Patriot employees called the Sheriff’s Office about four minutes after the mother did. Kelly said the employees didn’t realize there was a child in the car until getting back to the impound lot.

Keith Epps: 540/374-5404 kepps@freelancestar.com

OR's Retriever Towing Gives Back Fee In Domestic Assault Investigation

Judging from the comments associated with this particular story, some people are pretty ticked in general with Retriever Towing. But, I say, "Kudos!" to owner Gary Coe for addressing the issue and going further with a donation to a shelter for battered women and children.

Here's the story from The Oregonian:

Tow company officials reversed course Wednesday, promising to refund a "drop fee" charged to a domestic assault victim who couldn't move her double-parked car until police completed their investigation and returned her keys.

Gary Coe, owner of Retriever Towing, said the company would give the Wilsonville woman a check for $165 -- the amount she paid in cash Monday night to have the driver release her car at the Berkshire Court Apartments.

Coe also pledged to make a $500 donation to Rafael House of Portland, a shelter for battered women and children.

He said Retriever has received more than 600 complaints on its company Web site and "dozens of calls from people upset with us" since the incident came to light. Retriever has more than 2,000 contract accounts, patrolling parking lots to make sure fire lanes and emergency access routes remain open.

Coe said the tow truck driver's account of the event differs from that of the Clackamas County sheriff's deputy who responded to the initial domestic-assault call.

"I'm not sure the driver made a bad call here -- he may have," Coe said. "But we are refunding the money because the management company at the apartment complex asked us to."

Mark Harris, portfolio manager for Guardian Management, which manages the apartment complex, said he generally has been pleased with Retriever's service.

"But I told them that once an officer identified himself and explained that the vehicle was involved in a criminal investigation, the driver should have backed away," Harris said. "Sometimes common sense has to take over."

Harris also said he was evaluating whether to cancel Retriever's contract.

Meanwhile, Travis Talbot, vice president of operations for Windermere Cronin & Caplan Realty Group, said he was canceling the company's contract with Retriever, saying the "lack of compassion for the victim in extenuating circumstances is reprehensible."

According to sheriff's office reports, a 25-year-old woman called police at 8:54 p.m. Monday, reporting that her live-in boyfriend had hit her. The woman was calling from her grandmother's apartment in the same complex, where she drove after she bolted from her own apartment. Seeing no empty parking spaces, she left her car double-parked in a fire lane with the four-way flashers going.

Deputies arrived minutes later to investigate and arrested Patrick James Apodaca, 25, on an accusation of fourth-degree assault.

When deputies returned to the grandmother's apartment, the woman's car was hooked up to a tow truck and the woman was frantic.

Deputy Wes Hall said he explained to the driver that the woman was a domestic-assault victim and that she couldn't move the car because she had given him the keys. He said that after making a phone call the driver declined to release the car unless she paid the fee.

-- Rick Bella: rickbella@news.oregonian.com

CA Tow Truck Driver Laid to Rest

Here's the story from the Fresno Bee:

MERCED -- It may not have been a typical funeral procession: dozens of tow trucks trailing behind a family in mourning.

But for Tim Schroeder, it seemed a fitting tribute.

Hundreds of people turned out Wednesday to honor the Atwater tow-truck driver who died on the job last week. At his funeral in Merced, family and friends remembered Schroeder as a hard worker, an avid outdoorsman and a playful, loving father.
Schroeder, 46, died Saturday while responding to an early-morning call along Highway 99. He was preparing to connect a car to the back of his tow truck when a big rig drifted onto the shoulder and struck him.

The big-rig driver, 58-year-old John Hamersley of Sacramento, isn't believed to have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the CHP has said. It still hasn't been determined whether he'll face any criminal charges.

Born in Ceres and the middle of three brothers, Schroeder graduated from Merced High School. He married his wife, Suzanne, in 1985.

They went on to have two children. Schroeder's teenage daughter, Sarah, said she remembers her dad as "the best father I could ask for."

He had worked at Performance Towing in Merced for about five months. He's the second Performance employee to be killed in the last two weeks. Randall Armendariz Sr., 41, was fatally shot Nov. 24.

Police believe he died after confronting a thief who stole one of Performance's service vehicles.

After Armendariz's death, Schroeder spent days gathering donations to benefit his co-worker's family.

"It's been real hard on everybody here," said Jason Casado, who worked with Schroeder. "To lose two guys so close together is just ... we're hurting."

Jeff Hunter, executive director of the California Tow Truck Association, said Schroeder is the second tow-truck driver in the state to be hit in the last month while responding to a call.

At least three California tow-truck drivers have died on scene this year, he said.

"It's an incredibly dangerous occupation," Hunter said. "A lot of people don't realize that."

There's only so much drivers and tow companies can do to minimize that danger, he added. "It's really unfortunate. In cases like this one, there's just nothing you can do.

"That risk is always going to come with the territory."

The reporter can be reached at creilly@mercedsun-star.com or (209) 385-2477.