Charge Dropped Against Arrested Repo Agent

Three months after he was arrested outside a Staten Island, New York, police department stationhouse while attempting to repossess a police officer’s personal vehicle, all but one of the criminal charges against repo agent Jose Rodriguez have been dismissed. What started as a felony charge of possessing stolen property and a misdemeanor for falsifying business records has since been reduced to a minor charge for having a police scanner inside the truck. Rodriguez said his attempt to repossess the officer's car resulted in his arrest, while police say he wasn't licensed to operate in Staten Island in the first place. He was due back in Richmond County Criminal Court on Sept. 4. Rodriguez said he was driving past the police stationhouse on May 30 when his license plate reader signaled a car marked by the bank for missed payments. He said the police officer’s co-worker blocked the tow truck, then flagged other officers to help place him under arrest. Rodriguez spent 20 hours in jail for a felony charge of possessing stolen property and a misdemeanor of falsifying business records. The charges suggested the truck’s New Jersey towing license wasn’t valid in New York City. The owner of Finest Towing and Auto Body, which sub-contracts work to Rodriguez’ JRod Towing and Recovery, said at the time drivers had towed thousands of vehicles from New York City back across the border with the New Jersey towing license. “They’re telling me we can’t do repossessions with a New Jersey truck in New York ... they’re totally wrong,” Finest Towing owner Anthony Destefano said days after the arrest. Finest has two locations, one on Staten Island and one in New Jersey. A criminal court judge agreed with him. Source: silive.com.