Tow Truck Driver Acquitted in Federal SUV Case

A South Los Angeles tow truck driver has been found not guilty of stealing a federal agent’s vehicle during an immigration arrest last summer.

A federal jury on Friday acquitted Bobby Nunez, 33, of theft of government property stemming from an August incident involving immigration enforcement officers. The charge carried a potential sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison. After a four-day trial, jurors deliberated for more than three hours before returning the not-guilty verdict.

Prosecutors alleged that Nunez interfered with federal agents as they arrested a Colombian woman accused of entering the United States illegally. According to court filings, agents parked two government vehicles, with emergency lights activated, at the exit of an apartment complex parking garage to block the woman’s car during the arrest.

Authorities said Nunez and another man approached the scene and were warned to leave. While agents dealt with the other individual, prosecutors claimed Nunez entered his Dodge tow truck and towed away one of the government SUVs used to block the exit.

Federal officials said the SUV contained an agent’s firearm and keys. Nunez was arrested roughly two weeks later, but the jury ultimately rejected the government’s case. Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles