Tow Truck Co. Owner Accused Of Illegally Overbilling Customers: PD

EAST HAVEN, CT —A local tow truck company owner was arrested after numerous complaints regarding price gouging came to light, police said. These complaints prompted an investigation, led by police Sgt. Joseph Mulhern, which revealed a pattern of overcharging customers outside what Connecticut state statute allows, East Haven police Capt. Joseph M. Murgo said.

On Jan. 5, a motorist questioned the fee One Source Towing was charging to tow their vehicle less than a mile from a motor vehicle stop. In that case, One Source Towing, which is one of three local tow companies on the East Haven Police Department tow rotation list, charged the motorist more than double what state statute allows, Murgo said.

The investigation revealed that on over 50 occasions, One Source Towing charged an "administrative fee," a “fuel surcharge fee” and other fees outside the regulatory state-set fees. In total, $5,804.48 in fraudulent so-called administrative fees were collected, $296.26 in fraudulent “fuel surcharges” were collected and $442.41 in fraudulent mileage fees, police said.

An arrest warrant affidavit was submitted and the owner / licensee of One Source Towing, identified as Melissa Rivera, 33, was charged with Larceny in the Third Degree and was released on a $5,000 court set bond. She's due back in court March 20.

Murgo said that in addition to the pending charges, One Source Towing has been suspended from the East Haven Police Department tow rotation list pending a hearing at a date yet to be determined.

This incident is still under investigation, police said.