19 Cars Illegally Towed In 2 Days Brings Felony Charges: Police

MULBERRY, FL — A husband-and-wife towing company in Mulberry is accused of illegally towing 19 vehicles from a Lakeland mobile home park May 15 and 16, Polk County Sheriff's Office said. It's the latest legal problem for the couple after husband Michael Denn was charged with murder in the shooting death of a man whose vehicle was being towed.

Michael Denn and Elissa Denn face multiple charges after the investigation of Strapped Transport Towing and Recovery ended Tuesday, according to authorities. Many towing complaints were filed by residents at Stoll Manor Mobile Home Park, who accused the company of going into the neighborhood at night when management was gone, and towing vehicles the team deemed violated a written agreement with Stoll Manor.

Michael Denn has been in jail since May 18 after he was arrested on second-degree murder charges. Authorities said he shot Juan Barroso-Muriel at the towing company's office during an argument.

Detectives reviewed a copy of the written and signed agreement between Stoll Manor and Strapped Towing, which states: “Vehicles should be towed immediately if they are ‘blocking exits,’ parked in ‘grass,’ or ‘on the street,’ including ‘boats and trailers.’” The contract said the services were to start May 15, 2021.

Florida law says: "In any county with a population of more than 500,000, any vehicle towed must be stored within a 10-mile radius from the point of removal. Violation of this statute is a third degree felony."

According to Google Maps, Stoll Manor Mobile Home Park, 1123 Walt Williams Road in Lakeland, is about 16.7 miles from Strapped Towing's storage facility in Mulberry, placing the venue well outside a 10-mile radius of the mobile home park.

The 19th vehicle towed by Strapped on May 16 belonged to shooting victim Barroso-Muriel’s brother-in-law. A neighbor filmed the event, which shows Barroso-Muriel, his brother-in-law, and his brother-in-law’s wife, pleading with Michael Denn to allow them to keep the vehicle there on premises. The vehicle is seen parked partially under a carport; not on grass, the street, or blocking an exit.

The vehicle’s owner is seen holding the vehicle’s tag. Michael Denn towed the vehicle despite this, deputies said.

Florida law says during the process of any private property tow for a vehicle being unlawfully parked, if a person seeks the return of the vehicle, the tow must be stopped. The vehicle must be returned upon payment of a reasonable fee of not more than one-half of the posted rate. The vehicle can only be towed after the owner or legally authorized person in control of the vehicle is offered a reasonable opportunity to pay and they are unable to pay. Violation of this statute is a third-degree felony.

Michael and Elissa Denn are accused of violating the above law by not stopping the tow in progress when confronted by the owner, and not offering the vehicle owner an opportunity to pay a reasonable fee at that time (which, per ordinance, is not to exceed one-half of the posted rate).

Michael Denn is being charged with 21 added felonies related to illegal towing.

Elissa Denn was arrested Aug. 11 on charges of failure to have an address properly marked on private property tow vehicle and storing a vehicle outside of a 10-mile radius from removal location.

Related Patch Story:

• Tow Truck Owner Faces 2nd Degree Murder Charges: Polk Sheriff