Tow Truck Driver Acted 'Erratically,' Charged With DWI In Ridgewood: Police

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — A tow truck driver, who was reported to have been acting strangely while on a call to tow a broken down vehicle Sunday night in Ridgewood, was arrested and charged for driving under the influence, Chief Jacqueline Luthcke said.

Andrew Valardo, 34, of Bergenfield, was arrested on a driving while intoxicated charge and subsequently released, Luthcke said.

The charge stems from an incident at around 5 p.m. Sunday, when officers responded to the parking lot behind the Starbucks on East Ridgewood Avenue on a report of a tow truck driver "acting erratically," while on a work call, police said.

Officers learned that Valardo had apparently arrived in the tow truck, and walked away from the scene, leaving the truck doors open and the broken down vehicle in the lot, police said.