Arizona Police Arrest Suspects in Tow Truck Sting

On December 11, 2012, a two-year collaborative criminal investigation, led by the Mesa Police Department, came to a successful conclusion with the arrest of several suspects and service of four search warrants at various valley locations.

In 2010, the police department began an in-depth investigation into the business practices and operations of S.W.A.T. Towing/Auto Citi Towing, located in Mesa, Ariz. The investigation began after numerous complaints against this business. The allegations followed a similar pattern indicating that S.W.A.T./Auto Citi Towing employees illegally towed vehicles that were properly parked, damaged vehicles during the tow process and refused to release the vehicles without a cash only payment.

Undercover operations confirmed the criminal activity. The investigation also revealed that some victims actually lost ownership of their vehicles to the tow company, who then fraudulently acquired those vehicles by way of applying for abandoned titles. They would later sell them at M&P Auto Sales, a connected used car lot in Chandler.

Source: Mesa Police Department