BRIDGEPORT — A lawyer representing the tow truck operator charged in connection with his towing vehicles from a city housing authority complex says his client his innocent and removed the vehicles under the terms of a contract.
The tow truck driver, 45-year-old Samuel Saunders, of Big Sam’s Towing, is due at Superior Court in Bridgeport Thursday on charges of second-degree larceny and third-degree vendor fraud, both felonies, as well as fifth-degree larceny, operating without a wrecker license, and charging excessive wrecker rates.
Police said the arrest stemmed from multiple complaints at Fireside Apartments on Stewart Street, a 272-unit development for elderly residents and those with disabilities. The complaints date back to September 2022, according to a statement from Sgt. Darryl Wilson.
“He did what he was supposed to do, and he called in to the Police Department every single tow, as statutorily required,” attorney Dennis Bradley said Monday.
Bradley said the charges were “outrageous” and an example of “political arrests that have happened in Bridgeport with some frequency, especially around election years,” he said.
“He does this from many different places, many different private organizations and governments as well with no issue, but here in Bridgeport he’s being arrested,” Bradley said.
Maria Pereira, a City Council member who represents the area, said more than a dozen residents of the apartment complex had complained their vehicles were illegally towed, and had been pushing police to file charges since last fall.
She laughed in response to Bradley’s suggestion of a political motivation behind the charges.
“What does this guy have to do with politics?” Pereira said, adding that she has regularly kept in touch with cops since becoming involved. “This had nothing to do with the election this year. We started this investigation in October 2022.”
She maintained Saunders is not licensed as a wrecker and “shook down” residents with excessive rates and fees, among other complaints.
Pereira said she has asked the housing authority to reimburse the residents who had their vehicles taken, totaling about $4,700.
“They’re refusing to reimburse these people, which is outrageous,” Pereira said.
In a prepared statement sent by its executive director, Jillian Baldwin, Park City Communities, the city’s nonprofit housing authority, said it was waiting for legal advice and reserving judgment.
“Park City Communities has been made aware of the recent charges filed against Samuel Saunders of Sam’s Towing for vendor fraud, amongst other offenses,” the statement said. “Accordingly, we have forwarded this information to our general counsel for legal advisement.”
“As with all matters of law, PCC will continue to be a cooperative participant as all parties move through this process,” the statement sent by Baldwin said. “However, the Housing Authority will not make a presumption of guilt in this case, prior to adjudication. We will reserve judgement until the great minds of the courts have an opportunity to their job, as we continue to do ours.”
Saunders is free after posting $20,000 bond pending his court appearance Thursday. Bradley said his client is “absolutely innocent.”
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