Police have arrested the man who stole a tow truck in Brooklyn last week with his pickup truck attached to it, a video of which went viral on social media over the past week.
Russell Laiosa, 55, a resident of East Islip in Suffolk County, was arrested Sept. 9 for the incident that occurred on the morning of Sept. 6 in Sunset Park, according to a spokesperson for the New York City Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information (DCPI).
Police with the city’s 72nd Precinct received a call on Sept. 6 from a 35-year-old male tow truck driver. The driver was attempting to tow Laiosa’s vehicle, but Laiosa pushed him and drove off in the tow truck—with his own truck attached—according to a statement sent to NTD.
In the video, Laiosa can be heard saying, “Dude, put my [expletive] truck down now. I’m warning you,” before repeatedly demanding his truck be released. He then can be seen driving off while saying, “Nobody’s taking this truck from me.”
He now faces charges including two counts of robbery, four counts of grand larceny, reckless endangerment, and operator leaving scene of an accident, according to the statement.
The incident unfolded on 53rd street and several vehicles were damaged from an open driver side door of the hitched pickup, as seen in the viral video. The damages were confirmed in the DCPI statement.
The pickup was later found disconnected from the tow truck near the intersection of 2nd avenue and 53rd street, and the tow truck was abandoned at the intersection of 3rd avenue and 55th street, which is where Laiosa fled on foot, according to the statement.
Several vehicles were struck during the escape, including some with people inside. One victim, a 62-year-old man, was taken to NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn for minor injuries after his car was struck, according to the statement.
According to a Friday interview with the New York Post, Laiosa’s father said his son thought he was being robbed (of his truck) and that’s why he behaved the way he did.
“He said the tow truck was unmarked, the guy made threatening comments to him and he thought the guy was robbing his truck,” the father said.
“That’s why he was adamant about the situation,” he added. “I’m not saying that justifies what he did, how he responded. But the guy caught him by surprise, and the guy actually threatened him.”
NTD was unable to reach Laiosa for comment by publication.