Arrest Backfires Errant Sting Has Fine End For Tow-truck Driver

In January, police in Springfield Township, Delaware County, conducted a sting against a tow-truck driver and charged him with extortion and theft.

This week, the police and the township are getting stung back.

Because the arrest turned out to be improper, police will drop all charges against the driver and the township will pay him $2,500.

It all began Jan. 19 when David Money, who owns Tow Squad Inc., a Havertown towing service, hooked up an illegally parked 1986 Ford Escort to his truck in the Stoney Creek Shopping Center in Springfield. As Money pulled away, the car's owner appeared and pleaded for mercy.

Money told the man he could get his car later for a fee of $85.

The man persisted, and Money offered to release the car for $50, as was his usual practice when confronted by a car owner before he got out of the shopping center lot.

The man paid, and Money unhooked the car and drove off in search of another victim.

That's when the Escort's owner arrested him.

The "owner" was Springfield Police Detective Rudy Sweisfurth Jr. The $50 in cash he paid Money was marked.

Money, 30, was arrested on charges of theft, extortion and receiving stolen property. And on top of that, he was issued two traffic citations as he drove back to work from the police station.

Stewing over the incident, Money returned to the station two days later to photograph the Escort - still in the police lot. The photos might come in handy in his case.

As he aimed the camera, a police officer yelled to him to stop. Money ran, and four officers chased him, tackled him and took his camera and film. He never got the film back. Police said the car was an undercover vehicle and was not to be photographed. Money threatened to sue the police department.

Then the legal fog rolled in.

It seems the case against Money was less than solid. Police believed Money was committing a crime by collecting cash from car owners before he left the lot. Springfield Chief Joseph J. Stumpf said he had verified with the District Attorney's Office that that practice was illegal.

But District Attorney William H. Ryan Jr. said Money broke no law because he had hooked up the truck and was driving away before agreeing to release the car. It was a misunderstanding between his office and the police that led to the sting, he said.

The misunderstanding proved costly and embarrassing. Township Solicitor Raymond Falzone said the township was not "in any way saying we're responsible for something."

Money's attorney, Arthur Donato, said the township was doing the only responsible thing: dropping charges against a man who has committed no crime.

As for Money, he's back in business, towing cars in the Stoney Creek Shopping Center.