Prosecutors have charged a Boston man, Tyrone Rutledge, 33, with multiple offenses, including unlicensed towing and extortion. Rutledge allegedly operated a tow truck without a valid license and attempted to extort a woman whose car he towed, the Suffolk County District Attorney reported.
Court documents reveal that Rutledge faced 10 charges connected to an incident on November 2. He pleaded guilty to all charges in court on Monday, and Judge Maureen Flaherty set his bail at $100, which he posted the same day.
The incident began when a woman contacted “Up N Down Towing” and spoke with Rutledge, who claimed her car had been towed for lack of registration and insurance. However, prosecutors later verified that her vehicle was both registered and insured. Rutledge allegedly told her she could retrieve her car by going to his residence in Roxbury and paying $300 in cash.
Officers were on-site with the victim when Rutledge drove by with a woman, Brittney Rivera, in the tow truck. According to police, Rutledge switched seats with Rivera as they approached. Officers identified Rutledge from a prior police alert related to illegal towing activities and took him into custody after he ignored commands to stop. Rivera, who also had a suspended license, was non-compliant and asserted that she was driving, not Rutledge.
The District Attorney praised the victim’s courage, stating, “The only way we can address these crimes is when victims stand up, as she did, rather than giving in to a scam.”