New York Man Stole a Tow Truck with His Own Pickup Attached And Crashed

A man has been arrested following a viral video that shows him hijacking a tow truck hauling away his pickup, before crashing it into multiple cars. The suspect’s father later defended his actions, saying his son believed he was being robbed.

Suspect Arrested in Viral Tow Truck Incident, Claims He Thought He Was Being Robbed

Russell Laiosa, 55, now faces a series of serious charges including robbery, grand larceny of an automobile, reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an accident, and 11 counts of property damage. The chaotic events occurred on September 6 in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, according to police reports.

This Was All Caught On Video

The incident, captured on video, shows Laiosa confronting a tow truck driver on 53rd Street between First and Second Avenues as the driver prepared to tow away his black Chevy Silverado. In the footage, Laiosa can be heard angrily shouting, “Dude, put my truck down now! I’m warning you,” before escalating to more aggressive threats. He then climbs into the tow truck and speeds off, with his truck still attached to the back.

As he barrels down the street, Laiosa crashes into several parked vehicles. The wild ride ends when his pickup flips over onto the street after colliding with more cars. Police say the suspect continued driving for a short distance, stopping at 55th Street and Third Avenue before the joyride came to an end.

Video Here:

Dad Steps In To Defend His Son's Actions

On Friday, Laiosa’s father defended his son, claiming the tow truck was unmarked and that his son thought he was being threatened. "He thought he was getting robbed," his father told reporters. "The tow truck driver made threatening comments, and that’s why my son reacted the way he did. I'm not justifying what he did, but he was caught off guard."

Despite the defense, Laiosa was arrested on Monday. Court records show he has two prior arrests. He pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment at Brooklyn Criminal Court, where Judge Jennifer Tubridy set his bail at $10,000.