A suspect has been arrested after a viral video showed an enraged driver stealing a pickup truck with a tow truck and crashing it into several cars, while the suspect's father defended him on Friday, saying he believed he was being robbed.
According to police, 55-year-old Russell Laiosa was charged with multiple offenses following the Sept. 6 disturbance in Sunset Park, including robbery, auto theft, reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an accident and 11 counts of criminal damage to property.
Shocking video captures the moment a tow truck driver became enraged as he tried to drive off in a black Chevrolet Silverado on 53rd Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues.
“Hey, stop my truck right now! I'm warning you,” the suspect, who identified himself as Raiosa, yelled at the driver.
“I'm warning you, asshole! Get away from my truck!” he continued, before jumping into the tow truck and speeding off down the street with the truck in tow.
The video then shows him crashing into several parked cars before the pickup truck overturns and rolls onto the street.
Police said he took a short “reckless drive” to 55th Street and Third Avenue.
But Laiosa's father defended his son on Friday, saying his son thought he was the victim of a robbery.
“He said the tow truck was unmarked and the man made threatening statements so he thought they were going to rob his truck,” the suspect told The Washington Post.
“That's why he took a hardline stance towards the situation. I'm not saying that justifies his actions or his response, but the man frightened him and actually threatened him,” he argued.
He was arrested Monday and has been arrested twice before, police said.
Laiosa, of East Islip, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court.
Judge Jennifer Tubridy set bail at $10,000.
