CHILLICOTHE — A late-night altercation outside a downtown bar ended with a damaged tow truck, a stolen phone, and a man in custody early Sunday, August 10, according to Chillicothe police.
Around 1:21 a.m., officers were dispatched to The Wobbly Ghost, 289 E. Main Street, after a 911 hang-up call. When they arrived, they spoke with tow truck driver of One Towing, who said he had been attempting to tow a red 1996 Chevrolet Silverado from the Amvets parking lot when its owner came out of the bar.
The Tow Truck Driver told officers the man became angry upon learning about the $100 drop fee, then grabbed his iPhone and got into the truck. The driver reportedly drove off while the tow cable was still attached, ripping the winch assembly from the toe truck. The damage was valued at about $2,500.
Witnesses, who live nearby, said they saw the pickup’s driver exit the bar, enter the truck, and drive away while still hooked to the tow rig. They reported the man later stopped to remove the cable, at which point the Tow truck driver struck him in the back of the head. One witness said he intervened to break up the altercation.
The driver used a second phone to track his stolen iPhone’s location until it went offline. A license plate check led officers to the home of William A. James on State Route 180, where they found the red Silverado in the driveway.
Brett Alan James, who admitted to driving the truck that night, claimed the tow truck operator had punched him and insisted the vehicle was not hooked when he left. Police said his account conflicted with physical evidence and multiple witness statements.
Officers arrested James on charges of vandalism and theft. He was taken to the Ross County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court Monday morning. Police are working to obtain surveillance footage from Amvets to aid in the investigation.
