Towing company operator arrested, charged
On April 20, 2009, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit conducted an investigation into complaints made against Anytime Towing, a towing company based in Naples, which accused the company of towing vehicles from private property through deception or fraudulent means.
On Wednesday, March 18, 2009, College Club Apartments, located at 17100 College Club Loop, Fort Myers, according to reports, informed Anytime Towing it wanted to cancel the towing contract and the company’s services were no longer needed. This request was issued via e-mail and fax, the report said.
Between March 18 and April 10, 2009, no vehicles were towed from College Club Apartments and there was no contact between representatives of College Club Apartments and Anytime Towing. But on April 11, Anytime Towing reportedly notified the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, as required by Florida State Statute, that nine vehicles were towed from the property, even though a request was made for Anytime Towing to no longer provide service to College Club Apartments. Following this incident, representatives from College Club Apartments made numerous attempts at contacting Sean Whelan, owner/operator of Anytime Towing, to release the vehicles that were improperly removed from the property.
The Sheriff’s Office report that those efforts were to no avail as Anytime Towing claimed the vehicles were removed for not having proper parking permits, although the record shows that statement was not accurate.
Detectives met with Whelan at his residence, located at 4130 1st Ave., N.W., Naples, where the investigation revealed Whalen was aware of College Club Apartments attempt to cancel his towing service, yet her reportedly continued to tow vehicles so he could receive the nearly $200 charge each victim was required to pay in order to get their vehicles returned.
Based on his actions, Sean Whelan, 41, has been charged with four felony counts of obtaining vehicles through fraudulent means or false representation. He was arrested and transported to the Lee County Jail.