A Waterville man was arrested after a joint investigation by the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, according to Sheriff Robert Maciol on June 4.
On May 28, Sheriff’s Patrol responded to M.D. Auto at 2116 Oriskany Street West in Utica for a report of a vehicle repossession. Michael Romanowski, age 45 and owner of M.D. Auto, reported that he had repossessed a 2019 Dodge Ram pickup truck from HMI Pratt and Whitney located at 2395 Main Street in Clayville, Town of Paris.
After the initial report, the owners of the vehicle contacted the Sheriff’s Office alleging that their truck had been repossessed illegally. The subsequent investigation found that Romanowski had performed some work on the truck in January but did not complete it; the owners retrieved their vehicle in February. Romanowski then filed a civil claim seeking payment for unfinished work and completed Department of Motor Vehicle documents claiming a Mechanic’s Lien and Repossession. Authorities determined that M.D. Auto is not registered or licensed as a repair shop, making these actions unlawful.
The bank or lien holder never authorized any repossession action by Romanowski. Investigators learned he took the truck from HMI Pratt and Whitney without permission from either its owners or its bank/lien holder and scheduled it for auction on June 3. On June 1, investigators recovered the vehicle at M.D. Auto.
Romanowski was arrested at the Sheriff’s Office on June 2 for Grand Larceny third degree (a Class D Felony) and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property fourth degree (a Class E Felony). He also faces two counts of Possession of a Forged Instrument (Class E Felonies) charged by DMV investigators.
Sheriff’s members and DMV investigators also found Romanowski’s flatbed tow truck illegally parked in a handicapped spot with an altered inspection sticker outside the Sheriff’s Office; it was subsequently towed away, and traffic tickets were issued to him by DMV investigators. Romanowski was processed, arraigned at CAP Court, and remanded to Oneida County Correctional Facility without bail.
