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FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (DC News Now) — Police said a tow truck driver was arrested after he provided false identifying information about himself during a traffic stop in an attempt to hide the fact that he was wanted out of Stafford County.
The Fredericksburg Police Department (FPD) said an officer was in the Plank Road and Huntington Hills area during a traffic stop when he saw a tow truck driving towards him in the right lane while towing a vehicle.
As the tow truck approached the officer, the driver made an abrupt lane change into the left lane, which caused the vehicle being towed to dangerously swing around.
The officer noticed that the tow truck’s license plate was covered with a substance in a way that made it look like it was intentionally trying to obscure the plate, FPD said.
The officer pulled the tow truck over, and during the stop, the driver gave a false name, date of birth, and Social Security number. The driver was later identified as 41-year-old Brandon Payne of King George, and records revealed that he was wanted for grand larceny in Stafford County.
Payne was taken into custody and charged with:
- False identification to avoid arrest
- Failure to secure a load
- Operating a tow truck without DCJS credentials
- Failure to have a valid state inspection
In addition to the charges, Payne had been the subject of an ongoing FPD investigation that started in October 2025. He is also facing charges for alleged predatory towing practices by his towing company, FPD said.
The predatory towing investigation resulted in multiple reports made around the DMV area, according to FPD.
He is being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail on a $2,000 bond.
Anyone who believes they were overcharged or victimized by a towing company is encouraged to contact FPD.
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