A Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation tow truck driver whose job was to clear cars from the curb is now admitting he stole them instead. Prosecutors say 48-year-old Henry Solomon Jr. pleaded guilty Wednesday to allegations that he took three vehicles while on the job and is due back in Cook County court on March 12. The indictment alleges the thefts occurred between December 2022 and February 2023 and has stirred fresh questions about oversight of municipal towing.
The indictment, filed in Cook County Circuit Court last month, accuses Solomon of conspiring with two other people to take three vehicles from city streets, according to CBS Chicago. The Illinois Attorney General’s office charged Solomon with one count of aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle, three counts of vehicle-theft conspiracy, four counts of official misconduct and three counts of conspiracy to commit theft. Court records reviewed by the attorney general’s office say the alleged scheme ran from December 2022 through February 2023.
Attorney General Blasts Conduct As ‘Especially Egregious’
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul did not hold back. “It is especially egregious when an individual charged with working on behalf of the public breaks the law for their own financial gain,” he said in a statement, according to CBS Chicago. Prosecutors say Solomon faces up to 15 years in prison for the aggravated-possession charge, up to seven years for each vehicle-theft conspiracy count and up to five years for each conspiracy-to-commit-theft count. The attorney general’s office handled the indictment and filings in Cook County, the outlet reports.
How The Alleged Scheme Fits A Pattern
Solomon’s case lands in a city already wary of tow trucks for all the wrong reasons. Chicago has seen a string of towing-related allegations in recent years, from drivers posing as city contractors to “chaser” trucks that solicit crash victims and then haul cars to unknown lots. Reporting by CWB Chicago documented multiple 2025 cases in which tow operators allegedly misled drivers or used bogus company names to spirit cars away, prompting police advisories and safety tips. Those episodes, prosecutors say, help explain why this case involving a municipal tow operator drew particular scrutiny.
What Drivers Should Do
If you think a vehicle has been towed, the city recommends using its online vehicle-locator tools or calling 311 to find where a car was taken. Block Club Chicago and local aldermanic resources note the auto-pound locations and advise drivers to verify a tow operator’s municipal license number before signing paperwork. Keeping registration, proof of insurance, and a photo of the tow truck or plate can help motorists contest improper tows…