PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Nearly 300 tires were dumped in a parking lot in the latest of several incidents near a North Philadelphia SEPTA station, leading to a multi-agency investigation including Philadelphia police.
Lieutenant Christopher Lantz with the Neighborhood Services Unit said dumping is an arrestable offence with substantial penalties attached.
“It's a per item fine, and it's $5,000 per item,” said Lantz. “So in a case like this it will be $5,000 per tire.”
Charles Arttaway, 52, of Philadelphia and Paul Gamble, 68, of Darby were arrested in connection with the most recent of nine dumping incidents. Arttaway claimed he did not know he was doing anything wrong.
“A guy and girl pulled up and said ‘you want to make some money? We need some help, we have these tires,’” recounted Arttaway, “and I said ‘alright.’”
Arttaway said the man promised him $40 for his help in dumping the tires.
Lantz said the investigation is looking into whether the tires involved in the separate incidents have a common origin.
“The environmental crimes detectives will determine that, and if there is a nexus between these nine jobs and that particular consecrated area they're going to find it,” Lantz said, “and they are going to find where they got the tires from too.”
Police say Gamble had rented a U-Haul truck used in the incident, and they are investigating whether the same truck was used in a separate instance.
Arttaway and Gamble have been charged with criminal mischief, conspiracy and scattering rubbish offenses.
