Public commenters accuse Newark Police of mistreatment; council asks to investigate alleged illegal towing operation
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Summary
In public comment, residents accused the Newark Police Department of unlawful stops and questioned police practices; the council requested follow-up on alleged illegal towing by a company called K and J Towing after residents reported high towing fees and missing licenses.
Two speakers used the public-comment period to raise safety and oversight concerns.
Keisha Daniels accused city staff of removing her name from the public-comment list and criticized downtown conditions, saying retail closures and encampments had harmed the downtown environment. "Where's the phone conversations? Where's the phone logs because I have mines?" she demanded, asking the council to explain removal from the sign-up list.
Latoya Jackson Tucker gave a lengthy account of interactions with the Newark Police Department involving her son, alleging repeated stops, undocumented searches and improper confiscation of money. "They trying to make me a snitch," she said, and urged the council to address alleged unlawful police behavior and oversight lapses.
Separately, council members raised allegations about a towing operation identified as K and J Towing, saying it lacked a Newark tow license, was charging residents $700 or $400 in specific examples, and may be using fictitious signage to tow vehicles. Council asked Public Safety and police to investigate the towing complaints and report back to the council before the next meeting.
