After DUI in Nazareth, Easton Man Steals Back Impounded Car

About six hours after an Easton man was arrested for DUI in Nazareth, he returned to La Barre’s Towing to retrieve his vehicle with a spare key in hand and no plans to pay or have two vehicles blocking his truck removed.

On March 6 at about 2:36 a.m., police say, Brett Kline, 18, of 521 Seitz Street, Easton, was pulled over at the intersection of S. Green Street and Route 248 for a non-working center brake light.

When Officer Stephen Schleig approached Kline’s vehicle, he observed Kline with slurred speech and glassy eyes.  The officer also noticed a strong odor of alcohol, according to court records.

After failing several sobriety tests and testing positive for alcohol after agreeing to take a Breathalyzer test, according to police, Kline was arrested and taken to the DUI center in Easton for processing.

Six hours later, at about 8:30 a.m., Kline spoke on the phone to an employee from La Barre’s Towing, and had an “altercation” over the phone according to Thomas Trachta, Nazareth’s chief of police.

According to Trachta, when a car is towed, it is blocked in so it cannot be removed from the scene before payment is made.

Kline went to the towing company and used a spare key to get into his pick-up truck.  He then squeezed his way out, damaging two vehicles while doing so, according to court documents.

According to police, Kline caused $681.95 worth of damage to one of La Barre’s Towing trucks and owes $125 for the initial towing and $20 for storing the vehicle.

The second vehicle suffered only minor damage.  The towing company was solely concerned about the tow truck, according to Trachta.

On March 9, police say, Kline submitted a written confession and admitted to damaging the vehicles at Labarre’s Towing. 

Kline was charged with DUI (for being a minor and for a high-rate of blood alcohol content); failing to comply with Pennsylvania’s lighting requirements; purchase, consumption, possession and/or transportation of liquor or malt or brewed beverages; theft by services; criminal trespassing; and accidents involving damage to unattended vehicle or property.