Man accused of forging police documents to avoid towing fee

Officials arrested a man this week after he allegedly altered and forged a Cedar Rapids police document to avoid paying a fee associated with a car tow.

According to a police news release, officials responded to a hit-and-run accident on July 8, in which Travis Golie, 30, struck another car at the intersection of Eighth Avenue and 10th Street SE around 3 p.m. Golie then got out of his pickup and ran. The driver of the car that was struck, 60-year-old Harold Walton, was treated at St. Luke's Hospital.

After the hit and run, the pickup Golie drove was towed and impounded. Prior to an impounded car's release, police must sign forms and the owner must pay a $500 civil fee. But instead of paying the fee, Brian Hubers, the owner of Hubers Enterprises -- the company to which the pickup is registered -- presented the towing company with an altered and forged Cedar Rapids Police Department document to avoid paying the fee, police said.

On  Monday, Hubers was arrested and charged with fourth-degree theft and forgery. Fourth-degree theft is a serious misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Forgery is a Class D Felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $1,000 fine.