Cpl. Rick Schmeltzer said the towing company also targeted vehicles the year before during Gay Days activities. During weekends with events other than Gay Days the company completed a “minuscule amount of tows,” he said.

Schmeltzer also said the towing company had “spotters” to look for people who left the center so their vehicles so they could be towed.

“With many of these people, their cars were towed within 5, 10 15 minutes [of parking],” he said. “This was total predator towing. There’s really no other word for it.”

The tow truck would hide around the corner and when a spotter saw someone walk across the street to the hotel, the spotters would call the truck and the vehicle would be towed, the complaint says.

Those whose cars were tpwed would have to take a cab ride to the towing company and were charged $165 cash to get their car, including a $40 “gate fee,” which isn’t permitted under Florida law, the complaint says.

International Drive is a transient area, said Schmeltzer, and many patrons park in one place and walk to a different location.

According to the complaint, ASAP had a contract with Westwood, but that it expired in May. The contract was not renewed until mid-June, after the Gay Days event. In an email between Combs and the owner, Combs asked to back date the contract so the Gay Days event would be included and avoid “any technicalities,” the complaint says.

“This is further evidence that Jason Combs knew he had no contract in place and was not authorized to tow vehicles from Westwood Town Center,” the complaint said.