STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – A New Jersey-based tow truck driver says he was arrested while attempting to repossess a police officer’s personal vehicle, while the charges filed against him allege he was unlicensed to operate in New York City.

Jose Rodriguez said he was traveling through St. George on May 30 with a license-plate reader that targets vehicles sought by the bank for repossession when he received an alert on Richmond Terrace across the street from the 120th Precinct stationhouse.

“The guy was up for repossession for a long time," said Rodriguez.

As he approached the stationhouse to log the tow with the NYPD -- which he and his boss say he’s done more than 1,000 times -- he said a man in a green pickup truck whom he later found out was an off-duty officer blocked the front of his truck, saying, “'You’re not allowed to do repossessions over here.'”

He said the owner of the car then showed up saying he could pay off the debt on the spot. Rodriguez said he told them he couldn’t do that because he already notified the bank the car was in their possession.

Police arrested Rodriguez, alleging he was unlawfully taking the car.

The tow-truck is still in the possession of police nearly two weeks later.

The NYPD released a statement in regard to the incident, which read in part:

“The victim stated to police that an unlicensed tow truck was in possession of his vehicle without authorization to do so. A police investigation determined that the subject was in possession of a knife and three radio devices allocated for police. The subject also was in violation of multiple [Vehicle Traffic Law] regulations and charged with false business records, unauthorized use of a vehicle and criminal possession of a weapon, among other violations.”

Police said the truck, which is registered in New Jersey, does not include a Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) medallion that is required of New York City tow truck companies to operate. They also accused him of falsifying documents to take the car.

Rodriguez’s employer, Anthony Destefano, said the DCA medallion is not required for a vehicle registered in New Jersey, and the document issued by Nissan to repossess the vehicle is legit.

“They’re telling me we can’t do repossessions with a New Jersey truck in New York,” said Destefano, owner of Finest Auto Repair on Staten Island. “They’re totally wrong.”

According to the city’s website, "Tow trucks not based in New York City that pick up passenger vehicles within the city must also be licensed. Individuals must have a tow truck driver license to drive a tow truck.”

Police say the truck had no license plate on the front, which Rodriguez again argues is not required of a New Jersey-based truck. The criminal complaint also alleges he had an “obscured” back plate and no tow markings.

Prosecutors did not pursue the weapon-possession charge at arraignment, however, charges of illegally tinted windows and possessing police scanners in a moving vehicle remain. Rodriguez admitted to having the knife in the truck, saying it’s for work purposes.

Rodriguez, who said he’s gotten calls from an activist group and national news outlets in regard to the incident, is due back in court July 7. He said he’s considering a lawsuit.

“This isn’t against the NYPD,” said Rodriguez, noting that he has both personal and professional ties to the city Police Department. “It’s just against these two people who tried to do what they did to me.”