According to Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol, a…

According to Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol, a Waterville man has been arrested after a joint investigation between the Sheriff’s Office and the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles.

May 28, 2026, Sheriff’s Patrol responded to M.D. Auto, located at 2116 Oriskany Street West in the City of Utica, for a repossession report. Upon receiving this report, patrol spoke with Michael Romanowski, age 45, who is the owner of the business and had reported that he had repossessed a 2019 Dodge Ram pickup truck from HMI Pratt and Whitney, located at 2395 Main Street in the Village of Clayville, Town of Paris.

After this report was taken, owners of the vehicle reported to the Sheriff’s Office that their Dodge Ram pickup truck had been repossessed illegally.Sheriff’s Patrol conducted an investigation into the allegations and found that the owners of the vehicle had allowed Romanowski to do some work on the truck in January of 2026, but he had not completed the work, and the owners were able to get their truck back in February 2026. In an attempt to collect money for the rest of the work that Romanowski claimed was owed to him, he filed a civil claim in Oneida City Court.

After filing the claim, Romanowski completed Department of Motor Vehicle documents claiming a Mechanic’s Lien and Repossession. M.D. Auto is not a registered or licensed repair shop, therefore Romanowski could not legally complete these documents. The case was turned over to the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Unit for further investigation.

During this time, it was learned that the bank/lien holder of the truck never authorized the repossession of the truck that Romanowski repossessed. It was further learned that Romanowski had gone to HMI Pratt and Whitney and took the truck from the lot without permission from the owners or bank/lien holder. Romanowski had also scheduled to have the truck sent to an auction on June 3, 2026. On June 1, 2026, the truck was located by Investigators of the Criminal Investigation Unit at M.D. Auto and recovered.

On June 2, 2026, Romanowski arrived at the Sheriff’s Office and was arrested for Grand Larceny 3rd, a Class D Felony, and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property Fourth, a Class E Felony. He was further charged by Investigators from the Department of Motor Vehicles on 2 counts of Possession of a Forged Instrument, which are Class E Felonies.

Sheriff’s members and NYS DMV Investigators located Romanowski’s flatbed tow truck in the parking lot of the Sheriff’s Office illegally parked in a handicapped spot as well as the flatbed truck having a switched inspection sticker. The flatbed truck was subsequently towed from the Sheriff’s Office by the NYS DMV Investigators, who also issued Romanowski traffic tickets.

Romanowski was processed and arraigned at CAP Court, where he was remanded to the Oneida County Correctional Facility without bail.