Problems In Portage – Agent Injured

PORTAGE — A 24-year-old man is accused of battering and injuring a tow truck assistant while making a violent attempt to stop his Mercedes SUV from being repossessed, police said.

Portage police said they responded shortly before 10 a.m. Wednesday to the 1600 block of Olmsted Drive where they found the black Mercedes Benz on the back of a tow truck with a man in the driver’s seat.

Another man, who was in a vehicle blocking the Mercedes from being driven off the truck, approached police and said he and a co-worker were in the process of driving off after repossessing the Mercedes when Marseillus McGriff, of Wisconsin, jumped on the back of the tow truck.

McGriff argued the pair had no right to take his vehicle and began struggling with one of the men to gain access to the Mercedes, police said. During that struggle, McGriff is accused of shoving the other man and eventually knocking him to the ground causing injury.

McGriff got in the Mercedes and locked the door, according to police.

McGriff denied touching the other man, police said.

McGriff was taken to the Porter County Jail and has been charged with a criminal count of battery resulting in bodily injury, records show.