Rambow Injures Recovery Agent In Wash. State

An Ellensburg, WA man is facing potential charges of robbery and reckless endangerment after he allegedly stopped two men while they were repossessing a car by jumping into the vehicle and driving it off the lift truck as it was being raised off the ground.

One of the repo men told police his arm was still in the car when the man drove away.

Shaun David Rambow, 44, was expected to appear in Kittitas County Superior Court this week on accusations of theft of a motor vehicle, reckless endangerment, first-degree robbery and fourth-degree assault.

Authorities claim Rambow stopped two recovery agents as they tried to retrieve a car on Brick Mill Road just before noon Wednesday, May 1.

The pair told police that they had gone to Brick Mill Road to get a vehicle that had been noted for repossession several times in the past.

When they found the car, the two men said they went further down the road to get their lift truck ready, then came back and backed into the driveway to recover the vehicle. One of the repo agents also told police he had put on a vest that was marked “Recovery Agent,” because on the previous repossession attempt, the owner of the car had come out and drove the vehicle off the lift.

On the most recent attempt, the back end of the vehicle was already off the ground about 4 inches when the car’s owner — identified in court documents as Rambow — again came out and jumped in it.

One of the repo men said Rambow started the car, put it in drive, and slammed on the gas pedal. He said his arm was trapped in the car door after Rambow closed it on him, according to court documents.

The repo man said his arm was injured as Rambow drove away and the man jerked his arm free. A “noticeably large scratch” could be seen on the man’s right wrist/forearm, according to an incident report from the sheriff’s office.

The man said he wanted to be considered a victim of the assault and reckless endangerment. The recovery agents also said they wanted the case reviewed by a prosecutor on the charge of vehicle theft as they were acting on behalf of the car’s legal owner.

A deputy spoke with Rambow, who denied the story given by the recovery agents. Police determined Rambow’s version was not a truthful account.

A summons for Rambow to appear in court on the charges was approved June 14.