Rock Hill, York County, SC end tow truck company use; owner faces felony drug charges

Police agencies in York County, and the state of South Carolina, have stopped using a Rock Hill towing company after the owner was arrested on felony drug distribution charges, police said.

Stanley Lee Hammond, 62, of Stan’s Wrecker Service in Rock Hill, was charged Wednesday by York County drug agents after a search of the Flint Street Extension business, said Marvin Brown, commander of the York County Multijurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit.

Hammond was charged with possession of fentanyl and marijuana with intent to distribute, and two counts of possession of drugs with intent to distribute near a school. The business is down the street from the Rock Hill school district Flexible Learning Center.

“We found fentanyl and marijuana and other drug paraphernalia, including scales,” Brown said.

Hammond was charged with possession of 47 doses of fenatnyl.

Fentanyl is an opioid that is 40 to 50 times more potent than heroin, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

Police also seized two ounces of marijuana, more than $5,300 in cash, three digital scales and a vape smoking implement containing hash oil, according to an incident report from the search.

Stan’s Wrecker Service has for years been part of a tow company rotation for the S.C. Highway Patrol, Rock Hill Police Department and York County Sheriff’s Office, officials at the agencies said.

Contract tow companies typically pick up wrecked and impounded vehicles after arrests or traffic incidents.

York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson said Hammond’s arrest means the business will not handle any tow calls for the county.

“It is our intention to suspend Stan’s Wrecker Service from our wrecker rotation, pending the outcome of this case,” Tolson said.

The City of Rock Hill removed Stan’s Wrecker Service from its contract rotation Thursday morning, after city officials were told of Hammond’s arrest, said Capt. Mark Bollinger of the Rock Hill Police Department.

The S.C. Highway Patrol also removed Stan’s Wrecker Service Thursday from work with its troopers.

“After a review of yesterday’s arrest of Stanley Hammond, the S.C. Highway Patrol has suspended the use of Stan’s Wrecker Service from its towing rotation list,” said Capt. Roger Hughes, spokesman for the highway patrol.

Hammond was released from the York County jail late Wednesday, after posting $17,500 bond, jail officials said.

Hammond has a 2009 conviction for possession of prescription narcotics without a prescription, court records show. In that case, he received a fine, records show.

Hammond, reached at the business Thursday morning, declined to comment.

This story was originally published July 26, 2018 at 10:01 AM.