Tremain Polk is behind bars for the murder of a tow company owner, Paul Gren, in Orlando, Florida, following a dispute over $285 for his impounded vehicle.
On May 16, 2017, Polk went to the Tow Truck Company at West Robinson Street and Beggs Avenue to retrieve his vehicle, a 2009 Jeep Patriot.
When he arrived just before 6 p.m., an employee, Erika Hicks, told him that it would cost $285, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Polk informed Hicks that he thought the total would be $135, as he had called the towing company twice before driving to the establishment to ensure the price hadn’t gone up.
He said he then waited until his uncle wired him the money.
Hicks explained to him that the cost had increased to $285 due to storage fees.
Polk, who was 35 years old at the time, became irate and tried pushing his way into the office. Hicks told him to stop, or she would call the police.
That’s when he opted to take a different route to get to his vehicle.
Authorities said surveillance cameras captured Polk jumping over a chain-link fence and then busting out several windows of three cars.
He then got in his vehicle and drove it toward a bay door. It was closed, and when he tried opening it, he came face-to-face with Gren, who was armed with a gun.
The 53-year-old held the gun at his side and never aimed it at Polk, coworkers said.
Polk told him that he wanted to leave.
According to an arrest affidavit, Polk “took two steps inside the door, turned around toward Gren,” then grabbed his gun and shot him three times “at point-blank range.”
The incident wasn’t captured on camera, but Hicks said she was on the phone with 911 when it happened.
Emergency first responders arrived and rushed Gren to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Polk fled the scene, but he was arrested later that night after police found him hiding at a loading dock.
He was booked into the Orange County Jail, where he was held without bond.
Polk was charged with first-degree murder and burglary.
Court records showed that he is no stranger to law enforcement, as he was previously convicted of attempted robbery, burglary, and grand theft.
In 2012, he was released from prison.
While in court, Polk apologized to the victim’s family. He said, “Many nights I have prayed, and in spirit, I asked the family of Mr. Gren to forgive me.”
“And, if by some chance, Mr. Gren can hear my voice, that he too will forgive me.”
In June 2018, a jury found Polk guilty, and he was later sentenced to two consecutive life sentences plus 15 years.