Philadelphia Police Arrest Two for Illegal Tire Dumping

Authorities apprehended two men who allegedly used a rental truck to dump hundreds of tires in the city.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Financial Crime

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a stack of circular tire forms, evoking urban environmental concerns. — Philadelphia police arrested two men after they allegedly dumped hundreds of illegal tires at a local parking lot on Tuesday. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you support imposing $5,000 fines per item for illegal dumping to deter offenders in your area?

Philadelphia police have arrested two men after catching them dumping between 200 and 350 tires at a local parking lot. The suspects allegedly used a U-Haul truck to facilitate the illegal activity in the 1400 block of W. Indiana Avenue.

Why it matters

Illegal dumping creates significant sanitation and environmental challenges for urban neighborhoods. The city is responding to these concerns with increased enforcement and the upcoming introduction of a specialized task force.

Charles Arttaway and Paul Gamble face charges of criminal mischief, criminal conspiracy, and scattering rubbish. Penalties for illegal dumping include a $5,000 fine per item when a vehicle is involved, compared to $2,000 without one.

The players

Charles Arttaway

The 52-year-old man is one of two suspects arrested for allegedly unloading tires during the incident.

Paul Gamble

The 68-year-old man is one of two suspects who allegedly rented and drove the U-Haul truck used to transport the tires.

Environmental Crimes Unit

This department is currently investigating whether the recent dumping incident is connected to other similar criminal activities.

The details

Officers responded to a report of dumping at a train station parking lot where they found the suspects with a U-Haul box truck. Paul Gamble allegedly drove the rented vehicle while Charles Arttaway unloaded the tires.

The illegal dumping incident occurred before 11:50 p.m. on October 26, 2026.
The city will launch a new anti-illegal dumping task force on November 3, 2026.

Legal Context

The enforcement action aligns with the city's established municipal ordinances against scattering rubbish and illegal dumping. These arrests follow a pattern of intensified local efforts to curb environmental blight through strict fine structures and specialized investigation units.

This investigation highlights ongoing efforts to clean up neighborhoods and discourage illegal activity in public parking lots. Residents should report suspicious dumping activity to help authorities maintain sanitary conditions in the area.

The takeaway

Illegal dumping carries substantial financial penalties, especially when a vehicle is used to transport debris. Residents can help deter this crime by reporting suspicious activity in their neighborhoods to local authorities.