JEFFERSON PARISH -- The tow truck driver known as “Big Lee” who claimed he was untouchable by law enforcement has been on officers’ radars for some time, for everything from allegedly threatening his competition to threatening to tow vehicles with people still inside them to claims of sexual assault.
Lee Martin, 53, was booked Tuesday on a count of aggravated battery after he allegedly hit a woman with the back of his tow truck on purpose at an Airline Highway mobile home park on Nov. 19.
He remained locked up at the Jefferson Parish jail Wednesday.
Before his most recent dust-up, Martin was issued a summons in August 2013 for disturbing the peace at a Kenner shopping center.
Police said a man accused Martin of threatening him and claim Lee tried to tow away his vehicle while the man was still inside the car.
Martin entered a diversion program instead of heading to trial, records show.
Two months later, a woman Martin hired to do paperwork at his towing office alleged he walked up behind her and began to fondle and grab at her breasts.
The woman also told police Martin threw her on a bed in the back of the office and had sex with her.
No charges were ever filed in the case after Martin provided investigators with a video they said cast doubt on the rape claim.
Records also indicate Martin was arrested on a simple battery charge in November 2015.
Authorities said Martin went to the office of Rock and Roll Towing, a rival tow-truck company, where the manager claims Martin threatened to beat him up -- then punched him in the face.
Martin pleaded guilty to the charge and received 12 months of probation.
In June 2016, a woman whose vehicle Martin towed told police Martin picked her up in his truck and told her he needed to go to his home, with its lawn decorated in purple-and-gold LSU paraphernalia, to get his phone before going to the tow lot to get her car.
The woman told police Martin made her feel uncomfortable after he asked her twice to go inside with him for a drink.
While no charges were ever filed, the woman said she wanted to report the incident because she claims that if she chose to go inside Martin’s home, she might have been the victim of some type of assault.
Martin had not yet appeared before a judge for his bond hearing in his most recent arrest as of Wednesday afternoon, according to the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court’s Office.
New Orleans Advocate staff writer Ramon Antonio Vargas contributed to this report.