He reported a tow truck stole his SUV from the mall. But now Biloxi police are looking for him.

Darrin Cuevas wants his name cleared, or rather, the reputation of his red tow truck.

Local media published pictures of the truck provided by police Tuesday after a report of a stolen 2005 Ford Expedition on Sept. 5.

Police said a man had reported his black SUV was illegally towed from its parking spot in front of Edgewater Mall.

But it turns out, the man may not have been truthful.

Police are now looking for Billy Lee Johnson, who filed a false report of a stolen vehicle, Biloxi police Maj. Christopher De Back said.

Investigators say that before Johnson reported his vehicle stolen, he sold it to Barry’s U-Pull-It Auto Parts, transferred ownership and received a check for it. He even provided identification that was photocopied before he was paid, De Back said.

A co-worker showed Cuevas the Sun Herald report on Wednesday morning.

“I said, ‘Hold on a minute. How in the heck am I stealing a car?’ ” Cuevas said.

“What shocked me is the guy had the key to his car and he sat there next to me in the parking lot and handed me the key before I towed it.”

After Johnson sold the SUV to the auto parts business, the business called Cuevas to tow the SUV to its lot. Cuevas is a subcontractor who tows vehicles for Barry’s, and also does private tows.

“I never tow a vehicle without the owner giving me a key,” Cuevas said.

Cuevas talked to police on Wednesday about the tow job, filmed by a gas station security camera.

“Police told me they already had my name and address and they were coming to get me,” he said.

“I’ve been all over Biloxi since Sept. 5. What if I’d been pulled over on the side of the road with five or 10 police cars around me?”

Cuevas said he has two red tow trucks and they’re probably the only ones around.

Johnson faces a $1,000 bond on the false reporting charge once he’s found.

Anyone who calls police on his whereabouts can remain anonymous, De Back said.

To give a tip, call the Biloxi Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at 228-435-6112 or Dispatch at 228-392-0641. Or email the Criminal Intelligence Unit at ciu@biloxi.ms.us.

He had told police his Expedition had broken down and when he returned to it, the vehicle was gone, De Back said.

Investigators confirmed the mall had not authorized the tow and the Expedition wasn’t wanted for repossession, De Back said.

Robin Fitzgerald, 228-896-2307, @robincrimenews

This story was originally published September 18, 2018 at 6:18 PM.