KCPD Chief comments on predatory towing issues throughout the city

Yahoo

02-05-2025

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) has confiscated trucks from alleged predatory tow companies. In the last week, KCPD has twice announced its towed trucks for being involved in illegal towing.
Towing scams were a big topic of conversation in the city in April.
KCPD Chief Stacey Graves says they're still investigating some of these instances, adding that there are tow companies preying on people who don't have a whole lot of money.
'There's no specific person or place or reason I would say. It's the fact that it exists in our city,' Chief Graves said when asked if KCPD is cracking down on predatory towing.
'If something like that exists in our city, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department wants to make sure that we do all we can to make sure people are not victimized.'
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In April, KCPD raided Metro Tow, towing cars off the property and arresting the owner, Donald Adamson and his mother, Lanette. They face nine felonies each, including stealing cars, forgery, and harassment.
'There's an active investigation going on,' Chief Graves said when asked if her department's paying attention to the problem more after the raid.
'There's been some actions that the police department has taken. There's been some actions that the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office has taken, some charges that have come out, so that's probably why it's more top of mind, but I can tell you this is something that we've had our eye on for some time.'
Earlier Thursday, though, one of the vendors for the police department somewhat disagreed, saying pressure from the city and media has led to them cracking down on predatory companies.
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'It's up to the counties in place to have a wrecker ordinance,' Empire Tow Service Owner Junior Johnson said.
'You have to go there and pay the money and all that, and if you're in non-compliance with the county, they can snatch that license and put you out of business.'
'Counties can revoke licenses from wreckers/tow operators,' Republican Jackson County, MO Legislator Sean Smith said.
'Presently, Jackson County doesn't have that, but it is under consideration.'
A county committee will discuss an ordinance dealing with at 1 p.m. Monday. The city ordinance increasing penalties for companies that are involved in predatory towing passed by a vote of 12-0 on Thursday.
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