Latest news with #LannetteAdamson
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Metro Tow owner, mother plead not guilty to illegal towing charges
The owner of a Kansas City towing company and his mother pleaded not guilty Monday to 18 felony charges for illegal towing practices, court records show. Donald Adamson, the owner of Metro Tow and Transport, and his mother, Lannette Adamson, were both charged with four counts of stealing, four counts of forgery, and one count of first-degree harassment in Jackson County. The pair is accused of falsifying documents to illegally tow vehicles without proper authorization, charging victims large and illegal fees, and holding vehicles. The charges came after a months-long investigation following multiple complaints to Kansas City police stretching back several years, Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson said in a news release when charges were announced on April 15. The Adamsons appeared in court on Monday with separate attorneys to enter their pleas. They are both scheduled to return to court for a settlement conference on June 11. The two also have a pending case in Platte County where they are both charged with three felony counts of tampering with a motor vehicle and three felony counts of forgery. There is also an investigation into felony property damage of a pole camera near the company's tow lot that was shot out in late March. Someone in a black pickup truck, consistent with a 1996 to 2006 Chevrolet Silverado, was seen firing rounds at the camera. Five shell casings were collected from the scene near the camera, which is valued at more than $5,000. Metro Tow employees and Adamson are suspected in the shooting, prosecutors said. Two days after the announcement of charges, tow truck driver James Basham was charged with two counts of felony harassment for allegedly blocking two journalists in their car at Metro Tow's lot. The Adamsons' arrests sparked quick reaction from local lawmakers who said the community has been victims of these practices for years. The Kansas City City Council passed an ordinance on Thursday, sponsored by councilmember Darrell Curls, that includes establishing a 'towed vehicle owner' bill of rights, an online system to report all tows and a public awareness campaign to inform citizens about illegal towing. Kansas City currently already has ordinances against non-consensual towing. Officials must return to the council in 30 days with a status report. The Jackson County legislature is aiming to pass an ordinance that requires a tow license, registration, and penalties for companies that don't comply. The county's proposed ordinance, sponsored by legislators DaRon McGee and Venessa Huskey, will also require fees for its towing license. Tow companies would have to pay Jackson County $1,000 per year and $250 per vehicle for a tow license at the beginning of next year. Kansas City police also recently opened a tip line for victims of predatory towing, where they have received more than 100 complaints, spokesperson Cpt. Jake Becchina previously told The Star. Previous reporting by Ilana Arougheti contributed to this article.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
KC woman says she's a victim of tow company under criminal investigation
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Kansas City woman says she's a victim of a local tow company now at the center of serious criminal allegations. The company's owners are accused of flat-out stealing cars across the area. 'I was really in shock because I didn't think it was possible,' Tkia Hill said. Grain Valley police investigating shooting at Dollar General Monday night FOX4 first showed you exclusive video of police hauling vehicles out of Metro Tow on Agnes Avenue last Wednesday during a police raid. Now, the company's owner, Donald Adamson, and his mother, Lannette Adamson, each face nine felony charges. Details in the probable cause statements are alarming. Police allege the Adamsons were simply taking advantage of people—and investigators consider them 'dangerous.' 'The car was gone, thought it was stolen, I placed a stolen car report at 9:18,' Hill said. Hill is an educator who also does hair in her spare time. On April 7, after finishing her day in the classroom, she headed to a client's apartment for a hair appointment that went smoothly. But when she returned to the parking lot—her car was gone. What she didn't know at the time: she had just become a target of what investigators allege is a serial criminal towing operation. She would find out fast. 'They wouldn't let me get my work badge, my house keys—I was locked out of my house. They said my tags were fake, they said my bill of sale expired—which doesn't expire. I called the police but then they got there and told me it was a civil matter and they couldn't really do anything about it,' Tkia Hill said. Relief would come sooner than expected. Just one day later, on April 9, she got a call from detectives. 'I got that call that they're searching the tow place and they found like—all the information I gave the tow place is true and they had no reason to keep my car from me,' Hill said. Court documents say Donald and Lannette Adamson were hiding behind their tow business to steal cars and harass customers who tried to get their vehicles back. The probable cause statement reads: 'These patterns show the vehicles are towed illegally and the state 4669 form being filled out fraudulently all under Donald's business Metro Tow.' But that's not all. Police say during the investigation; they installed a surveillance camera on a nearby pole. On March 8, a black pickup truck drove past the camera, then doubled back and 'fired several rounds,' disabling it. Five shell casings were recovered at the scene. Investigators say: 'Employees and/or the owner of Metro Tow is suspected of shooting the camera out.' 'I just hope that they get everything that's coming to them—that they get what they deserve,' Hill said. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android FOX4 stopped by Metro Tow on Monday to ask questions—and to see if they were still open. Sure enough, they are. But staff closed the window on us when we arrived. Both Donald and Lannette Adamson are due back in court Tuesday morning. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
