Charges dropped over recorded call with police union head

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Prosecutors are dropping charges against a Kansas City tow truck operator after his attorney uncovered a recording in which a police union official appears to issue a threat while trying to retrieve a towed relative’s car.

The Jackson County prosecutor’s office said Tuesday that the actions of police Sgt. Brad Lemon, who is president of the Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police, severely compromised the case against the tow truck operator, Allen Bloodworth.

Bloodworth was charged in September 2019 with 31 counts of forgery, alleging that his company, Private Party Impound LLC, improperly towed dozens of vehicles from private property and forged required paperwork. Bloodworth pleaded not guilty.

At issue is a routine business recording of a phone call in which a man identifies himself as Lemon and informs Bloodworth that he is president of the Fraternal Order of Police before asking Bloodworth to release a relative’s vehicle. The prosecutor’s office said Bloodworth explained to Lemon that he could only legally release the towed vehicle to the vehicle’s registered owner or to someone legally designated by the owner.

Lemon then mentions a past investigation of Bloodworth and says, “It’s game on.” Asked what that means, Lemon responded, “We’ll start the same routine with you then.”

Bloodworth’s defense attorney, Daniel Ross, said he provided the recording and a transcript of the call to the prosecution.

An email also was found that suggested Lemon then checked into the status of an ongoing investigation into Bloodworth.

“That pretty well taints the investigation” Ross said. “It affects the credibility of all officers involved in the investigation.”

The prosecutor’s office wrote in the dismissal notice: “The clear implication was that, if Defendant refused to give Mr. Lemon the car, Mr. Lemon would use his influence in the police department and union to bring law enforcement action against Defendant.”

Lemon said through a spokeswoman that he was just made aware of the situation and had no comment.

Prosecutors said in the dismissal notice that this conduct has been referred back to law enforcement for further investigation.

“To be clear, today was the first time we were made aware of our member being involved in the decision to drop charges. This will be investigated,” Police spokesman Capt. David Jackson said Tuesday in an email.