KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI — A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper has been indicted on 13 counts following a year-long investigation into an alleged corruption scheme involving Kansas City-area towing companies — the same trooper who, just a year ago, was publicly presented as an investigator fighting predatory towing and giving media interviews advising vehicle owners on how to file complaints against dishonest tow companies.
The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office announced on May 18, 2026, that a grand jury indicted Charles “Nate” Bradley on April 30. Bradley self-surrendered on May 15 and was released on a $30,000 bond.
The Trooper Who Claimed to Fight Predatory Towing
In 2025, Bradley was interviewed by local media in connection with a separate predatory towing case involving Donald Adamson, owner of Metro Tow and Transport — a Kansas City tow company owner facing 18 felonies in Jackson County and additional charges in Platte County for allegedly towing vehicles without permission, falsifying forms, and making it difficult for victims to retrieve their cars.
At the time, Bradley identified himself as an MSHP investigator who had been pursuing predatory towing complaints since 2008. He publicly advised vehicle owners to file consumer fraud complaints, explaining that enforcement was complaint-driven. “File a consumer fraud complaint — their activities are complaint-driven, much like ours. If I don’t get a complaint, I’m probably not going to go,” Bradley said in the interview. He also explained proper towing law procedures, including Missouri’s requirement that tow companies complete a 4669 form at the time of a tow and report it to local authorities before moving a vehicle.
Prosecutors now allege that while Bradley was publicly presenting himself as a guardian against predatory towing, he was privately doing the opposite — using his badge to help towing companies profit from the same practices he claimed to be investigating.
The Charges
Bradley faces the following charges:
• Ten counts of tampering with physical evidence
• One count of acceding to corruption by a public servant
• One count of stealing $25,000 or more
• One count of first-degree property damage
What Prosecutors Allege
According to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, Bradley used his position as an MSHP trooper to help towing companies profit from towing and storing stolen vehicles without proper law enforcement involvement. His alleged conduct prevented proper evidence collection and investigation and caused deliberate delays in allowing vehicle owners to retrieve their property — enabling tow companies to accumulate excessive storage and towing fees. Victims and their insurance companies were forced to either pay thousands of dollars or forfeit their vehicles entirely.
On the corruption count, prosecutors allege Bradley accepted gifts from a towing operator in exchange for giving that company access to stolen vehicles.
On the theft count, Bradley allegedly received a stolen necklace worth at least $25,000 that had been taken during a jewelry store burglary. Rather than following evidence recovery procedures, he kept the necklace in his personal possession and never notified the investigating agency or the victim.
On the property damage count, Bradley allegedly directed a tow truck driver to intentionally damage a stolen vehicle to disable it.
The Investigation
The case was investigated over more than a year by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office and the Kansas City Police Department, with assistance from the Missouri Department of Revenue and the Leawood, Kansas Police Department.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Earlier interview courtesy of local media.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
