News vehicle blocked in by tow trucks, driver charged with harassment

In an apparent attempt to intimidate a news crew reporting outside a Kansas City, Missouri, towing company on April 15, 2025, drivers used their tow trucks to surround the crew’s news vehicle. At least one of the drivers has been identified by police and charged with harassment.

According to KCTV, a reporter and photojournalist were covering recent charges of forgery, stealing and harassment filed against the owner of Metro Tow & Transport and his mother. News Director Josh Morgan asked that the journalists remain anonymous while the investigation is ongoing.

According to court records, the news crew had attempted to interview employees of the towing company and spoke with a community member who had retrieved their vehicle from the lot.

The journalists then parked in an empty lot across the street ahead of a live report later in the day and were clearly identifiable as press, wearing KCTV apparel and with a “Media” placard in the front windshield of their vehicle.

After approximately 45 minutes, three tow trucks and a pickup began to block in the news vehicle from the front, left and rear, while a fence blocked them in on the right.

According to the police report, the photojournalist reportedly became nervous after the first truck backed up in front of them and began filming the incident. The reporter, who called 911, told officers she was “afraid of what they might do since there was no escape for them.”

Police reported that both journalists described the interaction as a threat, and believed that the tow company was trying to send them a message.

When officers arrived at the scene, they directed the tow-truck drivers to move their vehicles, and the news crew was able to leave without further incident.

One of the drivers was later identified as James Basham, who was charged on April 17 with two counts of felony harassment.

In a statement to KCTV, Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson said: “Today, our office filed criminal charges against a tow truck driver who targeted reporters who were reporting on the very same company we previously charged with forgery, stealing, and harassment. Our press should be able to report on issues in our community without fear and any attempt to intimidate or silence them will not be tolerated.”

Basham was released on a $50,000 bond and is next scheduled to appear June 25.