KANSAS CIY —A now former Kansas City police officer on Wednesday pleaded guilty to harassment of two citizens and a misdemeanor assault following a December 2023 vehicular encounter in south Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.
Jason Q. Moran pleaded guilty to Harassment in the 2nd Degree, a Class A misdemeanor, and Assault in the 4th Degree, another Class A misdemeanor. He was placed on probation for 1 year and agreed to special conditions, including his resignation from the Kansas City Police Department, the surrender of his police officer certification and to not contact victims in the case.
According to court records filed this week, on Dec. 5, 2023, three persons flagged down a police officer and reported that a black truck had followed them. The victims reported that the black truck was driving only 10 mph in a 40 mph zone at one point.
They drove around the truck after it didn't move when a stop light turned green. Then the truck began to follow them. Eventually, the victims told police, the driver of the truck pointed a gun at them and struck one of them with the truck.
Moran, who was not on duty or in uniform, told police he was driving on State Line Road when he started to follow a vehicle that passed him. He followed them into an apartment complex and waited. He told police the citizens approached his truck. He drove away, then returned. One of them struck his vehicle window. He drew his firearm and pointed it at the group, got back in the truck and left again.
Moran, who has resigned from the police department, called police. Officers observed Moran to be intoxicated. Two victims stated Moran pointed a gun at them, used the "n" word during his verbal confrontation with them and hit one of them with his truck. They added that he smelled like alcohol and his eyes were red. Video cameras in the area captured Moran's vehicle striking the victim.