Tyler Bates
A Kansas City man who calls himself a “sheep dog” is being held on $100,000 cash-only bond and faces two felony charges after a road rage incident in Platte City last week involving two firearms.
Tyler Bates, 25, remains in custody at the Platte County Detention Center. Bates has pleaded not guilty of two charges of unlawful use of a weapon and appeared Tuesday, Oct. 23 before judge Quint Shafer. A reduction of bond request was denied and Bates will appear again Tuesday, Nov. 20.
At about 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17, according to court documents, the Platte County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a truck driver on Interstate 29 just north of Highway 92. The driver of the tractor trailer reported a blue Volvo station wagon — driven by Bates — allegedly passed him on the shoulder, pulled in front of him and decelerated, twice, almost causing a crash. Bates then rolled down his window to show a handgun, which he pointed at the driver of the truck, according to his statement. When the victim called police, he followed the Volvo and exited at Hwy. 92, attempting to get the license plate number of the car. Bates allegedly then pulled what looked like an AR-15 rifle from the back seat and brandished it, while appearing to put on a vest.
Police located Bates and the victim near Kentucky Avenue. The truck driver called to the deputy that Bates had a gun and as deputy approached the car he witnessed Bates taking off what looked like a ballistic vest. Bates was immediately detained and told police not to search his car because he had guns in it.
During a search of the Volvo, police found an AR-15 rifle in the back seat, a 40 caliber handgun in the driver’s side door, another 40 caliber handgun in the glove box and yet another AR-15 in the back of the station wagon. All weapons were loaded. Police also found the ballistic vest he was witnessed removing, a ghillie suit, binoculars, ammunition, hand held radios and other items.
When a Sheriff’s Office detective arrived to transport Bates to the Platte County Detention Center, Bates reportedly told the detective, “I bet you have never arrested someone who was packing that much heat and better armed than you were.”
At the Sheriff’s Office, Bates told police a different version of the story, stating the tractor trailer almost ran him off the road. He told police he feared for his life and only had the handgun in his lap should he need to protect himself. He also told police he occasionally worked in Kansas as an unlicensed bounty hunter.
“I am not a wolf, I am a sheep dog,” Bates told police, according to court documents. “I know you know what I’m talking about.”
When confronted with the victim’s statement, Bates recanted his story, admitting he became angry when the truck cut him off. Bates admitted to passing the truck on the shoulder, brake checking him and sticking his arm out of the window while holding his handgun. He denied pointing the gun at the driver, but also admitted to showing the driver the AR-15 and donning the vest.