Michael Bushnell
Northeast News
Oct. 3, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — A minor glitch at the Jackson County Courthouse had some Scarritt Neighborhood residents fuming.

Tyler Sutton, South Gladstone Boulevard’s scourge, was released on his own recognizance last weekend after posting a ridiculously low bond imposed by Judge Mary Francis Weir for his arrest on three drug related charges from the prior week.

The bail provision that forbade Sutton from returning to his residence at 426 S. Gladstone Blvd., however, was apparently missed in the initial filing by prosecutors at the courthouse. Sutton, as our own Bunny the Newshound noted in last week’s Buzz column, returned to the house and much to the neighbors’ chagrin, it was business as usual with the usual line up of ner do wells coming to call. Sutton has a lengthy criminal record that covers convictions in four different states including Kansas, Missouri, California and Florida.

Prosecutors were alerted to the error after numerous e-mails were sent by community members stating that Sutton was indeed back at the residence. Acting quickly, prosecutors asked for and received a hearing for the morning of Friday, Oct. 3, in order to correct the bail provision that keeps Sutton out of the neighborhood. During the hearing, which lasted 45 minutes longer than it should have, Leslie Caplan, Scarritt Renaissance Neighborhood Association president, gave an impassioned testimony asking for the bail provision to be put back in place.

“Your Honor, we’re asking that you impose the highest bond possible on Mr. Sutton given his constant disregard for the law,” Caplan testified. “He is a cancer in our neighborhood that needs to be removed.”

Prosecutors then called KCPD East Patrol’s Sergeant Eric Dillenkoffer, who presented more details on the sizable police resources spent in dealing with the property and Sutton’s continued antics. Following his testimony to Assistant County Prosecutor David Portnoy, Dillenkoffer was questioned by Sutton who appeared and acted as his own counsel after his request for a continuance was denied by Judge Weir.

During roughly fifteen minutes of questioning that often rambled and strayed from the motion in front of the court, Sutton was repeatedly admonished by Judge Weir to keep his questions relevant. Sutton, however, continued to fidget and tweak his way through a line of questions and statements that at times, made one question his lucidity. When Sutton indicated he was actively trying to sell the Gladstone Boulevard property, Judge Weir noted a claim deed that had been filed indicating that Sutton, in fact, no longer owned the property.

“How can you sell a house you don’t own,” the Judge questioned.

Sutton again began a stammering testimony on ownership, rehab projects and business interests not relative to the motion at hand, all of which were ultimately shut down by Judge Weir for lack of relevance. Following testimony, Judge Weir sided with the state that Sutton was indeed a danger to the neighborhood and re-imposed the stipulation of his bail forbidding him from being on the property at the 426 S. Gladstone Blvd.

“You will be arrested if you go back there” Weir sternly warned the diminutive Sutton.

Judge Weir then thanked the community members in attendance and ordered Sutton be taken into custody immediately on an outstanding Independence, Mo., warrant dating back to May for passing a bad check over $500, a felony. Bail was set for that charge at $10,000 and 10 percent. Sutton was then led from the courtroom in handcuffs.

“Score one for the good guys” Caplan said as she left the courtroom. “It’ll be a nice, quiet weekend on South Gladstone.”