R&B singer Tremaine Aldon “Trey Songz” Neverson has filed a civil lawsuit against the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) and other parties in connection with his arrest during an NFL playoff game nearly five years ago.
According to court documents filed Tuesday in Jackson County Circuit Court, the three-time Grammy-nominated artist claims police and event security mishandled an incident at the January 24, 2021 AFC Championship Game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium.
Songz says he was attending the game when fans near him began verbally heckling and threatening him because of his celebrity status. Rather than protect him, he alleges, stadium security and KCPD officers failed to control the situation and instead “physically assaulted, wrongfully arrested, handcuffed and detained” him, according to the lawsuit.
The suit also names Whelan Event Services (the company responsible for stadium security) and the Government Employees Health Association (GEHA) as defendants. Songz claims the defendants’ actions caused him physical injuries, emotional distress, reputational harm and financial losses. He is seeking unspecified damages and has demanded a jury trial.
Background: What Happened in 2021
The lawsuit revisits the controversial incident at Arrowhead Stadium in January 2021, which resulted in Songz’s arrest. Police were called after nearby fans became disruptive, and stadium security attempted to intervene. According to Songz, the response by security and officers was inadequate and escalated unnecessarily. (Complex)
At the time, Songz was detained by police and booked on charges including trespassing, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer — all of which were later dismissed, the lawsuit notes.
Legal and Public Response
Songz’s legal team argues that the KCPD’s actions were excessive and unjustified, and that he was wrongfully singled out despite being the party in need of protection. The complaint alleges the department failed to control other unruly fans while targeting Songz.
Representatives for the Kansas City Police Department and other defendants had not publicly responded to requests for comment as of publication.
Significance
The lawsuit draws attention to disputed law enforcement conduct at a high-profile sporting event and highlights ongoing concerns about police interactions with public figures and civilians alike. By reopening a case that resulted in dropped charges, the filing could spark renewed scrutiny over the department’s actions and protocols at large events.
