Former Orleans Parish Communications District director indicted in 2023 crash ‘coverup’ investigation
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Former Director of the Orleans Parish Communications District Tyrell Morris has been indicted on charges related to allegations of covering up a 2023 crash involving a city-owned car.
Morris held the position of OPCD director for six years before stepping down on July 10, 2023, after calls for his suspension regarding allegations that he failed to submit a drug and alcohol test after a crash in a city-owned car and possible alteration of public documents.
On July 5, 2023, New Orleans City Councilmembers requested a report on the OPCD’s investigation of the allegations against Morris.
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On July 6, 2023, the OPCD board met to discuss whether Morris should be suspended sooner than his original resignation date of Sept. 15, 2023.
On Thursday, June 6, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams announced a grand jury indicted Morris on charges of malfeasance in office, false personation of a peace officer, insurance fraud and second-degree injuring public records.
According to the indictment, on May 7, Morris allegedly used a city-owned car to impersonate an officer and failed to submit a drug and alcohol test.
A statement was released on the matter on Friday, June 7:
Mr. Morris is the former Executive Director of the Orleans Parish Communication District (OPCD), which is a state agency governed by its’ own board. He was hired by that board and worked collaboratively with multiple City public safety agencies for five years, until he resigned.
When asked at a past press event to provide a comment on this investigation, Mayor Cantrell stated that every person should have the right to due process, as she has done regarding other review and investigations. The Mayor respects the judicial process as it moves to a conclusion under the law and the Office of Mayor will have no further comment on this matter.
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The indictment also alleges Morris submitted a damage report with false statements.
Williams said Morris was also indicted on charges of failing to preserve public records as required by law, altering and/or deleting the OPCD Standard Operating Procedure Vehicle Policy, knowingly and intentionally filing an insurance claim containing false, incomplete, and/or fraudulent information and “the retaliatory termination of a whistleblower who disclosed Morris’s improprieties aimed at covering up steps he took to evade accountability following the accident.”
Morris turned himself into the Orleans Parish Jail around 6 a.m. on Friday, June 7. His bond was set at $10,000.
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