By FOX 8 Staff and Chris Joseph
Published: Jun. 6, 2024 at 2:22 PM CDT|Updated: 16 hours ago
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Tyrell Morris, former Director of the Orleans Parish Communications District (OPCD), was indicted on multiple charges related to a May 2023 crash involving his city-owned vehicle by a Grand Jury on Thursday, June 6.
The charges include malfeasance in office, false personation of a peace officer, insurance fraud, and second-degree injuring public records.
The Orleans Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Morris was booked in the Orleans Parish jail at 6 a.m. Friday (June 7). Bond was set at $2,500 for each charge for a total of $10,000. He posted bond and was released around 2 p.m.
Authorities say Morris asked and was allowed to exit the jail through a back door to avoid media cameras.
— Andrés Fuentes (@news_fuentes) June 7, 2024OPSO officials confirm that former 911 Center Chief Tyrell Morris was booked in jail at 6AM.
He was indicted yesterday for allegedly covering-up a crash in a city-owned vehicle, altering agency policy and insurance fraud.@FOX8NOLA pic.twitter.com/30Ba6gmVqc
The indictment report states that Morris used a city-owned vehicle to impersonate a peace officer and failed to undergo mandatory drug and alcohol testing following the May 7 crash.
On May 9, the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office says Morrell submitted a damage report with false statements about the crash.
Additionally, Morris is charged with not preserving public records and altering or deleting OPCD’s Vehicle Policy. He is also charged with filing a fraudulent insurance claim regarding the crash.
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Fox 8 obtained audio recordings of the moments Morris crashed his city-owned vehicle. Using his dispatch radio inside his city-owned SUV, Morris radioed in for help after the crash around 10:40 p.m.
Video obtained from a city crime camera showed Morris’ SUV colliding with another vehicle on Elysian Fields. The vehicle takes off and Morris flipped on his emergency lights.
Morris and the other driver left the scene after Morris claimed they exchanged information.
Fox 8 asked OPCD attorneys for a copy of the policy for take-home vehicles and accidents. We were provided two documents, both dated May of 2019.
Under “accident procedures” one of the documents says, “The operator of the OPCD vehicle must take a drug and alcohol test as soon as possible.”
The other copy we were provided, has four extra words added, “If injuries are reported, the operator of the OPCD vehicle must take a drug and alcohol test as soon as possible.”
In a response to the grand jury indictment, Morris’ attorney said the case was retaliation.
“Tyrell Morris significantly improved the 911 Call Center during his tenure there. This case is retaliation by the OIG,” said attorney Brian Capitelli. “It was shocking to learn of these charges from the media without myself or Mr. Morris being afforded the opportunity to present any evidence to the grand jury. We look forward to fighting these false allegations in court.”
Morris is also charged with retaliatory termination of a whistleblower who the DA’s office said exposed his efforts to avoid accountability.
Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams declined a request for an interview. The Mayor’s Office did not respond to a request for comment.
“I think it’s justice,” said Rafael Goyeneche, President of the Metropolitan Crime Commission. “If he’s a public official and behaved in the manner that he’s been indicted for, I think that it’s appropriate that he be indicted and held accountable.”
Morris, who served in public safety for 21 years, announced his resignation on Monday, June 26. The Friday before, former New Orleans City Councilman Jared Brossett, who worked under Morris at OPCD, was fired. The OPCD has yet to provide a reason for Brossett’s firing.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell picked Morris to lead the city’s violent crime task force and supported him through calls for his ouster.
Neither Cantrell nor her communications team answered questions Fox 8 attempted to pose Friday afternoon (6/7).
— Chris Joseph (@Chris_D_Joseph) June 8, 2024My attempt to ask @mayorcantrell about the indictment and jailing of former 911 call center head and political ally Tyrell Morris.
The comms team later told me a statement would be coming. It has not yet been provided. @FOX8NOLA
A spokesperson later released a statement reading:
“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.”
At-Large City Councilwoman and Council President Helena Moreno pointed to the grand jury indicted.
“I think that right there is pretty telling now we’ll just see what the justice system at work tries to do,” she said.
District B Councilwoman Lesli Harris described the situation as “unfortunate” and that Morris had a “bright future.”
“I think that we knew it was coming, I think that there was some situation that he probably should not have put himself in and I think it was good thing that he resigned himself before this all came down,” she said.
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