A New Orleans grand jury Thursday issued an indictment of former Orleans Parish Communications District Director Tyrell Morris.
The indictment charges Morris with malfeasance in office, injuring public records, and other charges in connection with a 2023 car crash in a city-owned vehicle.
"According to the indictment report, Morris used the city-owned vehicle to impersonate a peace officer and failed to comply with standard operating procedures requiring him to undergo drug and alcohol testing following the May 7th accident," the Orleans District Attorney's Office said.
The indictment also accuses Morris of submitting a vehicle damage report containing false statement about the incident, failing to preserve public records, and retaliating by firing a whistleblower who disclosed details of the Morris' actions.
Morris is alleged to have retroactively changed OPCD policy on car crashes in city-owned vehicles.
The Orleans Parish Communications District rules, as provided to WWL-TV as investigated the crash, state "If injuries are reported, the operator of the OPCD vehicle(s) must take a drug and alcohol test as soon as possible. The Director of Human Resources should be contacted for the name and location of the testing facility."
The policy is dated May 14, 2019 -- seven days after Morris was involved in his crash. It is signed by Morris himself.
But the TV station reports it appears this policy was altered. It has a version that reads "The operator of the OPCD vehicle(s) must take a drug and alcohol test as soon as possible. The Director of Human Resources should be contacted for the name and location of the testing facility." The words "If injuries are reported" do not appear.
