NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Tyrell Morris, the former head of the Orleans Parish Communications District, maintained his innocence Monday (Sept. 22) as he went on trial facing four criminal charges.
More than a year ago, Morris was indicted by an Orleans Parish grand jury after crashing a city vehicle on his birthday and allegedly trying to cover it up in an insurance fraud scheme. Morris, once appointed by Mayor LaToya Cantrell to head a short-lived city crime task force, is charged with malfeasance in office, insurance fraud, false impersonation of a peace officer and second-degree injuring public records.
Six jurors and one alternate were sworn in Monday afternoon as the trial began. Two men and five women are on the panel…