Wow..............
Okaloosa County Sheriff Charlie Morris has been arrested on federal theft-bribery charges and suspended by Governor Charlie Crist.
Edward M. Spooner has been appointed as interim sheriff. Spooner is from Quincy, Fla. He served as president of the Florida Police Chief's Association in 1989-90 and was the "under sheriff", or chief deputy, of the Gadsden County Sheriff's Office until losing election for sheriiff in 2004.
Morris was chosen as the 2009 president of the Florida's Sheriff's Association.
Read the arrest warrant, Gov. Crist's suspension, and the appointment of Morris' replacement.
Morris faces charges of theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, wire fraud, deprivation of rights to honest services, engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity and conspiracy to commit the aforementioned offenses.
The Sheriff's Office Administrative offices were closed Friday, according to a woman who answered the office's phone. She would not say whether the offices were closed by order of federal authorities. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the agency reported to have brought the charges.
Governor Crist spokesman Sterling Ivey said the arrest occurred Friday morning and the governor's office issued its notice of suspension after learning of the arrest.
Ivey referred questions about the specifics of the charges against Morris to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Amy Hunt at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Pensacola said a press release would be issued. She could provide no information beyond that.
Sheriff Charlie Morris arrested, suspended by Governor Crist | morris, charlie, sheriff - News - Northwest Florida Daily News
Okaloosa County Sheriff Charlie Morris has been arrested on federal theft-bribery charges and suspended by Governor Charlie Crist.
Edward M. Spooner has been appointed as interim sheriff. Spooner is from Quincy, Fla. He served as president of the Florida Police Chief's Association in 1989-90 and was the "under sheriff", or chief deputy, of the Gadsden County Sheriff's Office until losing election for sheriiff in 2004.
Morris was chosen as the 2009 president of the Florida's Sheriff's Association.
Read the arrest warrant, Gov. Crist's suspension, and the appointment of Morris' replacement.
Morris faces charges of theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, wire fraud, deprivation of rights to honest services, engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity and conspiracy to commit the aforementioned offenses.
The Sheriff's Office Administrative offices were closed Friday, according to a woman who answered the office's phone. She would not say whether the offices were closed by order of federal authorities. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is the agency reported to have brought the charges.
Governor Crist spokesman Sterling Ivey said the arrest occurred Friday morning and the governor's office issued its notice of suspension after learning of the arrest.
Ivey referred questions about the specifics of the charges against Morris to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Amy Hunt at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Pensacola said a press release would be issued. She could provide no information beyond that.
Sheriff Charlie Morris arrested, suspended by Governor Crist | morris, charlie, sheriff - News - Northwest Florida Daily News
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