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Haines City Police Chief Charged With Soliciting Prostitutes

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By TOM BRENNAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 24, 2008

Updated: 10/24/2008 01:46 pm

BARTOW - Haines City Police Chief Morris West has been indicted on three counts of soliciting prostitutes in November and December.

The indictments were returned by a Polk County grand jury Thursday and unsealed today after West had been served with a summons to appear for arraignment Nov. 26.

Chip Thullbery, a spokesman for the state attorney's office, said the charges were the result of an ongoing grand jury probe into the Haines City Police Department.

West could not be reached for comment.

The indictment alleges West, 47, committed the offenses on Nov. 22, between Nov. 23 and Dec. 10, and between Dec. 11 and Dec. 25.

The solicitation charges are misdemeanors, each punishable by up to 60 days in the county jail.

West was named chief in 2003 and has been with the department since 1986.

Haines City is about 8.9 square miles in size. The department has 42 sworn officers and 17 civilian employees, according to its Web site.

Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tbrennan@tampatrib.com.

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